Marineland of Canada, Animal theme park in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Marineland of Canada was an animal theme park and aquarium in Niagara Falls, Ontario, founded by John Holer in 1961 and permanently closed to the public in September 2024. Its flat grounds held marine mammal pools, including Arctic Cove, Friendship Cove and King Waldorf Stadium, alongside 19 rides such as Dragon Mountain (1983) and Lady Bug (1979). A castle-style facade with a central stone archway, a yellow shield-shaped crest and two conical-roofed turrets stood behind a blue pool and two water slides.
John Holer opened the park in 1961 as Marine Wonderland and Animal Farm, starting with a small collection of animals. Over the years, rides and new exhibits were added as the site grew into a larger attraction.
The park's name comes from Marine Wonderland and Animal Farm, the name John Holer gave his single-pool site in 1961. The Slovenian immigrant ran it until his death in 2018, and his widow Marie owned it until hers in September 2024. Protesters gathered at the gates for years over the keeping of marine mammals.
Marineland closed to the public in September 2024 and did not open for the 2025 season, so the grounds cannot be visited; its rides were auctioned off and its animals relocated. The site lies in Niagara Falls, Ontario, near the Niagara Falls. The last six belugas left on August 31, 2026, ending captive whale keeping in Canada.
The park's last orca, Kiska, died in March 2023, ending orca keeping at Marineland since 1979. Its belugas left in stages in 2026: four, including Acadia and Lillooet, went to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium in July, and the final six departed on August 31, after which Canada held no captive whales.
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