Iconic Shell Factory And Nature Park Announces Closure After 86 Years in North Fort Myers 

The Iconic Shell Factory Is closing its doors after years of providing fun services to generations. 

A History of the Shell Factory: 86 Years of Iconic Memories

The Shell Factory and Nature Park was founded in 1938 in North Fort Myers. The 18-acre attraction centre has entertained many generations with amusement-style rides, arcade games, mini golf, wildlife, and much more. 

In 1997, Pam Cronin and her husband Tom took over the business when it was facing mortgage possession and turned it into a sought-after tourist spot for locals, seasonal residents, and tourists. 

“This has been an incredibly hard decision for me, and one that was not made lightly, as the Shell Factory has been such a big part of the community and my life for many decades,”  

The Shell Factory features about 350 exotic animals, including iguanas, porcupines, peacocks, alligators, lemurs, alpacas and goats. 

“We are so proud of the countless joyous experiences that the Shell Factory has provided for residents and visitors of our community, as children and families have laughed aboard the bumper boats, tried a round of mini-golf, flew on the zipline, learned about our loveable animals, enjoyed delicious food and sweet treats, discovered many unique treasures from our store and so much more.” 

The Reasons Behind the Closure: What Led to This Decision?

The North Fort Myers company officially announces its final days of operations during the weekends of September 20, 22, 27 and 29 between 11 AM to 4 PM on Monday morning in a Facebook post.  Only its Nature Park and Gift Shop will be open while their onsite restaurants, Southern Grill and Tommy outdoor cafe will serve a limited menu until they run out of supplies. Their Fun Park will be closed permanently with immediate effect. 

“Over the decades, the Shell Factory has stood resilient through hurricanes, fires, and financial challenges, but with the costly upkeep of an 86-year-old property, we’ve had to make this difficult decision,” Cronin said. 

“We are working closely with wildlife officials to ensure the safe rehoming of our 400-plus animals and supporting our dedicated employees during this transition.” 

“To celebrate our shared memories, we invite you to share your favorite moments at the Shell Factory right here on our Facebook page with the hashtag #MyShellFactoryMemories, Together, we can honor the incredible legacy of this community treasure” she mentioned on a Facebook post.