Pam Cronin, owner of the Shell Factory & Nature Park, offers a welcoming smile inside the “largest shell retail store in the world” that also is the “largest gift store in the USA.” Valarie Harring

It has survived hurricanes, fires, recessions, two bankruptcies, the construction of I-75 and a pandemic. Yet, for 84 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has managed to remain one of the few Old Florida, must-stop tourist attractions.

The Shell Factory did this by coming into ownership that adapted to the times, kept things fresh, added interesting attractions and events for the locals, all while refusing to allow the old landmark to die and become just another cookie-cutter shopping center.

Recent changes to the complex that retains its showcase of shells and, in the Nature Park, some literally historic near life-sized dinosaur replicas — include the addition of a theater, a new restaurant and tiki bar, and more.

But the now family attraction will always be the Shell Factory, no matter what.

“The Shell Factory is the eclectic mish-mash. I’ve had people come in and say they this is so amazing between the shopping and the bumper boats and mini-golf, the pizza and the food,” said owner Pam Cronin. “If you can’t find it, you’re not trying hard enough.”

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What the Shell Factory has become is not only a check-it-out for motorists coming or going on Highway 41, but a place for area residents to grab a drink, enjoy a meal or a show, take part in Bike Night or a festival, or just bring the kids out to see a prehensile tail porcupine, a kinkajou or some lovable lemurs.

The Shell Factory started out in 1938, when Harold and Mildred Krantz opened a little place in Bonita Springs across from Everglades Wonder Gardens, which was another roadside attraction along the Tamiami Trail.

“It was just a shell and seashell craft store where a lot of the items were from cottage industry people who would make them and sell them in the shop,” Cronin said. “It eventually expanded and starting bringing in shells from outside the area and eventually from around the world.”

That version of the Shell Factory lasted until 1953 when a fire destroyed the Bonita Springs site. It moved to North Fort Myers on what is now Business 41.

Cronin said the way the roads are laid out and how GPS works, having the old 2787 Tamiami Trail address had resulted in people having difficulty getting to the place, sending people into Fort Myers and crossing two bridges. As a result, the Shell Factory has changed its address to 16554 N. Cleveland Ave.

The Shell Factory features shells and shell art of all kinds. Standing off the lobby area is owner Pam Cronin with a shell garment donated by a long-time visitor and a detailed replica of the renowned All Saints Church created with shells. The Shell Factory is the largest retail store for shells worldwide.

Hurricane Donna seriously damaged the Shell Factory in 1960 and a warehouse facility on the property burned down years later, but they got through it all and the attraction thrived, with a small carnival and animal park as main attractions, until the early 1980s, when Interstate 75 was built.

“U.S. 41 was the Tamiami Trail, the only road linking Tampa and Miami and it was a roadside attraction where people would drive to the Shell Factory. When everything was diverted to I-75, it lost huge notoriety and really started going downhill,” Cronin said.

The attraction fell into disrepair and previous owners twice filed for bankruptcy. By 1997, it was in bankruptcy and foreclosure when Tom Cronin stepped in.

“It was a disaster. The property had been sold off because of the bankruptcy and was down to about 15 acres (it had been more than 50). There was nothing there but the current restaurant and it was totally closed. It was a shooting gallery,” Cronin said. “The store had 60,000 square feet and only a quarter of it was open.”

Ceiling tiles were falling out, especially on rainy days, and there were uninvited critters that were not exactly conducive to having guests.

Conch shells at the Shell Factory, the largest retail outlet for shells in the world.

Pam, who then had little retail experience, got on-the-job training as the couple worked on restoring the place little by little. Still, they weren’t sure if they would be able to make it stick. They entertained the idea of selling the property to someone who likely would have turned it into something else.

“When we bought it, we considered an office warehouse complex because the property lent itself well to that. But there was so much community support,” Cronin said. “Everyone was enthused and county commissioners were talking about it and we tried a little harder to make it work.”

The Cronins added the Nature Park and brought in smaller animals for kids to meet, opened the Holiday House to celebrate Christmas year round, started doing special events such as Gumbofest — which have been huge successes — and rebranded itself as a family destination and not, despite its retention of old Florida kitsch, a “tourist trap.”

They also built the miniature golf course and added the paddle and bumper boats, and a taxidermy display, and really reinvented the place.

There was also some trial-and-error as the park went through its re-imagining process.

The dinosaur attraction, with its large prehistoric replicas, is a popular part of the Nature Park. Tyler Reed, 5, with his twin brothers Brayden and Alexander, 3, ride a pair of triceratops. The boys and their parents, Scott and Michelle, were visiting from Erie, Penn.

Glass blowers, a kite park, pottery makers, artists and two tries with the Waltzing Waters, were among the experiments.

“It (Waltzing Waters light show) did well for about three years, but after a while, nobody came. And we had to have someone there to run it and it became very expensive,” Cronin said. “We had it there for three years, brought it back a few years later for three more years and the same thing happened.”

When the Great Recession devastated Southwest Florida beginning in 2008, the Shell Factory again struggled.

However, Tom Cronin was adamant to keep the place open and his employees working.

“Tom said we have 128 employees who have no place to go. So, he sold off all his other properties, his stocks and put everything into the Shell Factory to make sure it survived,” Pam Cronin said.

The Shell Factory & Nature Park at 16554 N. Cleveland Ave. in North Fort Myers is an iconic Lee County landmark. Owner Pam Cronin strives to maintain the attraction’s “old Florida” charm, keeping many of the kitschy components that give visitors an opportunity to create personal memorabilia. The bigger-than-life polar bear, and a similar gorilla, are popular posing locations.

Survive it did.

The Shell Factory became as popular as ever with constant tinkering such as adding a flea market, dog dock diving and the dog park, climbing wall, carousel and zip line, and bringing in additional and new events like St. Paddy’s Day, Easter and Halloween events, GoldenFest and much more.

But Tom Cronin’s passing in 2018 brought new challenges and sadness. He wasn’t able to see the carousel or the first time the Clydesdales come to town — a project he had worked on with much dedication and love — and it left Pam in charge and looking for a new direction.

The result was a complete transformation of the restaurant building. Fishbone’s became the Southern Grill, with a new look and menu. Tommy’s Tiki Bar was added to the place, and the Player’s Circle Theatre opened in 2019 in what was once the Dolphin Room, bringing live theater, music, comedy and cabaret to the area, enticing more people from Charlotte County to make the short drive.

“They are doing such a great job over there with small shows and professional theater and even burlesque. The theater was so out of character with everything else we had,” Cronin said. “The Cacioppos were having problems and wanted to relocate their theater and we offered to let them use the Dolphin Room as a rehearsal hall.”

“It was a hell of a time getting started with COVID, but thanks to a lot of special donors, we’re surviving and in good shape,” said Robert Cacioppo. “Now, we’re seeing that things are turning and getting busier. People in North Fort Myers and north are coming in droves because there are no arts organizations there.”

They also rebranded and brought in “Shelly the Spokesplorer,” the animated woman in all their promotions and press releases who takes people through all goings on at the Shell Factory.

But there was one more huge obstacle to hurdle, the pandemic, which shut down much of the country and left the Shell Factory, which had just opened the theater and the Southern Grill, but would leave Tommy’s unfinished for more than a year.

That would make the Nature Park more important than ever, as it would reopen a short time later and provide a place for families to go.

“People really wanted to get out and the nature park provided a place for families to go and be safe because it is outdoors. Once families realized they could go there and we could be sure people were socially distanced, they started coming again,” Cronin said.

What the future holds for the Shell Factory is anyone’s guess, since the Cronins have always been willing to try just about anything, no matter how kitschy it may seem. Pam said they are trying to keep that spirit going.

As of now, Cronin said it’s time to improve and rebuild what they already have, especially at the nature park.

“Many of the exhibits at the Nature Park are 15 years old and we’re getting ready to start a new fundraising campaign to rebuild and recreate habitats. The rescue animals we have need a lot more care than some of the other animals,” Cronin said. “Some need private environments and need time to re-acclimate and feel the love.”

Cronin said she would also like to replace the pavers and the waterfall, making the nature park the main focus for the next 18 months.

The fun park (now called Scallywag’s) also will be renovated with new greens on the miniature golf course and new bumper boats. The bridge between the parking lot and the Shell Factory also will undergo renovation.

“No matter if you’re here for a day or a few hours, we’re just trying to make this a wonderful visit. We want to make it anything but ordinary. We’re trying to be a little out there,” Cronin said.

“Humphrey Bogart,” here with Pam Cronin, is part of the star-studded lobby leading to the Player’s Circle Theatre, a “black box” professional theater offering “a diverse range of shows to fulfill theatrical taste of all sorts of audiences.” Visit playerscircletheater.com for shows and show times.

Elvis in in the building! Shell Factory & Nature Park owner Pam Cronin stands in the star-studded lobby leading to the Player’s Circle Theatre, a “black box” professional theater offering “a diverse range of shows to fulfill theatrical taste of all sorts of audiences.” Visit playerscircletheater.com for shows and show times.

The Shell Factory & Nature Park at 16554 N. Cleveland Ave. in North Fort Myers is an iconic Lee County landmark. Owner Pam Cronin strives to maintain the attraction’s “old Florida” charm, keeping many of the kitschy components that give visitors an opportunity to create personal memorabilia.

The Player’s Circle Theatre opened in 2019 in what was once the Dolphin Room, bringing live theater, music, comedy and cabaret to the area, enticing more people from Charlotte County to make the short drive. Shell Factory& Nature Park owner Pam Cronin says they added new attrations, such as the theater, to keep the park attraction fresh.

Christmas can be celebrated anytime at the Christmas House at the Shell Factory & Nature Park. Owner Pam Cronin stands at the entry way.