The now-closed, iconic Shell Factory and Nature Park is offering residents a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
Fort Myers Auction will host the auctions that will liquidate remaining inventory from the 86-year-old beloved entertainment destination.
The first online auction will encompass bulk and specialty items from the Shell Factory's retail store. Online bidding is now live and will finish at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
More than 500 lots will be available with items varying from toys, postcards, T-shirts, gemstones, personalized gifts and decor.
Additionally, the auction has an expansive collection of holiday decor including a 7-foot-high Santa Claus statue, Christmas villages, trees, figurines, Fontanini nativity sets and more.
Bidders must register an account to view and bid on available items online at ShellFactoryAuction.com . Items will be sold as-is and buyers must pick up items by appointment.
If you're unable to participate now, don't worry. In January, a second virtual auction will be held to sell restaurant equipment and furnishings, larger fixtures and pieces of iconic Shell Factory memorabilia, statues and signage - including the World's Largest Shell Factory signa and the Tommy's Outdoor Cafe sign.
The company said further details, dates and registration for the second online auction will be announced in the coming weeks.
“While the decision to close was incredibly hard, in the process, we have had many moments of joy with residents and visitors to this beloved attraction,” said Pam Cronin, who has worked tirelessly to preserve the property and its proud traditions for the past 27 years, before making the difficult decision in September to close the Shell Factory and sell the property. “We are confident this last sale of remaining items will result in some Shell Factory assets being used in restaurants and attractions that will continue to delight others as they have at the Shell Factory.”
Established in North Fort Myers in 1938, the 18-acre, old-Florida roadside attraction has entertained multiple generations with amusement-style rides, arcade games, miniature gold, 50,000 square feet of gift shops, a 4.5-acre nature park with over 350 animals and 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.
The park has also supported many local nonprofits by serving as the host venue for countless fundraisers and events that rallied the community together in support of important community, animal and wildlife missions.
For 86 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park entertained children and the young at heart, with something for everyone before closing in September 2024 .
For additional details surrounding the online auction, visit the Shell Factory's website .
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