North Fort Myers' Shell Factory weeks away from being completely leveled

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers, a landmark since the 1930s, is being dismantled by Honc Destruction, marking the end of its 80-year existence.

Belle Jackson from nearby Laurel Estates reminisced about the Shell Factory's early days, saying, "As a young person, it was always a first stop to see shells, and an Old Florida attraction." Carol McDaniel, a neighbor, recalled its popularity, stating, "You could hardly find a place to park it was so popular." Despite its closure in 2024, McDaniel expressed sadness over its decline, saying, "It is so sad that it has gone downhill so much."

David Mulicka of Honc Destruction shared his personal connection to the site, saying, "I'm glad my grandparents brought me here as a little kid." He noted the rarity of demolishing such a unique site, stating, "You don't get a chance to demolish an amusement park with a zoo every day."

Honc Destruction is being paid nearly half a million dollars to dismantle most of the site, with Mulicka explaining, "Hundreds of tons of scrap metal. Thousands of tons of concrete." He added that the majority of the materials will be salvaged, saying, "On this site, we'll probably recycle close to 85% of the existing building."

Mulicka pointed out that some structures will remain, saying, "This building is going to stay and be remodeled into a commercial space." He outlined the future plans for the site, stating, "Restaurants, commercials, multi-family at some point. A mixed combination and mixed development."

Karen Montgomery, who lives nearby, expressed hope for the new development, saying, "We're hopeful it's something we can all enjoy again."

Work on the site will continue daily, with the entire project expected to be cleared in the next several weeks.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.