Why is the Fort Myers Shell Factory closing down? Iconic attraction announces closure after historic 86-year run

After providing the community with family-friendly entertainment for the last 86 years, the Fort Meyers Shell Factory & Nature Park has announced its closure. On Monday, September 16, the park administrators made the announcement on their official Facebook page.

The post also stated that all park operations will conclude on the weekends, from September 20 to September 22 and from September 27 to September 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., after which the park will close to the public.

Pam Cronin, the wife of late the Tom Cronin, who took charge of the Shell Factory in 1997, addressed the issue and stated that the reason behind the closure was the expensive upkeep of the attraction. In a September 16 press release, she said:

"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.”

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Fort Myers Shell Factory is closing down after nearly nine decades of service

Though the immediate closure of the Fort Myers shell factory was just announced to its fans, the on-site restaurants will serve a restricted menu while supplies last. Additionally, the Nature Park and Gift Shop will remain open till the last date.

When the property was in danger of going into foreclosure in 1997, Pam Cronin and her late husband, Tom, took over. They then turned it from a popular roadside attraction for tourists into a popular destination for locals and visitors.

The pair improved and invested in the land over time, adding features like the Nature Park, an animal sanctuary, and the Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation.

As per their official Facebook post, Pam Cronin said on Monday that the Shell Factory has played a significant role in both her life and the community, making the decision to close it an extremely difficult one.

She also discussed the happy times people had together at the stores and restaurants, on the bumper boats, in the nature park, and on the mini-golf course. The statement further explained this decision and added that although the Shell Factory has weathered financial difficulties over the years, they had to make this tough choice since maintaining an 86-year-old facility is expensive.

It also said that they are now assisting their staff and collaborating with wildlife officials to guarantee the safe rehoming of their 400+ animals. Moreover, as per the official press release published on the factory’s website on September 16, Pam said that despite her best efforts to find a buyer to assume management of the park's costly operations, she couldn't find one. Hence, she had to make the decision to close it and sell the land.

The release further said that Pam notified their fans:

“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.”

As per the same press release, Cronin said:

“This is an unfortunate, yet natural evolution that we have seen countless old Florida roadside attractions like ours face. Many other classic tourist destinations that were once booming have come and gone over the years.”

She then continued saying that she was proud of everything the Shell Factory had achieved in its "86-year history," the many lives it had touched, and expressed her gratitude for the "incredible journey," and the rich legacy it will leave behind.

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Originally built in 1938 as a roadside attraction in North Fort Myers, the 18-acre property features a variety of old-fashioned rides, arcade games, a zip line, bumper, and paddle boats, a restaurant, a miniature golf course, 50,000 square feet of gift shops, a 4.5-acre nature park featuring over 400 animals, including fish, birds, and reptiles, a petting farm, and much more.

Meanwhile, Pam didn’t say anything about her next goal after the closing of the park.