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Miami Seaquarium
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Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium was a 38-acre (15 ha) oceanarium located on the island of Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade County, Florida, located near downtown Miami. The seaquarium closed after 70 years of operation on October 12, 2025.
Founded in 1955, it was one of the oldest continuously operating oceanariums in the United States. In addition to marine mammals, the Miami Seaquarium housed fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, and reptiles. The park offered daily presentations and hosted overnight camps, events for boy scouts, and group programs. Over 500,000 people visited the facility annually. The park had around 225 employees, and its lease payments and taxes made it the third-largest contributor to Miami-Dade County's revenue.
The park was founded by Fred D. Coppock and Captain W.B. Gray and was the second marine-life attraction in Florida. When it opened in 1955, it was the largest marine-life attraction in the world.
The park's first orca was Hugo, named after Hugo Vihlen. Hugo was captured in February 1968 in Vaughn Bay. Shortly after his capture, Hugo was flown to the Miami Seaquarium where he was held in a small pool for two years. Over the course of 10 years, judging by his behavior, it was clear that Hugo did not adjust to his life in captivity. Hugo would regularly bang his head against the walls of the tank. On March 4, 1980, Hugo died of a brain aneurysm after a history of repeated self injury.
From 1963 through 1967, eighty-eight episodes of the 1960s TV show Flipper and two movies starring Flipper were filmed at the Miami Seaquarium. From 1963 to 1991, the Seaquarium also had the Miami Seaquarium Spacerail, which was the first hanging monorail in the United States.[citation needed]
In 2014 Miami Seaquarium was bought by Palace Entertainment.
In 2022, the Miami Seaquarium was acquired by The Dolphin Company, which said that any negligence in animal care preceded their arrival. A 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspection Report found several violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The report cited inadequate veterinary care, animal handling, facilities, employees and/or attendants, and critical separation of animals. Miami-Dade County has the option to terminate the Seaquarium’s lease and has considered that option as they have ongoing concerns about care of animals. In December 2023, three manatees were relocated to ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando. In January 2024, the USDA was satisfied that the operators had addressed issues related to their notice of intent to confiscate to remove certain animals. The lease requirements mandate certifications from both Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and American Humane. Local media reported in February 2024 that they had lost their accreditation from American Humane. The Dolphin Company was also behind on its rent payment according to the county’s parks department.
In March 2024, Miami-Dade County sent a lease termination notice to The Dolphin Company, giving the Seaquarium's owner until April 21 to vacate the premises. In the notice, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava cited a "long and troubling history of violations." As of June 25, 2024[update], the Dolphin Company, operator of the Seaquarium, was fighting the eviction.
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Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium was a 38-acre (15 ha) oceanarium located on the island of Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay, Miami-Dade County, Florida, located near downtown Miami. The seaquarium closed after 70 years of operation on October 12, 2025.
Founded in 1955, it was one of the oldest continuously operating oceanariums in the United States. In addition to marine mammals, the Miami Seaquarium housed fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, and reptiles. The park offered daily presentations and hosted overnight camps, events for boy scouts, and group programs. Over 500,000 people visited the facility annually. The park had around 225 employees, and its lease payments and taxes made it the third-largest contributor to Miami-Dade County's revenue.
The park was founded by Fred D. Coppock and Captain W.B. Gray and was the second marine-life attraction in Florida. When it opened in 1955, it was the largest marine-life attraction in the world.
The park's first orca was Hugo, named after Hugo Vihlen. Hugo was captured in February 1968 in Vaughn Bay. Shortly after his capture, Hugo was flown to the Miami Seaquarium where he was held in a small pool for two years. Over the course of 10 years, judging by his behavior, it was clear that Hugo did not adjust to his life in captivity. Hugo would regularly bang his head against the walls of the tank. On March 4, 1980, Hugo died of a brain aneurysm after a history of repeated self injury.
From 1963 through 1967, eighty-eight episodes of the 1960s TV show Flipper and two movies starring Flipper were filmed at the Miami Seaquarium. From 1963 to 1991, the Seaquarium also had the Miami Seaquarium Spacerail, which was the first hanging monorail in the United States.[citation needed]
In 2014 Miami Seaquarium was bought by Palace Entertainment.
In 2022, the Miami Seaquarium was acquired by The Dolphin Company, which said that any negligence in animal care preceded their arrival. A 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspection Report found several violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The report cited inadequate veterinary care, animal handling, facilities, employees and/or attendants, and critical separation of animals. Miami-Dade County has the option to terminate the Seaquarium’s lease and has considered that option as they have ongoing concerns about care of animals. In December 2023, three manatees were relocated to ZooTampa and SeaWorld Orlando. In January 2024, the USDA was satisfied that the operators had addressed issues related to their notice of intent to confiscate to remove certain animals. The lease requirements mandate certifications from both Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and American Humane. Local media reported in February 2024 that they had lost their accreditation from American Humane. The Dolphin Company was also behind on its rent payment according to the county’s parks department.
In March 2024, Miami-Dade County sent a lease termination notice to The Dolphin Company, giving the Seaquarium's owner until April 21 to vacate the premises. In the notice, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava cited a "long and troubling history of violations." As of June 25, 2024[update], the Dolphin Company, operator of the Seaquarium, was fighting the eviction.
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