In the mid-1930s, a significant event took shape, which had surprisingly similar parallels in my life, well into the 1960s and beyond. In the mid-1930s, a group of wealthy investors approached officials in my native St. Augustine concerning the building of a major attraction there. In as much as the suggested attraction was felt to not be in concert with the historical background of a city which was founded in 1565 by the Spanish, the proposal was turned down.
Rather than abandon the idea, the investors took the very unique approach of acquiring a large tract of then vacant property on the ocean near the county line, having it incorporated into an independent “municipality” electing its own municipal officials, and starting the huge construction project which would soon become known as “Marineland of Florida.”
When about seven years of age, I held my Dad’s hand and watched as scores of trucks completed delivery of the tons of cement required to construct the giant main tank, the smaller tanks, the main entrance, and the executive offices. The hundreds of viewing windows had to be watertight, and a large paved parking lot provided. On opening day in 1938, some 20,000 visitors attended the opening and marveled at the sight of hundreds of species of underwater life, including the playful dolphin, which were then called “porpoises.”
We neighborhood kids rode our bicycles six miles, one way, to a salt water lagoon near our homes to watch the secretive training of the first dolphins to enter Marineland’s daily shows. Marineland was also the scene of a feature movie, “Revenge of the Creature”.
(In which I had a romantic “lover’s lane” scene and was the debut of a young man who played a lab technician……his name was Clint Eastwood). It was also the scene of such underwater epics as “Sea Hunt” starring Lloyd Bridges”. It is still in operation today, but as a marine research facility. It was the first of many “oceanariums.”
Next month: The AQUATARIUM opens in St. Pete Beach!
Story by Julian Fant
Photo from the Marineland Instagram. Follow them @MarinelandFL.