For the first time in 63 years, MarineLand in Niagara Falls, Ontario is preparing to open next month without the marine mammal attractions it’s known for.
Recently ranked as the most disappointing tourist attraction in Canada, the theme park was called “outdated” and “sad” by a number of Tripadvisor reviewers, and appears to be undergoing a transformation of sorts.
According to its website last week, MarineLand states it plans to offer a “modified experience to our guests in comparison to previous seasons.”
Set to open on June 28, 2024, the park will continue to operate while simultaneously preparing itself for a sale under new ownership.
“The park will be focusing on core attractions and experiences this season, and offering guests a substantial discount on admission, to recognize decades of community support for Marineland and John and Marie Holer,” MarineLand’s news press release read.
The majority of attractions and facilities will in fact not be open this summer, including rides, land animal exhibits, the Hungry Bear Restaurant, Aquarium, Penguin Palace, and educational presentations.
What does that leave? Well, the park’s one-hectare Polar Splash pad and Friendship Cove will remain open, along with the Picnic Area.
Ticket prices have also been slashed substantially, now priced at $14.95 for adults 13 and up, with children aged 5-12 and seniors priced at $9.95. Children under age 4 are free.
Following a string of animal welfare concerns including the deaths of 16 beluga whales and one orca since 2019, animal rights activists and the public have been calling for the closure of the theme park for years now.
The park has previously been charged for making captive dolphins perform for entertainment purposes, as well as was just recently found guilty under Ontario’s animal welfare legislation for failing to comply with an order related to the living conditions of three young black bears.
Unfortunately, despite various charges, MarineLand is still home to a number of belugas, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, walruses, bears, and many other animals.