What should replace Marineland? Niagara residents weigh in on the future of the amusement park

It hasn’t been determined what will happen to the sprawling property where now-shuttered Marineland sits in Niagara Falls, Ont.

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. The 323-hectare property is believed to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

In the meantime, the fate of the 30 remaining beluga whales and other animals at the park on the 323-hectare property is also uncertain, after Marineland’s request to the federal government to export the whales to China were turned down in recent weeks.

However, many residents in Niagara Falls and other areas in the region have an idea of what they want next, for the property at least: another amusement park.

“But maybe not with, like, animals,” Dominic Cliffe told CBC in an interview.

Cliffe was three years old when he and his family moved to Niagara Falls, and they frequently visited Marineland. Now 18, he said he loved going there because of the animals.

But things have changed. 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.

“Maybe it could be, like, a roller-coaster park,” Cliffe said. “I don’t want to see them tear everything down because there’s a lot of good things there.”

Ashley Mercer, a lifelong Niagara Falls resident, had fond memories as a ride operator in Marineland.

“Just being able to give people that experience to come to my city […] and be thrilled to come to my town always made me feel really happy,” said Mercer, who now works at the Niagara Falls Fun Zone on Clifton Hill.

Clifton Hill is a street known for its tourist attractions, the only area in the city with roller-coasters still running since Marineland’s closure.

Mercer hopes Marineland’s next owners can salvage the rides and reopen.

Niagara Falls resident talks about the impact Marineland had in the city

Devon Herrington believes it would be “a lost opportunity” to not convert the property into another amusement park.

“It’s important for the economy in Niagara Falls and, just kind of like, the tourist experience,” he said. 

While Herrington finds the conundrum between euthanizing or exporting the belugas “distressing” and “concerning,” he believes the park should keep the animals.

“It should be more about education and less of a spectacle,” Herrington said.

Herrington said he would alternatively like to see posters, animatronics and video integration if they were to rebuild an animal amusement park.

“You could have something that’s a little more, you know, in the middle, so that people can still interact with them and get an understanding of it without actually having the animal physically there.”

Niagara Falls resident describes his ideal theme park

Another Niagara Falls resident, Kyler Sanderson, used to bring his son to Marineland, where they both shared memories enjoying the rides.

He would like to see an amusement park designed for kids five to 12 years old, “just without any of the animals.”

“It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to expand on, you know, that already being a type of amusement park,” he said, believing it to be the most realistic option for Marineland.

“Any type of zoo is potential that the animals can be mistreated,” Sanderson said. “I would prefer not to see that, but it’d be nice to just have somewhere to go take our kids.”

Chippawa resident Vicki Grandits never thought about bringing her children to Marineland, despite the fact her husband once worked there.

“As a child, I did like going. I remember seeing the walrus and some of the dolphins, and the deers,” she said. “When I got older, then I started seeing issues around the park, especially with the animals.”

Grandits would like to see the space turn into another theme park as well to avoid having to drive to Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, which is a 145-kilometre car ride from Niagara Falls.

“It would bring jobs, more jobs, because, right now, there’s not much going on in Niagara Falls. There just seems to be less and less,” Grandits added.

The people CBC spoke with have echoed the sentiments of Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati.

In a recent interview, Diodati said he hopes the Marineland estate can return as a “world-class attraction” without the animals, and that the property can go for sale after the animals are gone.

Marineland is currently being run by a trust, but the funds to feed and care for the animals are drying up, according to Diodati, who said he spoke with the park on Oct. 9.

Hamilton resident Jeremy Ludkin visited the theme park as a child, over 35 years ago.

“It seems to be out of favour now to go to a park, and see the animals and have them in a situation where they’re performing for people,” said Ludkin.

“It’s unfortunate that we can’t still be able to view them the way we still viewed them back in the past,” said Mercer, reminiscing about the whale shows before they were dropped in 2019.

“Find new owners, even if it takes a few investors. I would love to see someone come back and take the love that we all had for Marineland when I was a kid.”