Many people don’t know that Marineland of Florida is actually its own town of 192 acres that spans across both Flagler and St. Johns counties with a population of about 16.
Marineland is best known for being the location of Marineland Studios where, ever since 1938, hosted film studios that produced movies like, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 1954 and “Revenge of the Creature” in 1955.
Marineland was the first facility to successfully breed and train Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the 1950s, opening doors to the public for the first time to be able to see marine life up-close with a personalized experience. Marineland became an unexpected hit, with over 20,000 tourists vying for attendance of the first public opening.
More than 900,000 people visited each year until about the mid-1970s. Marineland became the model after which all other Oceanic Aquariums were, and have been, built. The competition from similar attractions, though, as well as attraction maintenance contributed to the facility’s decline in attendance.
In 2004, many of Marineland’s exhibits were retired, and the facility underwent major renovation. In 2006, Marineland’s Dolphin Conservation Center was designed. This is a modern 1.3 million-gallon facility that focuses on ecological health and scientific studies. While entertaining, the facility focuses more on educating guests in the life cycles of Florida’s aquatic areas. In 2011, Marineland’s Dolphin Conservation Center was renamed Marineland Dolphin Adventure and now features an exciting “Dolphin Adventure” that features a three-in-one tour behind-the-scenes and below-the-decks tour of the facility and a “Behind the Seas” tour of new animal exhibits before or after a swim-with-the dolphin adventure or a touch-and-feed adventure.
Admission rates start at $14.95 and $24.99, depending on age, event and experience choices.
Mareineland of Florida
9600 Oceanshore Blvd., St. Augustine
877-933-3402
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*Gulf World Marine Park
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