The ruins of Marineland

[toiseywoisey]

I saw Buddy Rich perform in one of the oceanariums and the dolphins started jumping and splashing water all over his big band and creating swells that lapped into the performance area. Buddy began striking the snare when the dolphins jumped in and out of the water, then angrily stormed off the stage! Coincidentally, I sat next to Charlie Callas--the famous "rubber-faced" comic! I too visited the ruins of Marineland with a friend and climbed the view tower and could see LA from the top!

[thebakerman1]

Never even been to California but I know exactly how everybody feels about this. I've been in South FL all my life and we've seen the same things happen here as in most other places. It truly is sad to see so many true landmark places close after such a long run in society. It saddens me to see this even though I've never even been to any of these places because I can translate it to where I live.

Life was so much simpler back then as was entertainment in general. Makes me sad thinking about it.

[trollinyamom]

Marineland of the Pacific was a public aquarium and tourist attraction.

It operated from 1954 through 1986. Terranea Resort, a luxury hotel, has since been built on the site.When Marineland closed in December 1986, Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich, which owned Sea World in San Diego, purchased Marineland, ostensibly to continue to operate it.

Their intent, however, was to purchase Marineland solely to acquire Corky and Orky, a successful breeding pair of killer whales.

[trollinyamom]

@trollinyamom

Harcourt was in the process of rapidly expanding the Sea World enterprise throughout the nation, and was in desperate need of proven, successful breeding pairs of killer whales in order to supply their new Sea World locations with their headline act, "Shamu, the killer whale".Harcourt had been denied a permit to capture additional killer whales in the wild and was therefor limited to acquiring killer whales already in captivity.

[trollinyamom]

@trollinyamom

They therefor purchased the park, and within a few weeks after the purchase, moved Corky and Orky to their Sea World Park in San Diego in the middle of the night without any prior notice to the public, and closed Marineland claiming that the park was going to cost more money to renovate than they originally estimated.

They had planned to sell the land to an Arizona developer from the beginning, and quickly did so after closing the park.

[monny287]

If it was so popular and successful, why did it close? It looks really cool. :)

[kelseykate588]

OMFG. I am in that EXACT city right now! The resort that is built over it is the Terraina!

[CherzieBear]

SO MANY great memories of Marineland. Grandma used to take to me there & gosh was it a happy time. I live in NorCal now & last time I was down there, the line on the road was all wavey, like earth movement. Heck, we have earthquakes up the yin-yang here in The Geysers area quite often up here & I live close to the fault, so what can you say. I also adored The Pike in Long Beach & Knott's Berry Farm. It was FREE to get in back then & I'd ditch school on occassion to go there. Cool!

[DeaththeeKid]

I know the orca Corky :) I interact with her everytime I go to SeaWorld, shes such a sweetie

[SnuggleBear1970]

What happened to the condos they were supposed to build?

[Invaraeden]

I live pretty close to Terranea. I'm very sad that they didn't leave the ruins there....I would have loved to visit.

[ihatestupidsignups]

I remember visiting as a child.....

[DancingSpiderman]

@ihatestupidsignups yeah, me too.

[uutooyu]

marineland africa usa!

[evelutionofone]

good it id closed--THEY are free

[trollinyamom]

@evelutionofone

no they are not, they we moved to san diego and one orca died due to the move.

[chrisepting]

Nope - it's me :)- author chris epting

[evelutionofone]

@chrisepting

oh, well free still --in a different way... better than being a captive of humans

[arthurp272]

Is that the actor James Remar narrating this video?

[Lockbar]

I went there in 1965 when I was a little kid and have bad memories. I got hit by one of the employees. An old bitch working at the snack-bar slapped me when I reached for a straw for my coca-cola. Completely uncalled for. I hope she died in a flaming car wreck.

[DancingSpiderman]

@Lockbar Sorry to hear about that. I guess the employee wasn't the Amusement Park type.

[SingingSmile45]

I remember the day they opened Marineland like it was yesterday. Everyone was so very excited. We use to love to eat at the restaurant. How sad that it is now gone and soon forgotten. It will never be forgotten by some of us...

[louisa1832]

I loved Marineland; thought it beat Sea World by a mile, it was so much less pretentious. Pure fun. Nothing nice, or good, or wholesome, or fun can be allowed to remain because somewhere, somehow, some "progressive" will decide it's got to go!

[SpaceAceTX]

My parents took me to this around 1973, remember my dad putting the bumper sticker on our 1972 Pontiac. It was in the shape on a dolphin, was blue and said Marineland on it in script text. Funny how you remember the little tings like that from childhood

[DA90027]

Everything is overbuilt these days. Nothing is left subtle and clean. Most new buildings are ugly as shit. This Faux Mediterranean look is horrendous and only proves that money does not buy you taste.

[RacerFan12]

Where "exactly" is this? Anybody? Not sure where this is!

[stampersim]

@RacerFan12 - It was located on Palos Verdes Drive South in Rancho Palos Verdes. The new Terranea Resort (built by Donald Trump) is now located on the property.

[RacerFan12]

@stampersim Would it happen to be off of Palos Verdes Drive South, onto Terranea Way? Also, is this around San Diego or L.A.?

[TheTyler0953]

0:59 is my fav :D

[TSSYF]

Marineland was one of my earliest childhood memories. I couldn't wait to be old enough to swim in Baja Reef.. then they went and closed it. Bastards.

[TheFunluver101]

This is making me cry. =[

[naruto52222222222222]

My father went there when he was small he told me I wish I was born the 80s damn it I was born too late (1994)

[erwintipton]

I went there back 83 on a school field trip when they were open.

[ISAFACE1]

Thanks for sharing this. I have many fond memories of my days growing up in Southern California. I lived in La Habra and very much remember Marineland and the sites there. I also remember the old Pierpoint Landing that we use to visit on many occasions. All those places like Marineland and others are very much etched into my memories forever.

[HattieLovesCattie]

I only went here in 1977.The homes in that area were so nice.

[mossandthesea]

I went to Marineland when I was a kid. It's a shame it's gone.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

Here is one case where the past is better.

I hate it when cool places are no longer around.

However, Marineland lives in our hearts.

George Vreeland Hill

[wolfdevon117]

My dad got the worst of it....... he wanted to take me so bad he knew where it was so we went he teared up and I saw he was very sad it was his favorite place to go when he was a kid next to gatorland. ]:}

[darrylhaynes]

sooo sad....

[backdraft57]

Gosh I'm really surprised it looks this run down. Why we all know that everything is getting better and those silly entropy laws don't really apply. Since man has been able to continually build himself up from some goo it would seem that this complex would be getting better and better and not falling apart. Oh wait, I forgot, those silly entropy laws apply to EVERYTHING except living creatures, how silly of me.

[BoyScout1960]

@backdraft57

The proximity to all that salt water doesn't help. Salt actually disintegrates masonry by penetrating it, and once within the crystal continue growing until the structure disintegrates. The salt can be carried on the wind, in bird droppings, and so on. In fact, the excrement of some birds (such as pigeons) carries high quantities of amonia and salt, which when it comes in contact with steel actually initiates an electro-chemical process that accelerates corrosion.

[DyreStraits]

@backdraft57 Oh there are plenty of places in North America that haven't been "improved" yet. Give us time and we will pave paradise.

[m61177k]

fond memories of the place, before corporate greed, ie, Harcourt, Brace (who owned Sea World) bought it, then closed. a damn shame. I loved that place

[hatelibs1]

to bad they sold it to the arabs for a hotel........a true shame....

[akummins]

actually this is not completely true. part of the park now serves as a non-profit marine life preserve where they rescue and treat marine animals (mostly seals and sea lions) to then release back into the wild.

[owg59]

I took a group of elementary school kids there just before it closed. Now they have apartments on that spot. And this is called "progress."

[tommygunn162]

cool vid

[limboslam]

Yeah, Marineland got its ass handed to it by Sea World.

[alllllllllrightythen]

@limboslam Yeah. Sea World spanked it's Ass relentlessly. But if Sea World didn't, Bob Barker and Pamela Anderson would have. They won't be happy until SW is closed too and we release the Shamus into the ocean. They'll be picking up surfers on their noses and tossing them through imaginary hoops just before they eat them.

[MrMegaFredzeppelin]

What a shame it is gone,sucks to see it go from a thriving business to nothing.

[dwarflover63]

@MrMegaFredzeppelin "Business" is the correct word. They certainly weren't doing it out of love.

[phantomempire]

sad it's gone ,i heard when it was sold in 1987 the new owner promised to keep it open, but didnt ?. i remember the movie ''LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE '' starring ''ELVIS '' was partly filmed at Marine land !!

[residentevil5fan18]

why is it abandon?

[systemaddictshock]

I remember Marineland. Went there before. What's next? Knott's Berry Farm?

[frankd1965]

In an episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" the Clampetts visited Marineland and wanted to know if there were Marines there.

[fiwaszewski]

WE USE 2 GO THERE

[azrial4421]

They should use these abandoned parks for deathmatches,

[smphares]

I only went there once, but have the memories. I remember swimming in the baja reef I think it was called. Good times! Hell, they even ruined Sea World once Anheiser Busch took over. It's too much of a wannabe theme park and it blows! I only go cause it's free to military every year. Knott's isn't the same either. Stupid greed!!!

[kidzbop411]

that makes me want to cry:*(

[knockout68]

I used to work at Marineland while going to high school in Palos Verdes. I sold merchandise at the Bubbles cart. I remember poor Bubbles stuck in that little tank day after day & she would bob her head out of the water continuously. I worked there up until it closed in 1987 & have a bunch of stuff from there from stuffed animals , to wooden carved dolphins & whales, my old uniform, photos etc...so sad what they did to Orkey & Corky, Bubbles etc...shipping them to Seaworld in the night. Awful.

[barmtrail]

I am glad i have the great, "So Cal" memories locked inside my mind. It truly is tragic to see these landmarks gone. P.O.P. was another great place. The, "Helms bakery trucks" 'Pup n Taco" 'Pioneer Chicken" I could go on and on. The 'ol mighty dollar has corrupted So Cal to the max, and there is No turning back. Well i am heading north to Seattle and i have to say Good-bye So cal, Thanks for the memories. I have a whole brain full. At least the Samboni birth place is still there. Bye All.......

[laudarenee]

@barmtrail Pup n Taco <3

[CatapultYourMom]

@barmtrail Keep in mind that every great memory you have "tragically" replaced someone else's great memory.

[SeattleLA]

@barmtrail Hi. Same here. What is POP? I moved from LA to Seattle also, about two years ago, having lived in Seattle before. Then there was the Pike in Long Beach. I am done with the southland for the rest of my life.

[DIPRODUCTIONZ]

It"s very sad to see good memories vanish. I remember in 6th grade(1984 Malabar element) we had a school trip to Marineland. That was the best trip ever!

[jeanmarie40]

so sad

[thelosthills]

Yes, I went there when it opened. I remember Bubbles the whale. Very big deal!! Yeah, that is el primo real estate. Greed is Good...NOT!

[EPCBear]

Very haunting indeed......and very sad. The "music" you used plays very well for this. Did you compose and play it, or what is it "borrowed" from?

Good job Chris!

[badgerbuddy]

oh cool... i want to visit the place now!

[snardlefarb]

thanks for posting this.

haunted the empty grounds for years.

scattered my granny's ashes off the coast here.

pre-development, it was breathtaking.

Terrornea is SUPER SPOOKY.

Luxury ghost town ready to follow Marineland's path to obsolescence. so sad.

[cycoberry]

i still remember this place in childhood memories they should have never torn it down what a waste of a good thing BASTERDS!!!!!!

[Kerikali]

Thank you for posting this. So sad. When I was a kid I sooo wanted to go to Marineland...never did.

[Dianna469]

so sad to see these places turning out like this. What happen to this one MONEY im gussing

[WolYou]

The fate of short-term profit oriented mindcraftship. Ugly in all its appearance.

[HattieLovesCattie]

This was 2 years ago.What does the place look like now?I went to the park in the late 1970's and enjoyed it,esp.feeding the seals.I know this place closed and fancy homes were built on part of the land and the other part had a rehab center.

[sptdexs]

really nice homes and a veryyy nice hotel called " terranea" is gonna be done in july.

[tigerprincess69]

If you look it up theirs a Beautiful Hotel and Resort called Terranea Grand Opening on June 12, 2009

[harleypiper]

hi tiger..I'm mike and I was a security guard there!!

I was taken there in 1977

[phantomempire]

its gone, i think housing is being built ..go on goole earth and see whats left ,sad

[2nicks]

Nice mini-documentary:-)

[corvettefan96]

I've got a still operating marineland by me

but it's more theme park like.

[woodencoasterfan]

Great photo's and excellent narration. I've never been there but seeing those photo's, I can immagine they were once filled with happy family's walking up and down them with children running and laughing. I wonder if Sea World San Diego had anything to do with it's closing. Once Sea World and WDW opened in Orlando, that kind of squashed most of the smaller attraction in Florida with the exception of a few that still struggle to survive today including Marineland near Palm Coast, FL

[wattehel]

Sea World San Diego bought Marineland LA and closed it.

[bizimonki]

The reason it died was due to lack of puplic attendance. Hanna-Barbara had it in the 80s, and yes it was busy in the summer, but was closed most of the other time. Gulf and Texaco supported the seal research, and yes I swam through Baja Reef and played in their arcades. But one trip was enough, even i frequented the park many times (was a buddying oceanographer) the demise was expected. At least we have our memories of the place and the fun times we had.

[jonleadbetter]

Thats really sad ='(

I hope 2 never see that happend to Disneyland someday...just the thought of it makes me want 2 cry ='(

[bob1724]

I live right next to it there buliding a resort

[grserm]

stunning and amazing. as a young boy i spent a wonderful day there back in late fifties.

[retlaw1976]

what happend to the pool that onced housed corky and orky?

are thre pools still standing?

[pawolverine70]

I have been archiving my slides of my familys 1963 trip to California including Marineland. When labeling the slides I have been surfing the net for info and ran across your video. Good job. It brought back memories.

[garys737]

I want to come home .

You know why nothing is there???

The environmentalist WACOs.....

[crackmunch]

i hear they moves because the lease was up AND lets face it having whales in captivity is pretty stupid. so i'm on the environments' side. Don't forget, you came from the environment so be nice to it or you will die. Or your kids will. Happy holidays

[weegeedisciplemaster]

crackmunch.die.

[WhoseLineFanXD]

Makes me want to cry and I've never even been there. T_T

[suzpe51]

I remember the alligator Farm near Knotts Berry Farm, I remember Japanese. Also, my Grandpa worked at Marineland as a janitor.

[crackmunch]

THAT was so much better than those fucking developments they got there now. If you read up in the owners of Marinelend were assheads. They went on to create Sea World. bla bla

[chemicalvalleysessio]

yes man, i used to rip dirt bikes and paintball and shit in there. good stuff, there was even a perfect pool to skate in.

[coolspindrift]

Thanks for sharing.

[USONATION187]

why did it have to close down? I remember going there as a kid in elementary school.

[a40sgal]

This was an awesome place to visit as a kid in the 1970s & 80s ! Who remembers the Baja Reef that visiters could swim in?

Anyone out there remember the Japanese deer village near Buena Park/la Mirada ?

How about the Alligator Farm in Buena park - across the street from Knotts ?

Thanks for posting this!

[PHAEDRIDER]

yes, yes, and yes. i lived in buena park, on western,and artesia close enough to knott's to see the big k light up each night, and 10 minutes walk from enchanted village(formerly deer park). the aligator farm was fun, when you drove down lapalma you could see the gator slide. next door was the awesome pottery shack.a summer day might include visiting the aligator farm and later going to knott's lagoon. baja reef was cool, and orky and corky who both converted to "shamuism" i think

[TL250Rider]

This is so great Part of Los Angeles History

Thank you

[jasonnwest]

I loved those ruins- they were sooo cool! When I went there one day and saw them bulldozing it all down, it made me sick to my stomach. A few weeks ago I drove through those stupid, ugly apartment buildings and felt sick again.

Nice job, developers, for ruining such a cool place and replacing it with crap.

[voicefromparis]

MArineland was a great destination for all who lived nearby like our family. You would take the curvy landslide-ridden road from San Pedro up through the EMPTY hills of Palos Verdes and past the strawberry and flower vendors to a spectacular destination. The biggest shame of its closing is the loss of the marine mammal hospital and rescue teams as well as the studies that were done there. It was a fun place and so wonderfully placed.

[mayombe2001]

THis is a good film. I too remember going there often as a child in the early '70s. What a shame to see it like this. I am assuming that one can actually hike the peninsula and go into the ruins...THere is a haunting quality to this film. Good Work!!!

[DEKA1]

have been to Marineland in Palos Verdes Peninsula, before they turned the park into the Terranea Resort, i almost got caught onces but blended in with the mexican fishermen, & took the dangerous coast road to Portuguese bay !

[KrankyFinn]

Went there as a kid on school field trips. Then was smoking pot and skateboarding in the same tank orca was in as a teenager. Strange....

[tombradyfan7594]

I loved this place as a kid just about very weekend we went there:) Thank u for showing it. My dad passed away on 11-28-2007 and Its my childhood special place:) Patty 32 who misses my dad Thanks daddy for a great childhood I love and miss u very much so does Mike and Johnny your sons:)

[westguy79]

I went there once in 1985. I don't remember much, but I do remember thinking Sea World was so much better. Although it is sad it closed, it had been open way past its prime. The whole facility would have had to be redone to keep up with today's standards. I also worked at Sea world for four years in the 90's. There was always a better potential for animal rehabilitation at S.W. than at marineland. Thanks for the video.

[icegirll]

Thanks so much for sharing this footage. It brings back wonderful childhood memories. It's so sad to know it's gone forever.

[tailslover450]

aww I hope that never happens to SeaWorld ;-;

[sunshooter13]

I loved that place I swam with sharks and rays there. It should be restored to a place of recreation and fun.

[orcafun2007]

Thanks fo sharing this. its sort of sad. :( creepy... like a ghost of the past. my mom used to go there all the time

[rowwell]

WOW - thanks for preserving, what some of us would consider, a bit of childhood history. I still remember seeing Orky and Corky. They even had a cameo on a Six Million Dollar Man episode.

[pisano55]

ya i live right next to that place there are no more of marineland they completly demolished the whole thing its flat but their building like houses pretty soon

[JonBlake310]

Yeah! I think Donald Trump is building part of his resort there...

[KSFBunny]

I live 5 min. from the old site. I used to go there ALL the time as a child. I always hoped that they would use it as a marine rescue center.

[compaqowner]

I used to visit Marine Land as a child with my parents and Grandparents when visiting San Pedro. There were lots of Memories of time gone by.

[Walteria]

Thanks for the post. Marineland of the Pacific was a really cool place. Growing up in California in the '60's, I went there often. Lots of fond memories!