Sea-Arama Marineworld

Marine park in Texas, U.S.

Sea-Arama Marineworld

Sea-Arama Marineworld TX, Orca Whale (Mamuk) Show, Circa 1973

Location| 91st & Seawall/West Beach, Galveston Island, Texas, USA
Coordinates| 29°15′04″N 94°51′13″W﻿ / ﻿29.2512°N 94.8536°W﻿ / 29.2512; -94.8536
Opened| 1965; 60 years ago (1965)
Closed| January 1990 (1990-01)
Theme| Wildlife
Operating season| Year Round

Sea-Arama Marineworld was a marine mammal park located on the Gulf Coast in Galveston Island, Texas. Opening in 1965, the park was an animal-focused oceanarium, zoo, and aquarium that attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees each year.[1][2][3] The park worked with wildlife experts to study Ridley sea turtles, support brown pelican nesting, and treat/rehabilitate marine life.[1][2]

After the opening of SeaWorld San Antonio in 1988, Sea-Arama’s popularity began to wane and attendance declined. The park closed in January 1990. Animals and marine life from Sea-Arama were relocated to SeaWorld San Antonio and similar parks in the area. After several plans to revitalize the space failed to come to fruition, the park was torn down in 2006.[1][2] In 2008, the former site of Sea-Arama was used to provide a temporary debris holding station after Hurricane Ike.[3]

Sea-Arama Marineworld Texas, Alligator Wrestling Show, Circa 1973

## Attractions

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* Orca Whale Shows featuring Mamuk (1968–†1974) and Lil'Nooka (†1970). The live events would have the whales leaping 13 feet into the air and other shows would have a staff member place their head in the mouth of the whale.[4][5][6][7] Director of training Ken Beggs claimed Mamuk once attempted to bite him.[8]
* Dolphin Show
* Sea Lion Show
* Marine Animal Training Workshop
* Dive to the Deep Adventure Seven Seas Aquarium Tour
* Water Ski Show
* Puppet Show
* Petting Zoo
* Shark Lagoon
* Exotic Bird Show
* Rattlesnake Show (featuring an event known as the "Kiss of Death' between a snake and handler).[3][9]
* Animal Exhibitions including false killer whales,[10] tortoises, kangaroos, pelican display, piranhas, spoonbill & wading Birds, river otters, seal & sea lion exhibit, Australian black swans, and alligators (with wrestling shows).[1][2][3]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Hlavaty, Craig. "Sea-Arama in Galveston was an island attraction for decades". Chron. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
2. ^ a b c d "Rosenberg Treasure: Sea-Arama Marineworld". Galveston, TX. June 7, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
3. ^ a b c d "Galveston's Sea-Arama Marineworld Artifacts". Rosenberg Library Museum. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
4. ^ "Killer Whales (Orcas) That Died in Captivity by Date of Death | PDF | Killer Whale | Pneumonia". Scribd. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
5. ^ "1968, Oct, Mamuk & navy whales". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 22, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
6. ^ "mamuk". Abbeville Meridional. June 14, 1973. p. 6. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
7. ^ Pollard, Sandra (June 24, 2014). Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62585-139-0.
8. ^ Harrigan, Stephen (December 1, 1975). "A Bad Day for Dolphins". Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
9. ^ Gray, Chris. "For Galveston, this theme park was on par with Astroworld". Chron. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
10. ^ "Article clipped from The Kerrville Times". The Kerrville Times. April 4, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved March 18, 2024.