For 48 years, it was where Fort Myers went to bowl. Now it's where Fort Myers goes to be amazed.

I’ll be honest — when I first read that Gator Lanes had been sold and was turning into a dinner theater, I stopped and read it twice.

This one jumped out at me right away.

I started thinking about families visiting over the holidays, grandparents looking for something fun to do with the grandkids, or even couples searching for a different kind of date night.

This is exactly the kind of Southwest Florida Hidden Gem I love finding.

From Bowling Lanes to Center Stage

On Crystal Drive just off US 41 in Fort Myers, a 28,000-square-foot building that spent 48 years as one of the area’s best-known bowling alleys has started a whole new chapter.

Gator Lanes is now becoming Fort Myers Dinner Theatre.

New owners Michelle and Jeremy Kuntze purchased the property in July 2026. Within days, they already had a youth production of James and the Giant Peach on stage.

That gives you a good idea of the energy behind this project.

Michelle Kuntze has worked in Southwest Florida theater for more than 20 years. She started her first theater company as a teenager while attending Cypress Lake High School.

After earning her degree at the University of Central Florida, she returned to Lee County and continued building theater programs for local families.

For the past five years, Michelle and Jeremy have operated Fort Myers Theatre on San Carlos Boulevard, putting on shows such as Grease, Beauty and the Beast, Annie, and The Music Man.

Their former theater held about 100 people.

Their new home gives them room to grow.

Two Theaters Under One Roof

The former bowling alley is being transformed into two performance spaces.

The first is a 150-seat youth theater inside the former Ter-Tini’s restaurant area.

The second is a new 200-seat main theater being built where bowling lanes 5 through 10 once stood.

And yes — some of the old bowling lanes are still there for now.

The kitchen is also being prepared for dinner service, with plans for food to become part of the theater experience.

Programming is expected to include:

  • Youth productions
  • Broadway-style musicals
  • Comedy
  • Dinner theater
  • Interactive mystery shows
  • Camps and after-school theater programs

The mystery dinner theater may be one of the most fun ideas. Guests won’t just sit and watch the story. They can take part and help solve the mystery.

Why This One Made My List

This isn’t a theme park or a big chain entertainment center.

It’s local.

The owners live here. They have spent years building a following. They know the community, and they clearly care about creating something Fort Myers families can enjoy together.

That is what makes this place stand out.

It can work for parents with kids, grandparents with visiting grandchildren, couples looking for a fun night out, or three generations sitting together in the same row.

That is harder to find than you might think.

One of the first major productions in the new space is Matilda, running September 10–20, 2026.

It’s the kind of show a 10-year-old and a 70-year-old can both enjoy.

And that is exactly why I think Fort Myers Dinner Theatre is worth knowing about.

Practical Details

Fort Myers Dinner Theatre
1901 Crystal Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33907

Location: Just off US 41 at Crystal Drive

Hours: Vary by show and performance schedule

Tickets & Reservations: fmt.simpletix.com

Parking: Free parking is available on site

Best Time to Visit: The first few months may be especially fun while the theater is still flying under the radar.

Coming Up: Matilda runs September 10–20, 2026.

Good to Know: Dinner service is planned as the theater expands its fall programming. Youth camps and after-school programs are also part of the theater’s schedule.

A Fort Myers Landmark Gets a Second Act

Gator Lanes opened in 1978 and served Fort Myers families for nearly five decades.

For many longtime residents, it holds a lot of memories.

Now the building gets a second act.

Instead of bowling balls rolling down the lanes, families will hear music, laughter, applause, and actors taking the stage.

I love seeing a local landmark stay part of the community instead of simply disappearing.

If you’re looking for something different to do in Fort Myers this fall, put Fort Myers Dinner Theatre on your list.

And if you have grandkids visiting, take them.

You may get to be the one who knew about it first.

Cyndi Myers works with buyers and sellers across Southwest Florida and loves sharing the hidden side of the communities she knows best.

Have a Southwest Florida Hidden Gem we should know about?
Email cyndi@myersgroupfl.com or call 239-887-5044.

Luxury Real Estate, Simplified.