Holly V. Kapherr
SeaWorld might be the first name you think of when steering Florida-bound clients toward marine life experiences and education, but it didn't used to be that way. Marineland, founded in 1938 along Florida's Atlantic coast between Flagler Beach and St. Augustine, was long the bastion for educating and entertaining guests with its groundbreaking dolphin shows.
The "vintage Florida" theme park, now run as a nonprofit by its parent company, the Georgia Aquarium, is making a run to draw visitors back with one-of-a-kind dolphin immersion programs and a full-park renovation starting this summer as it celebrates its 80th anniversary.
Marineland opened its doors on Florida's Atlantic coast in 1938.
Originally named Marineland Studios when it opened in the late 1930s, the park was intended to be a location for shooting aquatic motion pictures. In fact, Marineland Studios was the location for the horror film, "Return of the Creature" in 1955, in which Clint Eastwood made one of his first screen appearances (albeit an uncredited one]. Marineland was also a favorite spot of Ernest Hemingway, who frequented the Rocking Bar on site and had a dolphin named for him after his death.
Marineland claims to be the first park to train dolphins, thanks to a trainer from the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus, who was brought from Sarasota to try his hand at teaching Flippy, the park's original bottlenose dolphin, a few tricks. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the town of Marineland and the theme park itself became a major draw for Florida tourism.
With the emergence of the Orlando theme parks, Marineland fell on hard times and eventually into bankruptcy in the 1990s. The park's rebirth began in 2007 when it was purchased by the Georgia Aquarium and rebranded as Marineland Dolphin Adventure. The park still houses rehabilitating sea turtles and tiger sharks as well as other marine life, including octopuses, giant spiny lobsters and tropical fish in aquariums for viewing.
Today, Marineland is poised for a big comeback. The current dolphin immersion programs, which start at just over $100, net guests a 30-to-40-minute, shallow-water, interactive experience with the dolphins and trainers at the park. Guests can don their swimsuits and a life jacket to touch and interact with the dolphins in an intimate setting for a singular experience just steps away from the Atlantic Ocean.
Guests who prefer to stay dry can participate in a touch and feed program, view dolphin performance demonstrations, take a guided tour or participate in educational workshops.
The park's 80th anniversary kicks off with a celebration on May 31. A new museum showcasing Marineland's 80-year history will open this summer as will a viewing station at Submarine Hill, where guests can watch wild marine life along the Atlantic coast, including migrating whales. The hill was once used by the U.S. Coast Guard to keep for German U-boats during World War II.
Festivities scheduled to kick off in June include a Meet Our Trainers daily program and a Family Sunday Fundays event with education programming and games. On Saturdays, an 80 Years of Animal Love and Care event kicks off with the chance to take a guided Behind the Seas tour, meet the park's 15 bottlenose dolphins, sample food and meet guests.