Where was Cape Coral first sold? In 1957, the Rosen brothers opened their first Gulf American Land Corporation sales office in a 14-sided building on Waikiki Avenue, which locals call the Rotunda. That building still stands. It belongs to the Cape Coral Art Center in Rubicond Park on Coronado Parkway, and the Art Center describes it as the oldest building in the city.
This season is the Art Center's 50th. The City says the center has served the local arts community since 1977. One of the two gallery shows opening January 8, 2027 is a juried exhibition built around the anniversary. Before that, from Saturday, November 7 through December 17, the campus runs a free open house, a new solo show, an evening reception and a holiday market. Most of it costs nothing to attend. The building that sold Cape Coral's first lots has spent half a century as a public room, and this fall is a good time to walk in.
From sales office to studio
The Rotunda didn't stay a sales office for long. According to Recreation Program Supervisor Samantha Ellis in a VoyageTampa interview, the building was moved and donated to the Friends of the Cape Coral Library in 1963. In 1977 it passed to what was then called the Arts and Hobby Center. So the Art Center has been at work in the city's oldest structure for longer than most South Cape homes have existed.
Today the campus covers two buildings and more than 15,000 square feet. Inside are five studios, a fine art supply store, a gift shop, two galleries and a sculpture garden planted with native species. It is a City of Cape Coral recreation facility, so it is run by Parks and Recreation rather than a private membership group. Classes require registration but no membership.
Keeping it running takes work. In the same interview, Ellis described "maintaining an aging historical building, while upgrading the facility to meet the modern needs of contemporary artists." She also said the center was planning renovations to its Alternative Firing Courtyard so artists could use raku and sawdust firing more safely. She pointed to Hurricane Irma in 2017 as the hardest stretch. For six months, nearly every class was moved into one building while the rest of the facility was repaired.
Saturday, November 7, from staging to studio tours
The open house falls on the same morning as the City's Veterans Day Parade, so South Cape has two public events to choose from that Saturday. Here is the day in order, based on the City's published times:
- 9 a.m. Parade staging begins.
- 10 a.m. The Cape Coral Art Center opens Fall Into Art at 4533 Coronado Parkway. The open house is free and open to all ages. It includes facility tours, live class demos, live entertainment, food and refreshments, a chance to meet the instructors, and a pop-up art market.
- 11 a.m. The Veterans Day Parade steps off. It runs west on the south side of Cape Coral Parkway, from Cape Coral Street to Chester Street.
- 3 p.m. The open house closes.
The City's parade page links to a road-closure map, but the image dates from the 2025 event. Check the City's Veterans Day page closer to Saturday for current closures before you plan a route across the Parkway.
The open house has a practical purpose. It comes two days before the Winter 1 class session begins on November 9, and that session runs through December 19. Classes run in four- to six-week sessions taught by more than 17 local artists and instructors. Subjects include acrylic, watercolor and oil painting; pottery, raku and stone sculpture; silversmithing and jewelry; glass fusing, stained glass and copper enameling. Saturday's class demos let you watch a class before you sign up for one.
What's on the walls through December 17
The galleries are free, and they're open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here is the calendar from the open house through the anniversary show, according to the City's 2026-2027 Gallery Exhibition Overview and event listings:
| Dates | Space | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Through Nov. 19 | Side Gallery | "Artists Among Us" |
| Nov. 6 – Dec. 17 | Main Gallery | "Places I Remember," a solo show by Kim Carioto-Krugle |
| Fri., Nov. 13, 5–7 p.m. | Main Gallery | Free reception for "Places I Remember," with light refreshments |
| Nov. 24 – Dec. 17 | Building 2 and Side Gallery | Merry & Bright Art Market |
| Jan. 8 – 28, 2027 | Main Gallery | "50 Years in the Making," the juried anniversary show |
| Jan. 8 – 28, 2027 | Side Gallery | "Somewhere," a juried show from the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery |
"Places I Remember" is the show you'll see during the open house. The City describes it as Carioto-Krugle's visual diary of her travels near and far, made with layered paper collages and oil paintings. The Friday reception on November 13 is a chance to meet the artist on a weeknight.
The January anniversary show asks artists to submit work that celebrates the Art Center's 50 years. The City says the show honors five decades of creativity, community and artistic expression. Its opening reception is Friday, January 8, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The holiday market keeps evening hours
Merry & Bright is the Art Center's annual holiday sale. Every piece comes from an open call to local artisans, Art Center students and instructors. The market runs three weeks longer than the regular gallery day, and three nights a week it stays open into the evening:
- Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sundays: closed
- Thanksgiving week: closed November 26 and 27
Those 8 p.m. closings make it one of the few places in South Cape where you can shop for handmade gifts after work. If you make things yourself, the market's registration deadline is Friday, November 13 at 4 p.m. Work is received on Saturday, November 21 and Monday, November 23, from 9 a.m. to noon.
If you'd rather make a gift than buy one, Dawn Ingram's Holiday Lantern workshop is Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. It costs $46 with materials included and is open to ages 18 and up. That price is set for a single session, so you can try a medium without signing up for a multi-week class.
The Art Supply Store in Building 2 is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Art Center students get 10% off. The Gift Shop next to it carries a changing selection of work by students, instructors and community partner artists.
Lunch on the Parkway afterward
Two recent arrivals on Cape Coral Parkway make an easy stop after the parade or the open house.
The News-Press reported that Una Bella, a fast-casual pizzeria, sub and wing shop at 1232 Cape Coral Parkway, opened quietly this summer in Lehne Burger's old space. It held its grand opening on October 17. The menu features hand-stretched New York-style pizza, wings and premium subs, plus beer and wine.
In August, Business Debut reported that MOBz Eatery, at 1625 Cape Coral Parkway E., Suite 103, was planning a September 5 grand opening.
For anything about classes, vendor spots or the market, the Art Center's phone number is (239) 574-0802 and its email is [email protected].
I love finding the history behind the places we drive past every day, and the Rotunda is one of my favorites. If you're curious about other corners of South Cape, or you'd just like to talk about what's opening on the Parkway this season, reach out to Lindsey Moffat. Let's Connect.
