After 86 years of serving the Southwest Florida community, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has announced its plans to close.
In a press release, the North Fort Myers company announced it's 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 this time, the Nature Park and gift shop will be open and the park's onsite restaurants, the Southern Grill and Tommy's Outdoor Cafe, will serve a limited menu while supplies last.
The Fun Park will be closed, effective immediately.
The Shell Factory & Nature Park was established in North Fort Myers in 1938. The 18-acre, Florida roadside attraction has entertained multiple generations with amusement-style rides, arcade games, mini golf, wildlife and much more.
“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,” owner Pam Cronin said. “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.”
In 1997, Cronin and her later husband, Tom, took control of the property when it was facing foreclosure and transformed it from a roadside tourist spot to a sought-out destination for locals, seasonal residents and tourists.
Over the years, the couple made investments and upgrades to the property, including the Nature Park, an animal rescue and the Nature park Environmental Education Foundation.
With any property that is over 86 years old, ongoing maintenance and necessary repairs are costly.
While Cronin has made significant investments to sustain the Shell Factory's operations, the sad reality is that the park is no longer viable in its current form.
“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,” Cronin said.
The release states that Cronin is dedicated to supporting the employees during the transition and ensuring they have access to the resources they need.
Cronin is working with wildlife officials to safely re-home the park's 400-plus animals.
Recognizing the connection between the Shell Factory and the greater community, Cronin wishes 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 cherished memories created by our visitors, employees and community members throughout the years, including many who have cherished their own childhood memories at the Shell Factory and gone on to create new memories with their children and grandchildren in these same beloved spaces,” Cronin said.
The Shell Factory & Nature Park property is expected to be sold.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.