Marineland - Jumping Dolphin at the Circular Tank

This picture was taken I believe in the mid to late 70's.  I used to really enjoy going to Marineland and am glad that I still have a few pictures to remind me of "The Good Days".  I have talked to many people that agree that the park was much better when they had shows like the one above.  I have a few more pictures that I will post sometime in the future, after I get them scanned.

Dolphin Statue outside marineland of Florida

Picture was taken in June 2010 as my children and myself were driving back from Washington Oaks Garden State Park.  The feel of the "new" Marineland just feels empty.  In the past when I would stop at Marineland, you could feel excitement in the air.  It seemed like a lot was happening, even during the winter months, but now it just feels void of anything.   I still believe this is too bad, I understand that the dolphins are thriving and all and I am happy about this, but there used to be so much more to Marineland than just the Dolphins.  Yes, the dolphins were the main focal point, but they also had sperm whales, manatees, dragonfish, sharks, flamingoes, sea turtles, manta rays, and so much more.  You actually could learn about a lot of different types of marine mammals and animals.  You just do not feel the magic that was once there.

Entrance to the "new" Marineland

This picture was taken of my two children at what used to be the entrance to the original Marineland, in June of this year.   You parked on the west side of A1A and had to walk across the road through a crosswalk and would walk up the walk way passing this display.  As you walked you the walkway, they had different displays on the right hand side and just up on the left they had a Fudge Kitchen, which we used to buy fudge each time we went.  Then on up was the gift shop and the entrance way.  At least this display is still in the same location even though you have to walk a little out of the way to get to it.  Parking is now west of this area on the Atlantic Ocean side.  In the "old" days, there was gift shops, ponds, and exhibits, on the west side of A1A.  They had a 3D theatre, an electric eel exhibt, a rattlesnake show, along with other exhibits as well.  I still feel something has been lost in all the changes.  I grew up in St Augustine and even though it has changed a lot since I lived there, I feel some of it is for the better, but that is not the case for Marineland. It has lost alot of its charm and magic that was once there.

Dolphin Statue at Marineland of Florida

Was taken outside Marineland of Florida in June 2010.  When I was younger I used to go to Marineland on a regular basis.  I loved going and watching the dolphin shows and seeing the many variety of sealife they had.  I even enjoyed the rattelsnake and electric eel shows, but none of that is there anymore.  It used to be that a normal person could go and enjoy the park, but now days you have to either save a lot of money or have money to enjoy the park.  Too bad they had to make all the changes.  The park was a place where children could go and dream of becoming a dolphin trainer, marine biologist, or an oceanographer.  Taht was what happened to me, unfortunately my dreams did not come true, but Marineland was what made me pursue those dreams to start with.