ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Marineland, the attraction along the St. Johns-Flagler County line with decades of history as a place to interact with dolphins and other marine animals, is up for sale.
The company that owns the attraction is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings.
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Aerial photos are featured on a commercial real estate listing for the property.
It describes it as a six-acre property with a facility that is open and operating, but there is no listing price.
Instead, it says “stalking horse offers” are being accepted. That’s the term for the initial bids on the assets of a bankrupt company.
They are selling both the property and the business itself.
Since 2019, Marineland has been owned by The Dolphin Company. It’s based in Mexico and operates marine life attractions in eight countries.
It filed for bankruptcy on March 31, facing financial challenges and issues with the welfare of some of the animals in its care.
The company also owns Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach. That attraction shut down at the end of May, following several dolphin deaths.
Four surviving dolphins were brought to Marineland.
The Dolphin Company also operates the Miami Seaquarium.
The property there is owned by Miami-Dade County, and the company leases it.
Miami-Dade County has been trying to evict the Dolphin Company.
A routine inspection of Marineland in mid-June by the U.S.D.A. shows there were 17 bottlenose dolphins at the facility at the time.
It noted a non-critical issue of some paint that was flaking off, near the water, but no other issues were noted.
The real estate listing for Marineland also lists Gulf World Marine Park, and the rights to occupy the Miami Seaquarium, as being up for sale as well.