Seven Seas Marine Life Park facts for kids

Newtka giving a ride during a show in the mid 1970s

The Seven Seas Marine Life Park was a special place in Arlington, Texas, United States. It was a park where you could see amazing sea animals and other creatures. The city of Arlington built and owned this fun animal theme park.

The park first opened its doors on March 18, 1972. It was quite large, covering about 35 acres. You could find it in north Arlington, right off Interstate 30. It was also very close to another famous park, Six Flags Over Texas, and next to Arlington Stadium.

Sadly, the city council of Arlington decided to close the park in 1976. It wasn't making enough money to pay for its daily costs and the loans used to build it.

Today, the land where the park once stood is home to the Arlington Sheraton Hotel. Some of the hotel buildings are actually original parts of the old park. You can even find a beautiful bridged Pagoda from the park's old Japan garden near the hotel's pool area.

Meet the Amazing Animals of Seven Seas Park

The Seven Seas Marine Life Park was famous for its incredible animal shows. Many different animals lived and performed here.

Newtka the Killer Whale

Newtka was a huge female killer whale, also known as an orca. She weighed about 6,000 pounds and was 18 feet long! Newtka was the park's main attraction. She lived in the biggest performance area, which had a few names like Indian Ocean Pool.

Larry Lawrence was her trainer. Newtka stayed at the park for all four years it was open. After the park closed in 1976, another park called Marineland and Game Farm Canada bought her for $125,000. She joined another orca named Kandu there.

Dolphins: The Stars of the Mediterranean Sea Stadium

The park had a fantastic dolphin show with twelve bottlenose dolphins. Jannie, Rodney, and Debbie were three of these smart animals. They were each about seven feet long.

These dolphins lived in the Mediterranean Sea Stadium. Their shows changed each season, but one of their most popular acts was called the Dolphin University Show.

Pancho the Popular Elephant Seal

Pancho was a male elephant seal who weighed about 2,500 pounds. He was a real crowd-pleaser! Pancho was so well-liked that he even got five votes in the 1973 mayoral election. The mayor, Mr. Vandergriff, was also a big fan of Pancho.

Pancho's show was a bit unpredictable because he had a strong personality. The show only happened if Pancho was in the mood to perform! Sometimes, a younger elephant seal named Cisco would fill in for him.

Sea-lion Circus: Clever Performers

More than fourteen Californian sea lions lived and performed at the park. They would take turns in the shows and in the feeding pools. They were very clever and entertained many visitors.

Penguin Troop: Little Birds with Big Dreams

The park had a group of penguins, mostly Rockhopper penguins, plus one Magellanic penguin. There was a fun idea to teach these birds how to roller skate, but it never quite happened. Still, people loved watching these small birds perform with their trainers in the Sea of Cortez Arena.

Other Wonderful Animals

Besides the main stars, many other animals called Seven Seas Park home. These included a chimpanzee, three harbor seals, and playful otters. There was also a rescued caiman crocodile, two Himalayan black bears, and at least seven sharks. A sea turtle named Tom, colorful flamingos, macaws, toucans, ducks, geese, and thousands of koi and goldfish also lived there.

Fun Rides and Attractions

The park offered more than just animal shows. It also had a few other attractions for visitors to enjoy.

• Arctic Ride - This was a "dark ride" that took you on a journey through a pretend Antarctica.
• Beacon of the Seven Seas - A tall structure that likely offered views or was a landmark.
• Bona Venture - Another attraction, though details are scarce.
• Koi Fish Pond - A peaceful pond filled with beautiful koi and goldfish.
• Pearl Diving - An activity where visitors could try to find pearls.