Fort Myers Auction to host first virtual auction through Dec. 10, a second auction to be held in January
Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions, hosted by Fort Myers Auction, 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 beloved retail store. Online bidding is now live and will conclude at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10. More than 500 lots will be available with items spanning a variety of toys, T-shirts, postcards, gemstones, personalized gifts and décor, plus an expansive collection of holiday décor, including a 7-foot-high Santa Claus statue that greeted visitors, Christmas villages, trees, figurines, Fontanini nativity sets and more. Retailer glass display cases and metal display racks are also up for bid.
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.
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 sign and the Tommy’s Outdoor Café sign. 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 golf, 50,000 square feet of gift shops, a 4.5-acre nature park with over 350 animals, birds, reptiles and fish that have been rehomed since the attraction closed, and much more. In 1997, Cronin and her late husband, Tom, took the helm of the property when it was under foreclosure and lovingly transformed it from a roadside tourist spot to a sought-out destination for locals, seasonal residents and tourists. 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.
Additional details for the online auction are available at ShellFactoryAuction.com.
About Shell Factory & Nature Park
For 86 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park entertained children and the young at heart, with something for everyone before closing in September 2024. The sought-out attraction provided a full day of fun, including amusement-style rides, arcade games, gift shops and much more. The Nature Park, run by a nonprofit organization, offered over 350 critters, birds, reptiles and fish, with a variety of critters from an armadillo to a zebra.
