Gulf World Marine Park
| Gulf World Marine Park | |
|---|---|
 Logo of Gulf World Marine Park | |
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| Date opened | May 25th, 1970 |
| Location | 15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 |
| Annual visitors | 150,000 |
| Website | gulfworldmarinepark |
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Gulf World Marine Park is a dolphinarium located in Panama City Beach, Florida. It has been open since 1970, and is one of only a few institutes in the United States to house rough-toothed dolphins.
History
Gulf World Marine Park was founded in 1969 by a group of five Alabama businessmen, and they announced their plans to build the park in September of that year.[1] The park's first dolphins, four bottlenose dolphins captured nearby in the Gulf of Mexico, were housed at a motel pool for training. They were moved to Gulf World in the spring of 1970.[2] Gulf World Marine Park opened to the public on Memorial Day of 1970. In 2000, the park underwent an expansion.[3] In 2015, Gulf World Marine Park was acquired by the Dolphin Discovery group, a company that owns a number of swim-with dolphins facilities.[4]
Exhibits
- Dolphin Stadium: Currently houses 12 bottlenose dolphins. The dolphins perform scheduled shows at the stadium, and visitors can pay extra for an up-close encounter with them, or to swim with them. As of October 20, 2021, the dolphin show has been suspended while renovations are made.
- Penguin Habitat: Features African penguins. Visitors can pay extra for an up-close encounter with them.
- Seal Habitat: Features harbor seals. Visitors can pay extra for an up-close encounter with them.
- Sea Lion Stadium: Features California sea lions, which perform in scheduled shows daily. Visitors can pay extra for an up-close encounter with them. The park's four rough-toothed dolphins are also housed here.
- Stingray Bay: Houses two species of stingray, cownose rays and Southern stingrays. Visitors can touch and feed the stingrays.
- Tortoise Habitat: Features African spurred tortoises.
- Tropical Garden Theater: Stadium in which the park's Feathers and Friends Show is held. The show consists of performances from domestic dogs and cats, as well as a variety of birds and reptiles. The majority of these animals are rescues.
References
- ^ Houpt, Ann (10 September 1969). "Plans For Beaches Oceanarium Slated By Alabama Company". Panama City News-Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Porpoise Training Pool". Panama City News-Herald. 17 October 1969. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "About Us". Gulf World Marine Park. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Gulf World Marine Park now part of Dolphin Discovery Group". Dolphin Discovery. Retrieved 10 February 2022.