The Aquatarium (also known as Shark World) was a 17-acre tourist attraction located in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It operated from 1964 to 1977, between 64th and 66th avenues.
The Aquatarium opened in 1964, with its main attraction being shows featuring trained dolphins, 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 Worldedit
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]
Referencesedit
^Tampa Bay Weekly, "Look back at Pinellas history recalls lost attractions," by Lee Clark Zumpe (August 4th, 2005 - retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
^The New Yorker, "U.S. Journal: Pinellas County, Florida Attractions," by Calvin Trillin (January 2nd, 1971 - retrieved on September 22nd, 2011).
^Florida Backroads 2011-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, "Remembering the Aquatarium," by Greg May (retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
^Florida Backroads 2011-09-05 at the Wayback Machine, "Aquatarium: "The World's Greatest Marine Show!," by Greg May (retrieved on September 20th, 2011).
^St. Petersburg Times September 11, 1974 13-A Business & Finance, Desert Ranch motel getting new look, name By Ron Yogman
^Lost Parks, "The Aquatarium: AKA Shark World," by Robert H. Brown (retrieved on September 20, 2011).
^St. Petersburg Times, "Final curtain falls at Shark World", by Vanessa Williams (August 29, 1977 - retrieved on September 20, 2011).
External linksedit
includes photos of the Aquatarium dome and tank
May 02, 2024
aquatarium, florida, aquatarium, also, known, shark, world, acre, tourist, attraction, located, pete, beach, florida, operated, from, 1964, 1977, between, 64th, 66th, avenues, aquatariumaerial, view, aquatarium, 1960s, postcardlocationst, pete, beach, florida,. The Aquatarium also known as Shark World was a 17 acre tourist attraction located in St Pete Beach Florida It operated from 1964 to 1977 between 64th and 66th avenues AquatariumAerial view of the Aquatarium on a 1960s postcardLocationSt Pete Beach Florida United StatesCoordinates27 44 05 N 82 44 58 W 27 7347228 N 82 7494410 W 27 7347228 82 7494410StatusDefunctOpened1964 1964 Closed1977 1977 Contents 1 Aquatarium 2 Shark World 3 References 4 External linksAquatarium editThe Aquatarium opened in 1964 with its main attraction being shows featuring trained dolphins 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 editDue 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 References edit Tampa Bay Weekly Look back at Pinellas history recalls lost attractions by Lee Clark Zumpe August 4th 2005 retrieved on September 20th 2011 The New Yorker U S Journal Pinellas County Florida Attractions by Calvin Trillin January 2nd 1971 retrieved on September 22nd 2011 Florida Backroads Archived 2011 09 05 at the Wayback Machine Remembering the Aquatarium by Greg May retrieved on September 20th 2011 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 St Petersburg by Sarah O Brien Page 89 Lost Parks The Aquatarium AKA Shark World St Petersburg Times September 11 1974 13 A Business amp Finance Desert Ranch motel getting new look name By Ron Yogman Lost Parks The Aquatarium AKA Shark World by Robert H Brown retrieved on September 20 2011 St Petersburg Times Final curtain falls at Shark World by Vanessa Williams August 29 1977 retrieved on September 20 2011 External links editincludes photos of the Aquatarium dome and tank Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aquatarium Florida amp oldid 1176459314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
