Photographs by Alene Greto, Nature Park Manager

What a great concept… The Shell Factory is celebrating its 70th anniversary and sharing activities and savings with its customers.

I hit upon the Christmas specials, not only had I never paid attention to their Christmas department but I never shopped in it. Oh my, it was terrific, I purchased such cute gifts for my friends and family that are out of state and of course, picked up “gifts” for me, in the line of decorations.

I want to tell you what I truly loved though and it was bringing my husband & son back to see their incredible trains and village area in their Christmas department! Everything is just gorgeous, fun, & outstanding, I could go on & on.

By the way, the cookies and Christmas music was just what I needed to get into the mood for Christmas. Thank you Shell Factory for the great day, and prices! I intend to do more Christmas shopping at your store and not only in the Christmas department.

Santa even has his workshop setup in The Shell Factory’s Christmas Holiday Department and you can see children giving Santa their holiday wish lists!

I hope all of you have a terrific holiday, and thanks for starting mine off in the perfect way.

A early Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Halloween from all the animals at the Petting Farm at the Shell Factory’s Nature Park!

This what the pigs do after ‘Pigs on Parade’, they have a pumpkin fest. A big thank you to Shecklers Produce who donated 10 Pumpkins to the animals at the Nature Park.

The Petting Farm’s piggies were trying to carve up some pumpkin at the Nature Park, but instead they ended up eating it all up! Try not to make a pig of yourself this Halloween, eating all that pumpkin!

Why not carve up your own pumpkin face using some templates we found that might help you on your quest. This is the typical smiling pumpkin with an X for eyes that you normally might see for a carved pumpkin face. Or here’s a list of a few other carved pumpkin templates you might be interested in this Happy Pumpkin (oops - Halloween) Season; Jaggedy Face , Cat Moon, Triangle, Dog, Cat, Dude, Sun Face, Lion, Jack and the Classic Face.

Photographs by Alene Greto, Nature Park Manager

On Monday there was someone from just about all aspects of Lee county that attended the “Shell Factory’s 70th Anniversary Bash kickoff”.

Also featured was the grand opening of “Pirate’s Cove” which was a dream come true to owner Tom Cronin. He put his personal touches and thoughts into every little detail in that park.

Pirate’s Cove would be a great event venue for class and family reunions, company parties, and family gatherings. If you’d like more details please call 995-2141 ext 145 and we’d be happy to help you plan your next event at Pirate’s Cove.

Pam Cronin looking lovely as always greeted every guest that attended with her famous radiant smile. The night went with out a hitch.

The delicious food at this memorable event was prepared by the famous “Captain Fishbones”, located on the Shell Factory property. Capt’n Fishbones is known for it’s excellent food, catering services, and staff.

Nancy Michell the CEO of the Shell Factory and Nature Park, welcomed all the guests at the door and garnished them with color coordinating beads for the event.

Sunny Lee Grabert a long time friend and fabulous artist, painted while the guests watched. She was painting a new “photo op” that will be placed in the remodeled miniature golf course at the Shell Factory located behind Captain Fishbone’s Restaurant.

The atmosphere of the evening was graced with Victor’s smooth Jazz melodies. The smoothness of the horns gave guests the sense that they were in a smooth jazz club.

Santa was spotted at the Shell Factory again working in his workshop there. He was talking with a little girl asking her what she wanted for Christmas. Already Santa’s elves are busy making up her requests and making his list so everything is delivered on time.

A picture in front of Santa’s workshop would make a great picture on a holiday card for your families to enjoy!

Bring the kids to see the train that drives on the tracks hanging from the ceiling in the Holiday Palace.

Don’t forget to whisper your Christmas wish list in Santa’s ear while at the Shell Factory this year!

Happy Shopping!

Santa’s helper, Benjamin Smith, was spotted driving Santa’s sled in the Holiday Palace at the Shell Factory on Sunday! Thanks for helping Santa! He drew quite a crowd who cheered him on as he drove; followed by clapping.

Santa has already been busy this year making & delivering toys, ornaments, stuffed animals, miniature villages buildings, Christmas trees, and so, so much more to the Shell Factory’s Holiday Shop!

Why not get a head start on your Holiday shopping and decorations by visiting the Shell Factory! If you can’t find the holiday decoration here at the Shell Factory it probably doesn’t exist. There are thousands of holiday items here and it will make you have the holiday spirit just strolling through this section while listening to the holiday music!

Bring your appetite and reward yourself for finishing all that holiday shopping early this year by eating out at Capt’n Fishbones.

Did you say, “What’s at the Shell Factory & Nature Park”?  Why not take a look at the map by either clicking on the map to see a larger picture or by clicking on this link.

Why not get out your Christmas shopping list out and head on out to the Shell Factory.  You will be surprised how many items you will find at the Shell Factory; from jewelry, pearls, toys, stuffed animals, hermit crabs & hermit crab houses, Starfish coffee,  shells, coral, conchs, sealife, fossils, specimen shells, dishes, cooking supplies for barbeques; cards, candies, fudge, clothing, Christmas shop filled with every Christmas item you can imagine, red white and blue section, and so much more! You can do all your holiday shopping in one location this year by shopping at the Shell Factory!

Guess What? They even have a post office so you can mail your packages off from the Shell Factory while you’re there! Now, what can be better than that!

Don’t forget to stop at the Coffee shop for an iced Green Tea Latte. They are fantastic! Or catch lunch and/or supper at Capt’n Fishbones, while the kid’s play miniature golf and have water fights in the water bumper boats!

Then wonder on over to the Nature Park to see their new Dinosaur Section and don’t forget to go to the Petting Zoo to pet & visit the animals there.

The Shell Factory celebrated their 70th Anniversary on Monday, October 22, 2007 which kicks off 70 days of events. Everyday until the end of the year there will be a different event going on. To see the events for today and until the end of the year, click on the image below to see a larger image of the events calendar for this special celebration!

You can find an article about this very special celebration on both the North Fort Myers Neighbor and Cape Coral Breeze and both articles were written by Andrea Galabinski.

The Shell Factory has been around for 70 years of pure enjoyment for families over the years.  Generations of families in the area and outside of our area keep coming back to enjoy the Shell Factory and Nature Park.  There is never a dull moment at the Shell Factory, as they have so many events going on daily.

I, like others in Southwest Florida, have very fond memories at the Shell Factory.  I came as a small child with my mother, then as a teen with my school, as an adult with my sons, and now with my grandkids.

The Shell Factory is a place you can come over and over and every time you will see something new.  Each of us have a bit of kid in us and the Shell Factory seems to bring the kid out in all of us.

It’s a place to come and smile and just have a great time; from enjoying a great meal at Capt’n Fishbones, to exploring the millions of shells & coral inside the Shell Factory to feeding the animals in the Nature Park.  The Shell Factory is a great family event place!

Please come join us as we celebrate our 70th anniversary at the Shell Factory which has been entertaining us Floridians and others alike.

Click on link or image above to see larger image.

At the Shell Factory Nature Park we are proud to have Dr. Huff  a wonderful caring vet from Cape Coral aboard.  Pictures of Dr. Huff helping out a hurt turkey & teaching our staff member, Scott Goad how to work with the exotic birds.

Dr. Huff is only a phone call away & we appreciate his teaching skills & true love for all animals.