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Iconic Shell Factory & Nature Park announces closure after 86 years in North Fort Myers

After 86 years of serving the Southwest Florida community, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has announced its closure plans. In a press release, the North Fort Myers-based company said its final days of operation will be the weekends of Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During that time, the Nature Park and gift shop will be open and the park's restaurants, the Southern Grill and Tommy's Outdoor Cafe, will offer a limited menu while supplies last. The Fun Park will close effective immediately. The Shell Factory & Nature Park was founded in North Fort Myers in 1938. The 18-acre Florida roadside attraction has entertained multiple generations with rides, arcade games, miniature golf, wildlife and more. “This has been an incredibly difficult decision for me and one that has not been easy to make as the Shell Factory has been such a big part of the community and my life for decades,” said owner Pam Cronin. “We are so proud of the countless joyful experiences the Shell Factory has provided to residents and visitors to our community as children and families laughed aboard the bumper boats, played a round of miniature golf, flew on the zip line, learned about our lovable animals, enjoyed delicious food and candy, discovered many unique treasures in our store and so much more.” In 1997, Cronin and her future husband, Tom, took control of the property when it was facing foreclosure and transformed it from a roadside tourist spot into a sought-after destination for locals, seasonal residents and tourists. Over the years, the couple made investments and improvements to the property, including the Nature Park, an animal rescue and the Nature Park Foundation for environmental education. With any property over 86 years old, ongoing maintenance and necessary repairs are costly. Although Cronin has made significant investments to keep the Shell Factory operating, the sad reality is that the park is no longer profitable in its current form. “This is an unfortunate but natural evolution that we have seen at countless legacy roadside attractions in Florida, like ours. Many other classic tourist destinations that once boomed have come and gone over the years,” Cronin said. The release states that Cronin is dedicated to supporting employees during the transition and ensuring they have access to the resources they need. Cronin is working with wildlife officers to safely rehome the park's 400-plus animals. In recognition of the connection between the Shell Factory and the larger community, Cronin wants to leave a legacy of happy memories shared at the Shell Factory on Facebook using the hashtag #MyShellFactoryMemories. “On behalf of our entire team at the Shell Factory, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and precious memories created by our visitors, employees and community members over the years, including many who have cherished their own childhood memories of the Shell Factory and created new memories with their children and grandchildren at these beloved places,” Cronin said. The Shell Factory & Nature Park property is up for sale. DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for the latest news and weather alerts.

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

After 86 years of serving the Southwest Florida community, Shell Factory & Nature Park has announced its closure plans.

In a press release, the North Fort Myers-based company announced that the last days of operation will be the weekends of September 20-22 and September 27-29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During this time, the nature park and gift shop will be open and the park's restaurants, Southern Grill and Tommy's Outdoor Cafe, will offer a limited menu while supplies last.

The FunPark will remain closed with immediate effect.

Shell Factory & Nature Park was established in 1938 in North Fort Myers. The 18-acre Florida roadside attraction has entertained multiple generations with rides, arcade games, miniature golf, wildlife and more.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision for me and one that was not easy to make, as the Shell Factory has been such a big part of the community and my life for decades,” said owner Pam Cronin. “We are so proud of the countless joyful experiences the Shell Factory has provided to residents and visitors to our community, as children and families have laughed aboard the bumper boats, played a round of miniature golf, flown the zip line, learned about our lovable animals, enjoyed delicious food and sweet treats, discovered many unique treasures in our store and so much more.”

In 1997, Cronin and her future husband, Tom, took control of the property when it was facing foreclosure and transformed it from a roadside tourist spot into a desirable destination for locals, seasonal visitors and tourists.

Over the years, the couple made investments and improvements to the property, including for the nature park, an animal rescue center and the nature park's environmental education foundation.

For any property older than 86 years, ongoing maintenance and necessary repairs are costly.

Although Cronin has made significant investments to keep the Shell plant operating, the sad reality is that the park is no longer viable in its current form.

“This is an unfortunate but natural evolution that we have seen at many of Florida's legacy roadside attractions like ours. Many other classic tourist destinations that once boomed have come and gone over the years,” Cronin said.

The press release states that Cronin is committed to supporting employees during the transition and ensuring they have access to the resources they need.

Cronin works with wildlife officials to provide safe housing for the park's more than 400 animals.

Cronin recognizes the connection between the Shell Factory and the larger community and wants to leave a legacy of happy memories he has shared with the Shell Factory on Facebook using the hashtag #MyShellFactoryMemories.

“On behalf of our entire team at the Shell Factory, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and precious memories created by our visitors, employees and community members over the years. This includes many who have cherished their own childhood memories of the Shell Factory and have created new memories with their children and grandchildren at these beloved places,” Cronin said.

The Shell Factory & Nature Park property is to be sold.

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