AQUATARIUM: "The World's Greatest Marine Show!"

by Greg May
(Orlando, FL)


If you were a dolphin lover like me, growing up in Florida in the 60's was a lot of fun especially if you had parents like Sam and Ruth May.

Once a year, my parents would drive me and my big brother, Wes up to Marineland so I "could get it out of my system." But Marineland wasn't the only marine attraction I got to visit as a kid.

One Saturday we made the drive over to St. Pete Beach to see the AQUATARIUM.

This oceanarium promoted itself throughout the 60's and early 70's as "The World's Greatest Marine Show" or "World's Largest Marine Attraction."

This was quite a boast considering the fact that it occupied only 17 acres with one third of that set aside for parking lot.

The AQUATARIUM consisted of a colossal circular building that encompassed the world's largest circular marine tank. Here's what happened: you bought your ticket, walked through the turnstiles and as you approached the viewing windows of that tank a wave of disappointment came over you for the water clarity was almost non-existent due to poor filtration.

Nevertheless, AQUATARIUM offered a fairly decent show by 60's standards. They had a dolphin named "Floppy" that made a 25-ft. high jump. She was billed as the world-champion high-jumping dolphin.

Years later, while I was working for Sea World, I would drive over to St. Pete to visit my good friend, Mike Brown. Mike was a trainer at AQUATARIUM.

I'll never forget the day he was in the cherry-picker trying to get Floppy to make her jump when a waterspout came off the Gulf and gave everyone a good scare.

I was deeply saddened when I learned Mike died in a tragic accident while cave diving in the Bahamas.

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AQUATARIUM: "The World's Greatest Marine Show!"

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Jul 22, 2012
 1966 Trip
by: Tom

In 1965 my mom won an all expense paid trip to Florida. My dad didn't want to fly so they cashed in the tickets so my sister and I could go. The trip was sponsored by Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co. which made fertilizers which we sold. This was a big trip for us since we didn't go on vacation only for an occasional weekend at Myrtle Beach or Lake Junaluska. We went in Feb of 66 and it was snowing when we left home (north of Charlotte, NC). We arrived at Treasure Island, Thunderbird Motel on Sunday afternoon. We begged mom to let us go swimming in the "heated pool" but thought we may get sick from the change in the temp.

That was the best day we had since V-C had an itinerary set up. I finally made it into the pool one day while it was raining. We went to the Aquatarium, ate at John's Pass, went to the Bartow area phosphate mines, Ft Myers, Dunedin Beach(new) picked up oysters in the bay and fixed them at a cousin's house in Dunedin.

I remember a lot of this trip even though I was only 8. At the Aquatarium, the dolphin, sea lion shows, and we got some injected plastic dolphins made in a self service machine while you waited. At Webb's City I remember seeing the mermaids. We also ventured up the coast to Weeki Wachi. We returned home the following Sunday and went to school 2 days and was out the rest of the week.
Jun 11, 2012
 Great Memories
by: Chris K

I grew up on St. Pete Beach from 1968 - 1980. I can't recount the number of times I went to the Aquatarium. After it closed for good, my friends and I would sneak in and climb down into the empty tank. My husband grew up a few blocks away, and said he could hear the lions roaring in the morning. Monkeys often got loose as well.
Apr 15, 2012
 remembern when
by: Bob Gardner

what a great experence growing up!!!!!

learned so much about marine mammals. working with great people who knew what they were doing and we loved what we were doing. not much money...but what an adventure.
Mar 30, 2012
 Pre-Disney Florida
by: David Haas

Your nice article and great photos brought back many fond memories from my childhood growing up as a native of St. Petersburg.

I learned to swim at the long-gone Island Club just a few hundred yards north of the Aquatarium on Upham Beach. During the early 70s my father owned a plastics manufacture in St. Pete and he supplied the Aquatarium with most of their signage such as plexiglass "exit" signs in the shape of a dolphin.

My older brother and I used to swim in the Gulf of Mexico due west of the property in attempts to find the end of the intake pipe the Aquatarium used to fill their tanks with fresh sea water.

I recall the larger of the two tanks - the circular one with concrete seating - provided a commanding view of St. Pete Beach and environs provided one climbed to the top and located a seat in the highest ring. This was relatively easy because I don't recall the place was ever packed with visitors.

Indeed, it was within a year or so following the theatrical release of "Jaws" that the Aquatarium changed its name to "Shark World." Then, within a few years, the Aquatarium's prime waterfront property was gobbled up by developers who threw up pricey condos. Sadly, this was the fate of most of coastal Florida's Mom & Pop attractions.

Fortunately, Upham Beach remains. This beautiful (and publicly accessible), sugar-white sand beach offers visitors a look at pre-1972 Florida before The Mouse moved in and forever changed the landscape.
Jan 09, 2012
 I swam with Floppy
by: Stu

An acquaintance was the manager of the Aquatarium, and one night after closing he let me swim with Floppy and the other two dolphins.I'll never forget the experience or Floppy.

We played catch with a pebble for quite a while. Every time I threw it she returned it to me, gently blowing it right into my waiting hand, and she never missed.

We all play fetch with our dogs and eventually try to fake them out by not throwing the ball. Well, I did that with Floppy twice. The second time, when she retrieved the pebble she blew it toward my hand but at the last second "inhaled" it back into her mouth.

Then she popped her head out of the water, squealed and squealed, nodding her head while backing away. She was definitely laughing at me.

The effect she had on me is really hard to describe. It was just awesome.

I can tell you this though, I have no patience for people who use the phrase "just an animal" about any creature we share this planet with.
Sep 20, 2011
 The Aquatarium
by: Kevin Riley O'Keeffe

I visited this place with my parents in the summer of 1976, shortly before my sixth birthday. I do remember it having some distinct weaknesses, but I also recall being enormously impressed with it all the same. I'd always wanted to return, but I didn't make it back to Florida for six years, and by then it was long gone, alas. I'm not sure when it closed (it opened in 1964, apparently), but I wouldn't be shocked it learn that the summer of '76 was its final season, and it closed down just a couple months (or weeks) after our visit. A very fond and ultra-nostalgic memory of an often difficult childhood.
Jun 01, 2011
 OMG!! the nostalgia.
by: dwayne

Wow cool!! as a native of st pete, i remember the aquatariam. and of course across the street, the wax museum. my 2 yr old cousin peed on me when we went over thrill hill in s.e. st pete when i was six.
Aug 14, 2010
 Awesome , Awesome Family
by: Danelle S

I really like this article and it makes me feel lucky to be a part of a family who has had so much talent and was kind in sharing it with others.

Danelle S
Aug 13, 2010
 Nice article
by: Miriam

Excellent, informative, and entertaining! I hope to read more marine articles by Mr. May.

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