Marineland of Canada (often shortened to Marineland) was an animal theme park and aquarium located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1961 by John Holer, it featured performing marine mammals, exhibits of marine and land animals, and amusement rides. The marine mammals included dolphins, sea lions, beluga whales, walruses, and orcas. Over the years, Marineland faced numerous protests and lawsuits regarding alleged mistreatment of its animals.
Following a heavily downscaled final season with no rides operating, Marineland permanently closed to the public in September 2024. The park later began relocating its animals and auctioning off its rides. In 2026, an international relocation effort was undertaken to move its remaining 30 beluga whales and four dolphins to aquariums in the United States and Spain. On August 31, Marineland began transferring its final six belugas, with two destined for the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and four for SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas. Once completed, the transfers meant that Canada no longer had any whales in captivity. The six transfers formed the final stage of the operation involving five aquariums, described as the largest collective relocation of captive whales.
Facility
As of 2018, Marineland housed approximately 4,000 land and marine animals and operated 19 theme park attractions. The park did not publicly disclose its annual attendance figures. Published amounts range from an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people annually. Marineland was once a member of Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), but voluntarily withdrew from CAZA in May 2017, stating it was expanding the area for animals and "will be continuing to work with CAZA to ensure that the expansion is successfully harmonized with CAZA principles".
In 2020, the park did not open in spring as planned because of the restrictions required by the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility remained closed due to restrictions placed by the Government of Ontario. Marineland reopened for its 2022 season.
Following the death of John Holer in 2018, his widow, Marie Holer, took ownership of the park until her own death on September 6, 2024. The park has been for sale since at least 2023. All of the rides present in the park were closed as well as some of the exhibits featuring animals. In 2024, the park was only open for two months with a significant portion of the park remaining closed and admission being sold at reduced rates. The park did not open for the 2025 season.
Marine exhibits
Marineland housed beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins and, until 2023, orcas. Its marine mammals were kept in several facilities, including Arctic Cove, Friendship Cove and King Waldorf Stadium. The park's final orca, Kiska, died in March 2023, leaving Marineland without an orca for the first time since 1979.
After the park closed to the public following the 2024 season, its remaining marine mammals continued to be cared for at the property while Marineland sought new homes for them. Marineland reached an agreement to transfer its remaining belugas and dolphins to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China, but the federal government rejected the proposed export of the belugas. Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said the transfer was not in the whales' best interests because China did not have comparable restrictions on breeding and performances. Marineland subsequently said that it was running out of money to care for the whales and warned that they could be euthanized unless another solution or emergency federal funding was found.
A consortium of aquariums subsequently arranged to relocate the animals to facilities in the United States and Spain. The relocation began in July 2026. On July 21, four belugas—Acadia, Osiris, Sierra and Lillooet—were transferred to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, while Bertie Botts and Frankie were transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas. Seven additional belugas were transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio on August 4.
A further group left Marineland in August. Four belugas—Caspian, Peekachu, Secord and Rain—were transferred to the Shedd Aquarium, while Zephyr and Balor were transferred to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Three males—Xavier, Cyprus and Jasper—subsequently arrived at SeaWorld San Diego in California on August 23.
Peekachu died at the Shedd Aquarium on August 25, less than two weeks after her transfer from Marineland. The aquarium said blood tests indicated that she had been severely dehydrated.
On August 26, Marineland began transferring its four remaining bottlenose dolphins—Echo, Lida, Marina and Tsunami—and two belugas, Cleopatra and Jelly Bean, to L'Oceanogràfic in Valencia, Spain. On August 31, the final six belugas began leaving Marineland. Two were destined for the Shedd Aquarium and four for SeaWorld San Antonio. Completion of the transfers would end the keeping of captive whales in Canada. Rain died in early September at the Shedd Aquarium, Jelly Bean died "suddenly and unexpectedly" at L'Oceanogràfic in mid-September, and Osiris also died at the Shedd Aquarium the following week.
Land animals In addition to marine animals, Marineland featured land animals, including black bears, deer, elk, and bison. In 2023, Marineland faced charges from the province of Ontario for providing inadequate care to its black bears under the Ontario Animal Welfare Services Act. Marineland was ordered to pay $85,000 in 2024 after failing to improve conditions for three young black bears. Provincial inspectors found that the bears had inadequate access to water, were kept in unsuitable enclosures and were unable to fulfil their psychological needs.
As Marineland wound down its operations, it began removing its land animals. A dozen black bears were transferred to an animal sanctuary in Colorado in the spring of 2026. The park's bison herd was also relocated, as were its penguins. Several hundred deer remained on the Marineland property as of August 31, 2026.
Rides This is the more recent list of rides that Marineland possessed, including a pair of roller coasters and a large launched free fall. As Marineland has put them up for sale, it may no longer possess them. As of 2026, There were several defunct rides that have not been maintained.
+RideManufacturerModelYearDescriptionBoat CarouselMack RidesWikingefahrt1982Carousel composed of ornate boats.Bumble BeeHUSSTroika2006Spinning flat ride with bee-shaped vehicles.Dragon MountainArrow HUSSCustom Looping Coaster1983Opened as the world's largest non-stop roller coasters by area, covering . It features tunnels that lead to the queue area, has two consecutive vertical loops and a bow tie loop. A section of the roller coaster passes through a back section of Marineland left unfinished.Eagle Tower ZiererFamily Freefall Tower2022Miniature drop tower.Flying DragonZiererMagic Carpet1983A flat ride that raises and drops riders in a circular motion.Hurricane CoveMack RidesSea Storm1983A flat ride with boat-shaped cars that travel around a central point. Closed in 2022.Kandu's TwisterMack RidesTea Cups2002A classic tea cups-style ride with vehicles with orcas on them.Lady Bug CoasterZiererTivoli1979Small family roller coaster with a series of turns. Originally known as Tivoli Coaster.Magic ExperienceHUSSMagic1991A spinning flat ride with a large black bear perched atop the centre.Ocean OdysseyZiererFlying Gondolas2010Rotating flat ride themed to a giant purple octopus with 12 fish-shaped vehicles.Orca ScreamerZiererFamily Freefall Tower2006Miniature drop tower.Sky HawkHUSSCondor1989Spinning ride that lifts riders up to a high height.Sky ScreamerS&S - Sansei TechnologiesSpace Shot2004 high launched free fall situated on a hill, making the total height of the ride . Ascending riders experience 4Gs, while descending riders experience a -2Gs. Space AvengerZamperlaFlying Gondolas1990Circular flat ride that allows passengers to control a spaceship. Closed in 2019 and replaced by Eagle Tower.Star VoyagerZiererStar Shape2022 tall rotating mast with fully rotating gondolas.Tivoli WheelZiererFerris Wheel1979Small Ferris Wheel with 8 arms.Topple TowerHUSSTopple Tower2007The topple tower suffered extensive self-inflicted damage to its support structure, and last operated in 2011. It never re-opened and sat vacant. Replaced by Star Voyager.Viking AdventureZiererKontiki2006Spinning flat ride that rocks back-and-forth.Wave SwingerZiererChairswing1983Classic spinning swings ride.
History
Founding and early years The park was founded by John Holer, a Slovenian immigrant who had worked in circuses in Europe. Holer was born Ivan Holerjam in Slovenia in 1935, when the country was part of Yugoslavia. His family operated a vineyard, but lost the property through government expropriation after the establishment of Communist rule. Holer studied wine chemistry, worked at a winery in Austria and briefly worked with animals at Circus Krone in Munich before emigrating to Canada in 1957. He settled in the Niagara Region, where he worked several jobs, including at a Canada Steamship Lines dry dock.
Holer and several engineers designed an amusement ride and sold the plans to Disney. Holer used the proceeds in 1961 to buy a small portion of the Harry Oakes estate upriver from Horseshoe Falls. He borrowed money to purchase two steel tanks, welded them together and acquired three performing sea lions from California.
The park opened in 1961 as Marine Wonderland and Animal Farm. Holer welded two large steel tanks together and brought in three sea lions and charged one quarter for admission and another to feed the animals. The attraction also featured an underwater show featuring two female swimmers. In 1963, a trained sea lion "Jeff" escaped from Marine Wonderland and made it to the Niagara River and went over the falls. Holer offered a reward and organized a helicopter search. The seal was recaptured by Holer a few days later in Queenston, where it was found sunning itself with teenager Tommy Haines, who was given the reward. In 1964, Holer added two dolphins, along with a few other animals and the attraction became known as Marineland and Game Farm. By 1966, a 2,000-seat "aquatheatre" was completed along with a "grotto" of aquariums and shops. The grotto in the new Aquarium Dome contained eight tanks used to display fresh-water fish. The park became a popular family attraction and recorded an annual attendance of 250,000 for the 1967 season. In 1968, the park added alligators. Neighbouring attraction "Niagara Falls Indian Village" closed down after the 1968 season and Marineland purchased their property.
Orcas and expansion in the 1970s In 1971, Marineland added orcas. Kandu became the park's major attraction. In 1973, the aquarium purchased Kandy, a female orca captured off Vancouver Island in 1973, to mate with Kandu, but she died later that year. Kandu lived until 1979 and was replaced by Nootka, captured and brought to the park in 1981. Nootka lived until 2008. By 1975, the park kept over 1,000 animals and claimed to be Niagara Falls' "most popular attraction after the falls." In 1975, Marineland became involved in a controversy over another orca captured off Vancouver Island. The capture of Kanduke by the Sealand of the Pacific aquarium of Victoria, British Columbia, for purchase by Marineland was blocked by the Government of British Columbia, at the instigation of Greenpeace activists. Claimed to be property by the BC government and resources by the Government of Canada, the orca eventually was transported to Marineland after it was determined that orcas were a resource under the control of the Canadian government. The incident led to the ending of the capture of orcas in British Columbia waters.
Major amusement-park development