Fort Myers, Florida: Shell Factory
Vast seashell and souvenir shop: 5 million shells, and its own post office. Opened in 1938. Claims to have the largest collection of stuffed animals in the world. Live animal park behind the building has a diving cat. JFK Conspiracy Room.
Shell Factory and Nature Park
- Address:
- 2787 N. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL
- Directions:
- Shell Factory and Nature Park. North edge of the city. On the west side of US Hwy 41/N. Tamiami Trail about 1.5 miles south of Del Prado Blvd N.
- Hours:
- Daily 10-5 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 239-995-2141
- Admission:
- Free. Animal park $13.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
-
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Visitor Tips and News About Shell Factory
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Get here early. With three restaurants, live music, a pirates' den, taxidermy museum, Christmas store, fossil museum and you can stand in one spot and get fresh fudge, ice cream (including doggie ice cream in two flavors), mail a letter, play the Lotto and order a sandwich. Don't miss the kite park, putt-putt golf and zip line over the turtle pond. JFK conspiracy theory room is a must see.
[Robert, 04/20/2018]
While perhaps not as visually stunning as Waltzing Waters used to be, we found plenty to ponder on our recent trip to the Shell Factory.
Who would've thought that you could find tourist interest in JFK's back problems? Why, just add a rocking chair, reputed to have been owned by the former President and supposed to have helped said back problems! To the left of the rocking chair, a tri-fold display reminded us of the dark days following JFK's assassination, complete with what I hoped was just a model of the rifle used to shoot him -- and all of it is set up adjacent to a display of shells.
Finally, following our first Miniature Golf game of the new year, we posed with the tiny God of Miniature Golf [an itty-bitty statue at the Shell Factory], who is perpetually stooped over, perhaps in an effort to get the perfect putt.
[Louise Foresman, 02/19/2015]Shell Factory
Side of the road attraction with nature park in back. Interesting way to blow an hour or two. You can feed a lot of the animals in there, camels, zebra. All of the staff were very nice and helpful offering up info about the animals. Worth the few bucks to get in. Didn't much care for the shop, but lots of tourist gifts galore if that's your thing.
[Jennifer, 04/12/2014]
The incredibly tacky Shell Factory, north of Fort Myers, Florida, is too weird to be believed!
[Martin Hafer, 08/07/2012]Shell Factory - No More Waltzing Waters
We found Shell Factory easily -- well maintained with a variety of things to do. Shops, restaurants, nature park, ballroom. Also some odd things such as stock cars and a fire engine. Shell Factory is closed Mon and Tue (we were there on a Tue) so we just walked around the "village like" environment outside.
We were told by the security guard that the Waltzing Waters were taken out some time ago due to high cost to maintain it. Great attraction, can't wait to go back when they are open!
[Dawn Peters, 07/25/2010]A sad loss of the Waltzing Waters -- the main reason we list this attraction.
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Nearby Offbeat Places
Edison, Ford, Firestone: Uncommon Friends, Fort Myers, FL - 4 mi.
Ethereal Thomas Edison Statue, Fort Myers, FL - 5 mi.
Pipeosaurus - Imaginarium Dinosaur, Fort Myers, FL - 5 mi.In the region:
Nostalgic Mural, Bonita Springs, FL - 26 mi.
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For years the Shell Factory was most famous -- to some, anyway -- for its Waltzing Waters "liquid fireworks" show (currently in mothballs). It's good to see that the place has picked up the slack with other jaw-dropping sights.