Marineland of the Pacific
"Marineland of the Pacific" was a combination of aquariums and live marine mammal performances, located on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula. Here are a few photos from Marineland!
First up is this image showing the entrance, with a sculpture depicting a leaping pilot whale and two common dolphins, with a shape to the right resembling a whale's spout (also forming the letter "M"). Very nice!
This next one is kind of a neat view - undated, but certainly from the 1950's. That mess of a construction zone in the foreground is presumably part of Marineland, though what part, I couldn't say. Because it is top secret. In spite of the clutter, Palos Verdes sure looks lovely. All that blue!
I wish feeding my cat was this exciting. Of course it helps that the trainer is leaning dramatically over the water. One slip and the pilot whale will swallow him whole. Or at least that's what I would hope. What do you feed a pilot whale? Those little cocktail franks, Pop Tarts, leftover meatloaf, old bagels... pretty much anything, really.
If you look at the hillside in the previous photo, you can match up some of the features in this one.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to Marineland of the Pacific!
11 comments:
Major-
I love the sensible amount of folks watching the giant feeding exercise. It's certainly hard to beat that incredible location for Marineland. What a view.
And what do you mean you don't feed your cat in this fashion-??!! I was told this was the only way to do it. That's why I never got a cat. Evidently there's still hope.
Thanks, Major.
I believe the city of Palos Verdes still has the large sculpture of Bubbles the pilot whale in a city storage yard somewhere. And I believe one of the dolphin sculptures is on display at the Point Vicente Lighthouse near the former site of Marineland. I think I've also read that the "M"-shaped whale spout part of the sign was also saved, but can't remember now what I read about it.
Is that a fire burning in the hills in the background of the third picture, just above the guy doing the Gene Kelly in Singin' In the Rain impersonation?
Palos Verdes is gorgeous. Of course I love the entire California coastline of which I've seen most of through my travels over the years.
It's kind of sad that the Marineland parks have disappeared. But you know what would've happened eventually if they stayed open. The park owners would've put roller coasters and thrill rides into the park to draw more people and more profit.
TokyoMagic!, you are a wealth of SoCal theme park information. Thanks for sharing that bit of info.
Back then, Marineland was a pleasant drive out into rhe country. KS
Why do I get the feeling that this place was the inspiration for Free Wily?
Nanook, it must have been fun to be that close to the action. Look at the two little boys just to the right of the feeding platform - I’ll bet they were amazed. As for my cat, I only feed it endangered birds. Nothing but the best for Mister Whiskers.
TokyoMagic!, yes, Wikipedia said that parts of that sign still survive in various locations. I wonder how many people see them each day and have no idea about the history behind them?
Chuck, there is something in that photo, but I think it was either a lens aberration (or some other in-camera glitch), or a problem that occurred when it was developed.
K. Martinez, I think that the public’s negative feelings toward keeping intelligent marine mammals in those small tanks is part of the reason that places like Sea World have changed so much. Of course, money is another reason!
KS, I’ll bet it really WAS pleasant!
The Disney Dudebro, I’ve never actually seen that movie, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was the inspiration.
What a beautiful set! I can feel the sunshine and smell the sea air just looking at them. And that sign and sculpture, besides fitting perfectly with their surroundings, are a great example of blurring the lines between fine art and commercial art.
I grew up near Marineland Canada in Niagara Falls (I can probably sing their 1980s-era advertising jingle in my sleep). They have added about a dozen amusement park rides over the years, but they still have a respectable aquarium, and the largest collection of beluga in captivity.
The whale feeding reminds me of my childhood dog, King the Great Big Chocolate Lab. His favorite treat was pancakes, and he was really good at catching them in the air if you threw them like Frisbees. We never measured or anything, and distances look different when you're a kid, but I swear I've never seen a dog leap as high into the air as King on the trail of a flying flapjack fresh off the griddle.
Man I'm dying to find a decent place today with an aquarium that has a Motel, Restaurant AND Cocktails! I'd be making reservations in a minute! Oh well. Marineland was a special treat, no doubt, at least until Sea World opened up. Marineland didn't, after all, have a hydrofoil running around giving rides out in the Pacific.
I don't know how far away it is for you, Patrick, and they don't open until May, but Marineland Canada has a ton of hotels within a mile radius, most of them with bars and restaurants. And if you want to take a day’s break from the sea beasties, you've got the Falls to look at and other touristy stuff.
And then it became Hanna-Barbera's Marineland. I especially enjoyed the Baja Reef exhibit where you could snorkel with the sharks.
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