‘Old Florida’ Attraction To Close | Last weekend for the Shell Factory & Nature Park
Attraction will be closed Friday; open Saturday & Sunday
After this weekend, another “old Florida” attraction will be no more.
After 27 years of struggle to make her dream profitable, Pam Cronin made the most difficult decision of her life — closing the Shell Factory & Nature Park.
“The most difficult I have ever made in my life, and I have made some pretty tough ones,” she said of her decision. “This one affected staff, animals, the community. It made a difference in a lot of people and animals’ lives. We are still reeling from it. We are trying to make really good decisions.”
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Details of Shell Factory & Nature Park’s final closing weekend Sept. 27-29 appears at the end of this story
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The decision to close the attraction and sell the 18-acre site “between the 41s” in North Fort Myers has been considered for a while.
“The Shell Factory has not been profitable in the 27 years that I owned it. It was an absolute passion for my late husband. He was a major developer in Lee County and created so many memories for so many people. The Shell Factory was his last hurrah. He wanted it to be the last thing he was remembered for,” she said.
After her husband, Tom, died, Cronin said they opened Tommy’s Outdoor Cafe — the addition of another 100 seats. She said he was a beer- drinking, smoking Irish man.
“We tried to live up to his legacy. It was extremely popular,” Cronin said.
The old-Florida kitschy tourist attraction was established in 1938 in North Fort Myers. In 1997, the Cronins took over the property at 16554 N. Cleveland Ave. when it was under foreclosure.
Improvements, upgrades — and a new philosophy that put locals high into the visitor mix — gave the attraction new life.
The old “tourist trap” turned into a family destination that included not only “the largest shell retail shop in the world,” but amusement-style rides, arcade games, miniature golf, a Christmas Shop, expanded nature park with more than 400 animals, and a pair of restaurants.
Finding someone who could keep that going was a first choice among sale options.
“We have worked diligently,” Cronin said of trying to find someone who would buy the property and operate it as is — an attraction, or some variation.
Efforts were unsuccessful.
“It would take a major cash infusion to continue it on,” Cronin said.
The original building on the property was built in 1954.
The attraction, like many businesses, weathered Hurricane Irma and then suffered damage in Hurricane Ian
“It is just financially inconceivable to move on and continue to put millions of dollars in it for renovations,” she said. “The people we have spoken with — approached us, or approached them — buying it and operating it as an attraction are not available.”
The final days of operation are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday through Sunday, Sept. 28-29. Due to Hurricane Helene, the attraction will not be open Friday as originally planned.
The property will be put on the market very soon. Cronin said it was very important to her to have a conversation with staff before it was listed for sale.
“There will be buyers. We have had many people contact our real estate attorney,” she said.
Cronin said they are continuing to have conversations with staff — 92 employees — as they really want to try to help them find new positions.
“We have had amazing community partners and support trying to help us relocate these people,” she said. “CareerSource has been phenomenal. They were there when we made the announcement to our staff. They had private meetings with the staff. I am amazed at what a wonderful organization they are and how they really try to help relocate people that need new positions.”
Community support did not stop there. Chris Scuderi, of Gator Mike’s also reached out.
“He is such a great community citizen,” Cronin said. “He wants to try to help with relocation for as many of our staff members as possible. He reached out and he is fabulous.”
The list of people reaching out to help where they can continues to expand.
“We are so excited that people are wanting to help and step up” Cronin said.
Another goal is to rehome the Nature Park’s animals. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have been instrumental in helping them relocate animals, as well as providing information of nonprofit organizations that can help.
“We have had so much input from so many people,” Cronin said. “We will have stories in the very near future about what is happening with each of them.”
The Nature Park began after the Shell Factory was a showcase for the Octagon Wildlife Animal Sanctuary when they experienced difficulty doing fundraisers. The Shell Factory stepped up and built some habitats, had the sanctuary bring out some animals with 100% of the proceeds going directly back to Octagon.
“Eventually we found out as the children started coming in that they were pretty afraid of getting 10 feet from a tiger,” Cronin said. “We started adding more smaller animals.”
This evolved into an educational phase complete with field trips.
“We leaned more toward environmental education and that’s what we did,” she said. “Then we really started working with Florida Fish and Wildlife and it evolved from there.”
A great number of the animals that reside at the Nature Park were donated through estates and from families that could no longer take care of them.
“It’s a wonderful situation and that is why we are so adamant of making sure every one of these lovely creatures has a home that is as loving and supportive as they had with us,” she said.
Karen Schneider, the Nature Park director, has been amazing. Cronin said Schneider and her staff have made sure the animals are cared for and the habitats were clean day and night. The animals are 100% loved, she added.
“By the middle or end of next week we will have some great information about what is happening with them and where they are going,” she said last Friday. “I am sure that we will have fabulous stories to share, and it will touch everyone’s hearts.”
Cronin has thanks for their community partners and everyone who has worked so hard to help them.
“I have never worked on a project in my life that had more unbelievable community support — came out of the woodwork and helped with so many things. They helped the Shell Factory. The messages have been phenomenal. I am touched that so many people cared about what we have been doing for 27 years,” Cronin said.
Over the years there have been many stories that have left an everlasting imprint on her heart. One is of individuals picking a pearl from a huge clam shell with oyster shells in it.
Cronin said mostly women would come in and pick a pearl — some going three or four generations strong. She said she heard many stories “when your mom was little, she picked a pearl and wears it as a necklace now.”
“There are so many fabulous stories like that. It’s amazing,” she said.
Another that has stood out was when an agency brought them a wallaby that was about 2 years old. The animal had lived in a dog crate her entire life and was not in good health. The caring staff worked with this creature and eventually won her trust, started hand feeding her, and taught her how to hop.
This wallaby was eventually put with another, and a little joey was born a little while later.
“Those are the stories that kept us doing it — raising money and trying to make the animals happy,” Cronin said.
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Shell Factory & Nature Park announces details for final closing weekend Sept. 27-29
The Shell Factory & Nature Park has modifed the details for its final closing weekend. The Shell Factory & Nature Park will be closed today, Sept. 27. The park will be open as planned on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with Nature Park admission, options for dining and discounts at the Gift Shop.
The 4.5-acre Nature Park will be open for guests to visit and explore hundreds of unique animals and critters, including a variety birds, iguanas, tortoises, alligators, fish, a camel and more. Admission is $16 for adults, $11 for children ages 4 to 12, free for children 3 and under (with a paid adult), $12 for seniors ages 55+ and $11 for military veterans. Ticket sales support the Nature Park staff in the continued care and feeding of the animals as they finalize efforts to rehome to approved facilities.
The park’s onsite restaurants, the Southern Grill and Tommy’s Outdoor Café, will be open with a limited menu until supplies run out.
All remaining merchandise from the Gift Shop is discounted at 40% off, which includes a range of unique gifts, tchotchkes and holiday items. For the safety of guests, capacity within the store will be limited and entry may be staggered accordingly. Guests are advised to be prepared for lines for entry and check-out, which may include outdoor waits.
Any further announcements for the Shell Factory’s closing weekend, and any weather updates, will be posted at Facebook.com/ShellFactoryNaturePark.
About Shell Factory & Nature Park
For 86 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has been entertaining children and the young at heart, with something for everyone. The sought-out attraction provides a full day of fun, including amusement-style rides, arcade games, 50,000 square feet of gift shops and much more. The Nature Park offers over 400 critters, birds, reptiles and fish, with a variety of critters from an armadillo to a camel. Visit ShellFactory.com.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the last weekend dates and times: The attraction will not be open on Friday.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com