Marineland memories live on at Nelson’s
Marineland opening 1954
by Mary Jane Schoenheider
This early photo of Marineland was recently sent to one of my co-workers from her sister-in-law. Her comment was look at the old cars. The photo immediately brought back memories of visiting the newly opened Marineland during my high school years. I knew about Marineland during its construction stage because one of my classmates’ father designed the metalwork for the original structure. We were all anxious to visit the world’s largest oceanarium after it opened in 1954. Little did I know then that in 1966 my husband and children would become residents in the unincorporated area of Palos Verdes Peninsula. We visited Marineland often, and my daughter Elizabeth worked there during a summer two years before it closed for good. Who can ever forget Marineland’s Orky and Corky, two of the most famous Orcas on exhibit at any oceanarium at the time and pilot whale Bubbles.
The beautiful Terranea Resort that now sits where Marineland once was pays tribute to our Peninsula past particularly at Nelson’s located directly above the Pacific
Using some recycled Marineland material Nelson’s is a tribute to Mike Nelson, the character played by Lloyd Bridges in the famed Sea Hunt television series. Much of the hit program was filmed on the site and in the surrounding waters.
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