The park lost almost half a million dollars in 1972, 1973 and 1974 and after the 1975 season, the animals were sold. The park reopened for the 1976 season as Hawaii Kai. The attendance for that season was at an all-time low and the city council of Arlington voted to close the park because it did not generate enough revenue to both pay its operating expenses and pay off the bonded indebtedness.[1][2]
The property is now the site of the Arlington Sheraton Hotel and has several buildings on the property that date back to the park. In addition, there is a remaining piece from the Japan garden, a very nice, large bridged Pagoda still exists outside the hotels court pool area.
Newtka (also spelled Nootka) the killer whale: A 6,000-pound (2,700 kg) and 18-foot (5.5 m) female orca that resided in the park's largest animal performance stadium. This arena went by many names including Indian Ocean Pool, Killer Whale Stadium, and 7-eleven Killer Whale Stadium. Trained by Larry Lawrence, Newtka lived in the park during all four years of operation and was considered the main attraction. After the 1975 season she was sold for $125,000 to Marineland and Game Farm Canada, joining their current orca Kandu.[2]
Dolphin Show: Jannie, Rodney, Debbie are three of the twelve bottle-nosed dolphins resided at the park during its four years of operation. They all averaged about seven feet long and lived in the Mediterranean Sea Stadium. Their shows changed from season to season, but their most notable act was the Dolphin University Show.
Pancho the Elephant Seal: The 2,500-pound (1,100 kg) male was known as a crowd pleaser. He was so popular that he received five write-in votes during the 1973 mayoral race against Mayor Vandergriff, who was also very fond of the sea mammal.[3] Even with his popularity, his show tended to come and go due to his temperamental nature. The show only went on if he was in the mood. There was at one point another (younger) elephant seal named Cisco that would stand in for Pancho.
Sea-lion Circus: Over fourteen Californian sea lions lived and performed within the park, rotating between the shows and the feeding pools.
Penguin Troop: It was originally planned for these birds to learn how to roller skate, but this dream never seemed to come to pass. This, however, didn't deter the public from coming to see these small birds perform in the "Sea of Cortez Arena" with their trainers. Many of the birds were Rockhopper Penguins with the exception of one Magellanic Penguin.[4]
Other animals that resided in the park also include a chimpanzee, three harbor seals, otters, a rescued caiman croc, two Himalayan black bears, at least seven sharks, a sea turtle named Tom, flamingos, macaws, toucans, ducks, geese and thousands of koi and goldfish.
Rides and attractionsEdit
Arctic Ride - Dark Ride through Antarctica
Beacon of the Seven Seas
Bona Venture
Koi Fish Pond
Pearl Diving
ReferencesEdit
^The University of Texas at Arlington Library 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
^ ab"Remember Seven Seas". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
^Barker, Evelyn; Worcester, Lea (2011). Arlington By Evelyn Barker, Lea Worcester. ISBN9780738579818. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
seven, seas, marine, life, park, marine, mammal, park, animal, theme, park, built, owned, city, arlington, texas, united, states, locationarlington, texas, coordinates32, 7566748, 0817185, 7566748, 0817185statusclosedopened1972, years, 1972, closed1976, years,. Seven Seas Marine Life Park was a marine mammal park and animal theme park built and owned by the city of Arlington Texas United States Seven Seas Marine Life ParkLocationArlington Texas U S Coordinates32 45 24 N 97 04 54 W 32 7566748 N 97 0817185 W 32 7566748 97 0817185StatusClosedOpened1972 51 years ago 1972 Closed1976 47 years ago 1976 Area35 acres 14 ha AttractionsTotal1Roller coasters0Newtka giving a ride during a show in the mid 1970sThe park opened on March 18 1972 The 35 acre 14 ha site was located in north Arlington off Interstate 30 near Six Flags Over Texas and adjacent to Arlington Stadium The park lost almost half a million dollars in 1972 1973 and 1974 and after the 1975 season the animals were sold The park reopened for the 1976 season as Hawaii Kai The attendance for that season was at an all time low and the city council of Arlington voted to close the park because it did not generate enough revenue to both pay its operating expenses and pay off the bonded indebtedness 1 2 The property is now the site of the Arlington Sheraton Hotel and has several buildings on the property that date back to the park In addition there is a remaining piece from the Japan garden a very nice large bridged Pagoda still exists outside the hotels court pool area Contents 1 Sections 2 Notable Animals 3 Rides and attractions 4 References 5 External linksSections EditArctic Ocean Caribbean Sea Indian Ocean Mediterranean Sea Sea of Cortez Sea of Japan South SeasNotable Animals EditNewtka also spelled Nootka the killer whale A 6 000 pound 2 700 kg and 18 foot 5 5 m female orca that resided in the park s largest animal performance stadium This arena went by many names including Indian Ocean Pool Killer Whale Stadium and 7 eleven Killer Whale Stadium Trained by Larry Lawrence Newtka lived in the park during all four years of operation and was considered the main attraction After the 1975 season she was sold for 125 000 to Marineland and Game Farm Canada joining their current orca Kandu 2 Dolphin Show Jannie Rodney Debbie are three of the twelve bottle nosed dolphins resided at the park during its four years of operation They all averaged about seven feet long and lived in the Mediterranean Sea Stadium Their shows changed from season to season but their most notable act was the Dolphin University Show Pancho the Elephant Seal The 2 500 pound 1 100 kg male was known as a crowd pleaser He was so popular that he received five write in votes during the 1973 mayoral race against Mayor Vandergriff who was also very fond of the sea mammal 3 Even with his popularity his show tended to come and go due to his temperamental nature The show only went on if he was in the mood There was at one point another younger elephant seal named Cisco that would stand in for Pancho Sea lion Circus Over fourteen Californian sea lions lived and performed within the park rotating between the shows and the feeding pools Penguin Troop It was originally planned for these birds to learn how to roller skate but this dream never seemed to come to pass This however didn t deter the public from coming to see these small birds perform in the Sea of Cortez Arena with their trainers Many of the birds were Rockhopper Penguins with the exception of one Magellanic Penguin 4 Other animals that resided in the park also include a chimpanzee three harbor seals otters a rescued caiman croc two Himalayan black bears at least seven sharks a sea turtle named Tom flamingos macaws toucans ducks geese and thousands of koi and goldfish Rides and attractions EditArctic Ride Dark Ride through Antarctica Beacon of the Seven Seas Bona Venture Koi Fish Pond Pearl DivingReferences Edit The University of Texas at Arlington Library Archived 2011 05 22 at the Wayback Machine a b Remember Seven Seas Retrieved 13 October 2022 Barker Evelyn Worcester Lea 2011 Arlington By Evelyn Barker Lea Worcester ISBN 9780738579818 Retrieved 28 May 2017 Barker Evelyn Worcester Lea 2011 Arlington By Evelyn Barker Lea Worcester 2 ISBN 9780738579818 External links EditSeven Seas park map 1973 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seven Seas Marine Life Park amp oldid 1164938642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
