Miami said goodbye to an iconic place, closed after 70 years of operation.
The iconic attraction where “Flipper” was filmed closed its doors forever.
Complaints about mistreatment, structural deficits and financial problems caused its closure.
After the bankruptcy of its operator The site is being reorganized as part of a new educational concept and without marine mammals.
Seaquarium: The water park mired in controversy and animal cruelty complaints
On October 12, 2025, The Miami Seaquarium, one of Florida’s premier oceanariums, has permanently closed its doors after seven decades of operation. Opened in 1955, the Seaquarium became a tourist and cultural landmark, particularly because it was the setting for the popular television series “Flipper” in the 1960s.
With its iconic gold geodesic dome and views of Biscayne Bay, it became a nostalgic symbol for generations of visitors.
This conclusion is not just the end of a romantic chapter: is characterized by a number of very serious complaints. for years, Animal rights groups like PETA They focused on the living conditions of the marine mammals that lived in the park.
US Department of Agriculture inspections found numerous irregularities: Some species were malnourished to encourage their participation in exhibitions; The premises were also deteriorated cracked concrete or structural risksand the The veterinary staff was inadequate to take care of all animals.
In March 2025, the park’s operator, The Dolphin Company, based in Cancun, filed for bankruptcy. This event marked a point of no return.. Shortly thereafter, Miami-Dade County vacated the park, citing “ongoing violations” in the care of the animals and physical maintenance of the facility.
As part of the insolvency proceedings, according to a report from Axios MiamiAn offer to sell the ground lease was signed for $22.5 million. The buyer, Terra Group, plans to transform the site with a new project focused on education, conservation and marine mammal-free recreation.
The closure sparked mixed reactions. On the one hand, Activists and environmental organizations celebrated the end of a so-called exploitation model: For them, the Seaquarium symbolized the incarceration of intelligent animals in artificial tanks.
On the last day of operation Protesters gathered outside and uncorked bottles in the name of animal freedom and especially in memory of Lolita, the park’s most emblematic orca.
On the other hand, Many visitors expressed sadness and nostalgiaMemories of dolphin shows, penguin hikes and unforgettable family moments.
About the future of animals that was left – about 90 copies, between Dolphins, sea lions, penguins and seals According to estimates-, the situation is complex. According to the operator, the animals were not released immediately but remained at the site temporarily while transfers were organized with the help of a veterinary advisor.
However, some experts say warn that reintroduction into the sea is not possible in many casesas some animals have spent their entire lives in captivity and do not have the necessary skills to survive in the wild.
For its part, the Terra group, which bought the lease, is betting on an architectural and thematic renovation: it will preserve the golden dome, but its plan foresees public walks, restaurants, commercial spaces and even an “accredited” aquarium with a focus on environmental education, with no mammal shows. Local authorities have supported this new project and consider it a necessary and symbolic change for the city of Miami.
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