Marineland of the Pacific facts for kids
Marineland of the Pacific
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| Date opened | August 28, 1954 |
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| Date closed | February 11, 1987 |
| Location | Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 33°44′17″N 118°23′53″W / 33.738°N 118.398°W |
Marineland of the Pacific was a popular ocean park and tourist spot. It was located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula coast in Los Angeles County, California, USA. A famous architect named William Pereira designed its main building. For a while in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was known as Hanna-Barbera's Marineland. The park was open from 1954 until 1987. That year, the owners of SeaWorld San Diego bought it. The new owners moved the famous killer whales and other animals to their San Diego park. Then, they suddenly closed Marineland.
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Marineland's History
Opening Marineland
Marineland of the Pacific opened in 1954. This was one year before Disneyland opened its doors. At the time, it was the biggest ocean park in the world. William Pereira designed the park. His other famous works include the Transamerica Pyramid and the Los Angeles International Airport. His designs helped shape the look of California in the mid-1900s.
Marineland was most famous for its performing orcas. A tourist guide from 1974 said it was a great place for entertainment. You could see a "killer whale" jump 18 feet out of the water. It would grab a fish from its trainer's teeth! You could also see a dolphin jump through a fiery hoop. Sea lions would even sing a tune.
Marineland was home to Orky and Corky. They were two of the most well-known orcas at any ocean park then. (These were not the first orcas named Orky and Corky, who lived shorter lives.) The park also had the first pilot whales ever shown to the public. Their names were "Bubbles" and "Bimbo." Other animals included dolphins, sea lions, harbor seals, sharks, and many other sea creatures.
Fun Attractions at Marineland
Marineland offered many exciting things to do. One popular ride was the Sky Tower. This was a round elevator ride that went 344 feet above the ocean. Visitors could also take boat tours along the coastline every hour.
Another special attraction was the Baja Reef. This was a unique aquarium where you could swim! Visitors could put on a swim mask and snorkel. Then, they could swim with colorful fish and even sharks. The swim tour lasted about seven minutes in 1979. In 1985, a special ticket to this area cost $4.
Around 1979, the park added a new macaw show. There were also cartoon characters walking around. Visitors could also see a "marine animal care center." This showed how the park looked after its sea animals.
Why Marineland Closed
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich bought Marineland in December 1986. This company also owned the SeaWorld parks. At the time, Marineland was getting old and barely making money. The new owners planned to fix it up. However, they canceled these plans in January 1987. They said the park was in worse shape than they thought. They believed it would lose $2 million a year unless they spent $25 million on improvements.
Orky and Corky were moved to SeaWorld's San Diego park. This happened just a few weeks after the sale. There, Corky was given a new name, "Shamu." The city council of Rancho Palos Verdes tried to make the company keep the park open. They also wanted them to allow access to the beach.
Even though the company had promised to keep Marineland open, it suddenly closed. This happened on February 11, 1987, just six weeks after the sale. The new owners said they received threats. This made them close the gates three weeks earlier than planned. The animals were moved out in the middle of the night. The new owners even poured concrete into the drains. This was to make sure the park could not reopen. Many local people were upset about the sudden closure. On March 1, 1987, the company announced the park would stay closed for good.
What Happened After Marineland Closed
Many of Marineland's buildings were left empty for almost 20 years. The park's tallest landmark was a 414-foot high tower. It stayed standing until 1995. The Marineland Restaurant kept operating until 2004. It was called the "Catalina Room" because you could see Catalina Island on clear days. Some other buildings remained until 2006.
In 1995, a developer bought the land where Marineland was. They paid $24 million for 480 acres of coastal land.
Later, in 2007, work began on a new resort. This $450 million project included a hotel and spa. It was completed in 2009.
The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is located nearby. It reopened in 2006 after being updated. It has some items from Marineland on display. These include a "Save Marineland" pin and old park guides. One of the original dolphin statues from Marineland's entrance is also there.
Marineland Historical Society
The Marineland of the Pacific Historical Society was started in 2003. Its goal is to share information and pictures about the park's history. They help students, researchers, and anyone interested in the park.
Marineland in Movies and TV
While Marineland was open, it appeared in many TV shows. These include The Beverly Hillbillies, The Munsters, and The Partridge Family. It was also seen in Wonder Woman and A Team. Two episodes of The Chevy Show were filmed there with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. An episode of The Invaders was also shot at Marineland. In an episode of the Lucy Show, Lucille Ball falls into an animal exhibit. This scene was even on the cover of TV Guide in 1965. In 1958, jazz artist Red Nichols recorded a live music album at Marineland.
Marineland was also featured in movies. These include The Mechanic with Charles Bronson. It was also in the Elvis Presley film, Live a Little, Love a Little.
After Marineland closed, its empty site was still used for filming. Scenes for the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies were shot there. Other films include Charlie's Angels, Pearl Harbor, and The Aviator. For movies like Life As A House and Fun with Dick and Jane, whole neighborhoods were built on the site.
Many TV shows also used the location after it closed. Fear Factor from NBC often filmed there. One episode of Viper also used the site. MTV's Motel California was filmed there too.
