Collier County has seen many celebrities come and go, but this Disney celebrity left a big footprint on Marco Island.
In 1968, Tilly the green turtle visited the island to take promotional photos for the Walt Disney Productions TV show. The big green turtle was famous as a model for the survival segments.
Weighing in at 3oo pounds, Tilly could not be missed by the locals. The turle drew attention while paying a visit to the front desk at the Marco Beach Hotel.
According to the Marco Island Historical Society, Tilly enjoyed many of the same amenities tourists enjoy today.
– Rilee Standriff, C2 Communications