A Goodland landmark
Our story.
The building has moved. The view has changed. The welcome has stayed easy.
About Paradise Found
Great food. Live music. A lot of history.
Paradise Found is a historic waterfront restaurant and bar with panoramic views of the Marco River and Goodland Bay from the outside decks and the newly renovated air-conditioned dining room.
Today, it’s a place for fresh seafood, live entertainment, an easy afternoon on the water, and the kind of company that makes you stay for another round.
The Marco Lodge began as the family home of Capt. W. D. “Bill” Collier at the north end of Marco Island. His grandfather, William Thomas Collier, was the first man to settle on Marco Island. This Collier family was not related to Barron G. Collier, for whom Collier County was named.
According to Capt. Bill’s daughter, Emma Collier Hudson, the five-room home was built in 1888. As the family grew, the roof was raised and a second floor was added. It later became a commercial inn called the White House and, by 1949, was operating as the Marco Lodge.
That year, Alex Tasetano came to Marco from Miami, met lodge operator Marge Wine, married her, and helped manage the property. When future development plans left no place for the Lodge, Alex and Marge moved the building to its present Goodland site in January 1965.
History adapted from the source cited by the original Paradise Found website: University of South Florida Digital Commons.