Aquatarium (Florida)

The Aquatarium (also known as Shark World) was a 17-acre tourist attraction located in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It operated from 1964-1977, between 64th and 66th avenues.

Aquatarium
Aerial view of the Aquatarium on a 1960s postcard
LocationSt. Pete Beach, Florida, United States
Coordinates27.7347228°N 82.7494410°W / 27.7347228; -82.7494410
Opened1964 (1964)
Closed1977 (1977)
StatusClosed

Aquatarium

The Aquatarium opened in 1964, with its main attraction being shows featuring trained porpoises, sea lions, and pilot whales.[1] Shows were staged under a 160-foot, golden geodesic dome, which sheltered the audience as they were seated around the world's largest circular marine tank[2] (100 feet in diameter, 25 feet deep, containing 1.244 million gallons of seawater).[3] The Aquatarium shows were billed as "The World's Greatest Marine Show," or "World's Largest Marine Attraction," and starred a dolphin named "Floppy." Floppy was famed for her 25-foot leaps into the air, leading to her characterization as "the world-champion high-jumping dolphin."[4]

In 1968, the Aquatarium was bought purchased by local hotelier Frank Cannova for two million dollars.[5][6] In 1974, Cannova opened The Hawaiian Inn.[7]

Shark World

Due to the 1971 opening of Walt Disney World, as well as the gasoline shortages of the mid-1970s, tourism in Pinellas County experienced a significant decline. In 1976, in order to combat the declining fortunes of the park, the owners (inspired by the popularity of the 1975 film Jaws) attempted to rebrand the Aquatarium as "Shark World". Despite their efforts, the park closed at the end of the 1977 summer season.[8][9]

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References
  1. Tampa Bay Weekly, "Look back at Pinellas history recalls lost attractions," by Lee Clark Zumpe (August 4th, 2005 - retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
  2. The New Yorker, "U.S. Journal: Pinellas County, Florida Attractions," by Calvin Trillin (January 2nd, 1971 - retrieved on September 22nd, 2011).
  3. Florida Backroads Archived 2011-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, "Remembering the Aquatarium," by Greg May (retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
  4. Florida Backroads Archived 2011-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, "Aquatarium: "The World's Greatest Marine Show!," by Greg May (retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
  5. St. Petersburg by Sarah O'Brien Page 89
  6. Lost Parks The Aquatarium AKA Shark World
  7. St. Petersburg Times September 11, 1974 13-A Business & Finance, Desert Ranch motel getting new look, name By Ron Yogman
  8. Lost Parks, "The Aquatarium: AKA Shark World," by Robert H. Brown (retrieved on September 20, 2011).
  9. St. Petersburg Times, "Final curtain falls at Shark World", by Vanessa Williams (August 29, 1977 - retrieved on September 20, 2011).
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