Residents in Niagara Falls, Ont., continue to wait for news on the future of Marineland’s property and dozens of animals, including up to 30 belugas and four dolphins — nearly two months after the federal government turned down the theme park’s request to export the mammals.
The shuttered park and zoo once attracted millions of visitors and employed hundreds of seasonal workers.
Its real estate is vast, stretching about 324 hectares on the doorstep of Canada’s most popular tourist destination — Niagara Falls.
“Every time I drive by, it makes me really sad,” said local Realtor Shelby Tomlinson. “I see it sitting empty and I feel like we could use that space for something really good.”
At Falls Manor Restaurant, not far from Marineland, everyone CBC News spoke to had a personal connection to the property and an opinion on what should happen to it.
Vince Forte worked at the theme park for two summers in his teens, at the deer park and in guest services.
He said he would like the property to “give the residents or the kids of Niagara Falls jobs like they did for us.”
“Now, there’s really not much for them.”
Whales complicate investment possibilities
Another restaurant patron, Barry Baumour, said deciding Marineland’s fate is “very urgent.”
He wants the property to bring jobs to the community again, and that may include turning it into “a massive entertainment centre that would draw not only the kids, but also for adult entertainment.”
Founded in 1961, Marineland didn’t open this past season and has been closed to the public since the end of summer 2024. The park is attempting to sell its assets, including its rides, but has faced financial and other challenges.
After the passing of the amusement park’s owners, John Holer in 2018 and his wife and successor Marie Holer in 2024, the estate was placed in a trust.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said there’s been interest from land developers to build homes on the Marineland site, but that would be a mistake.
The property could fit three theme parks the size of Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida and is prime tourism land so close to the falls.
“It was a big employment opportunity, it was an investment generator, economic development,” he said. “It’s got the potential to do that again.”
But there remains a major complication: what to do with the belugas.
Diodati said he regularly meets with investors interested in buying the property, “but they’re all scared off by the liability of the creatures.”
The cost of caring for the belugas and four dolphins has been estimated at $2 million a month.
In early October, after Marineland Canada’s application for permits to export the belugas to an aquarium in China were turned down, the park asked Ottawa for emergency funds to care for the animals or it would “face the devastating decision of euthanasia.”
Once one of the most popular tourist spots in the Niagara Region, Marineland has been in a difficult position since the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act came into law in 2019, banning the use of whales, dolphins and porpoises for breeding or entertainment in Canada.
Marineland has also faced years of controversy over allegations of animal abuse. At least 19 belugas have died at Marineland since 2019. The last orca, Kiska, died in 2023.
“We’re kind of caught in between what it used to be and what it’s going to be,” Diodati said about the park.
Many ideas have been floated on how to rehome the whales.
A proposed seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia called The Whale Sanctuary Project was announced five years ago, but could be a long way off from becoming a reality. Project officials have said the site could only accommodate eight to 10 whales.
Some experts say moving the whales would be challenging, with their current health status not publicly known and the stress of transport a concern.
U.S.-based company proposes entertainment complex
“What we see is the best option and the most humane and compassionate option is to keep the whales close to home,” said Leah Caruso, chief marketing officer at Knapp Capital Management.
The New Jersey-based company is proposing a $4-billion entertainment complex on the Marineland site.
The Niagara Experience and Oasis of the Falls would include hotels, casinos, a sports complex, an entertainment venue and a whale sanctuary.
Caruso said they’re ready to immediately take on the care of the belugas and dolphins, and would hire all the current staff to do so.
The plan also includes an on-site data centre, which would generate revenue for animal care.
But talks with the Ontario government on getting approvals for the data centre have stalled.
“We’re not asking the taxpayers to pay for anything. All we need is partnership from the government,” Caruso said.
On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Niagara Falls announcing a multibillion-dollar plan to create new attractions and bring more tourism to the region.
Asked about local concerns regarding the lack of progress on Marineland, he said, “Marineland’s in charge of it. It’s not a government site.”
But on any requests to the province related to the property, he said “we’ll look at it.”
CBC News reached out to Marineland for comment on the proposal by Knapp Capital Management, but a response wasn’t received by publication time.
“It looks like we haven’t landed on the exact right opportunity yet.” Diodati said. “ But we’re very open to it. We’ll meet with any group that’s got an idea.”
