Marineland (Florida)

The town of Marineland was established in 1940 and is in Flagler and St. Johns counties, Florida, United States. The population was 16 in the 2010 census. Marineland is located south of St. Augustine along Route A1A. The aquarium and the name of the town have become synonymous, however many do not realize that Marineland is a town in its own right. Like all proper municipalities, Marineland has its own local governing body complete with a mayor and city council board that meets monthly to discuss the town’s affairs. The town shares a zip code with St. Augustine Beach.A Brief History: The town of Marineland got its start when the Marineland Dolphin Adventure opened on June 23, 1938, as Marine Studios, a facility designed for Hollywood filmmakers to create underwater footage for motion pictures and newsreels. Popularly known as the “World’s First Oceanarium,” Marine Studios was the premier destination to allow the general public to experience marine life up-close.Because of their proximity, the local businesses share close partnerships and vision. The town of Marineland is a hub of research and conservation and is set in the middle of the GTM-NERR (Guana Tolomoto Matanza National Estuary Research Reserve), local businesses and foundations have close working relationships including Mobius Marine, Inc., Ripple Effect Eco Tours, Marineland Marina, Marineland Dolphin Adventure, University of Florida Whitney Laboratory, the Florida Master Naturalist Program, the southern facility for the GTM NERR, and Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and Faver-Dykes State Park.