Ashley DeShields rides the bumper boats with her daughter, Samantha, 5, during the recent 25-cent Carnival at the Shell Factory. The North Fort Myers attraction is popular with kids of all ages. CHUCK BALLARO
Nothing says summer in North Fort Myers better than a day at The Shell Factory & Nature Park.
Recently, the 80-plus year old landmark celebrated 25 years under the ownership of the Cronins — who saved the then-declining attraction — with an old-fashioned carnival with 25-cent games and attractions.
Now, they are marking July with their most successful summer campaign, Christmas in July, with specials on some of their collectibles and, of course, Santa Claus, who will be coming July 23 for Breakfast with Santa, with reservations are required. The following day Santa will be in the Christmas Store taking kids’ requests for Christmas and giving them LOTS of incentive to aim for his “nice” list for the rest of the year.
“We’re going to have 20 percent off all our collectibles so people can get a start on Christmas, and we’re planning on doing some back-to-school stuff in August just before school starts so people can have fun,” Shell Factory general manager Anne Sheridan said.
As for Scalliwag’s Fun Park, after months of inactivity, the bumper boats should be ready any time now for use. They have some brand-new boats, a new dock and old boats that have been repadded.
Mindy Duncan, from Ohio, takes a ride on the zip line with Duncan Weaver, 7, during the recent 25-cent Carnival at the Shell Factory. CHUCK BALLARO
“It was just time to replace the boats and fix some old ones and replace the dock to make things look newer,” Sheridan said. “After a while, everything needs to be refurbished and with the boats we chose to do it.”
The miniature golf course has already seen some greens replaced as well as the treasure chests. ‘
What has remained the same is the zip line, which has been such a huge hit in the seven years it has been there that it has already paid for itself.
The carousel has also been a big hit. Costing only a dollar, kids of all ages get to ride a horse while parents and grandparents remember such rides from their childhood. Children with special needs or a disability get to ride for free.
“All the adults have stories about the carousel when they grew up. It’s a lot of fun, as is the shooting gallery, which is also a dollar, but is coin driven,” Sheridan said. “People have a great time with that, too.”
Chanelle Chen feeds a goat with the help of her daughter, Ciya, 1. The Nature Park features lots of animals. CHUCK BALLARO
The Shell Factory has packages where families can save money and spend a day of fun without having to leave the area.
That includes the nature park, where they have a new baby alligator and more new animals, with the sloth encounters being very popular. A new aviary is being finished for the birds, and the owl has her own little room in the park
Field trips and birthday parties, which were discontinued by COVID, are raring back up, and they can package the nature and fun parks and have Hunt Brothers Pizza.
And there’s always the Players Circle Theater, which will remain open until the end of July before closing for the remainder of the summer to get ready for the 2022-23 theater season that begins in October.
There will be stand-up comedy, live jazz with resident musician Danny Sinoff, who will do tribute shows for Bobby Darin, Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra, and cabaret shows.
And if you get hungry, there’s always the Southern Grill, where a new menu is being prepared with new drink specials at Tommy’s tiki bar.
Of course, you can also go to the flea market, which is open four days a week and specials every day at the Shell Factory store, which will soon be getting a fresh shipment of coral coming in.
“There are so many new people moving here and everyone wants to design their home and if you come from the north and you want to be coastal, our coral collection is over the top,” Sheridan said. “It took so long to get here with COVID, and it will be a big part of our summer. When people want to decorate, they are told to come here.”
