Corvettes and Marineland of the Pacific – Chapter #27
One of the great pleasures of owning a Corvette is taking a road trip with the top back on a warm, sunny day, listening to the rumble of the exhaust and taking-in the beauty of the countryside…..and “countryside” was something not easy to find in the congested beach-towns of Southern California even in the early ‘60s. But there was one such place nearby that was as picturesque as any I’ve ever seen….taking a trip to Marineland of the Pacific….and driving there along my special ocean route was part of a full day’s magic and enjoyment with a step back in time you wouldn’t forget. Just let the wind blow, pretty surfer-girl….get your scarf, your overnight bag and let’s go for a ride.
Marineland was located at the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula on a remote and spectacular 90 acre site overlooking the Pacific Ocean with almost a mile of oceanfront. When it opened on August 28,1954, one year before Disneyland, it claimed to be the world’s only 3-ring sea circus…ring #1 was the whale stadium with a tank holding 600,000 gallons of sea water, #2 was the oval tank where divers hand fed 3,000 fish under water and #3 was sea arena where porpoise and sea lions performed. In fact it was the world’s largest oceanarium and it was open every day of the year…for both young and old to enjoy. And CBS-TV seemed always here; first in 1958 for 4 years, filming all of Mike Nelson’s (Lloyd Bridges) above-water sequences in “Sea Hunt” (under-water sequences filmed in Silver Springs, Florida)….followed by an episode of “Route 66”with Buz in the tank feeding sharks and then “The Clampetts’ Go Fishing” (Beverly Hillbillys) shot in July, 1963.
We head the Vette west on Ocean Blvd through downtown towards the Port of Long Beach, cross over the pontoon bridge to Terminal Island and take the just opened Vincent Thomas Bridge to San Pedro. Having been long delayed and now complete, this bridge is 1,500 feet long…..the third longest suspension bridge in California…..tall and beautiful…..a shortened version of the Golden Gate (4,200 feet). And nearby is the stately WPA era San Pedro Municipal Ferry Building now dark and empty….made so by the much quicker and safer span.
The journey really starts in San Pedro where settlement began in 1769, with the town soon becoming known as the center of the Albacore fishing industry. Once on Gaffey St. we head towards the ocean making a quick detour over to 28th St. to test the Vette on 50 feet of the steepest section of public roadway in LA, as the street climbs at a 33 degree angle….we need second gear.
From here, over to Fermin Park and Fort MacArthur (named after Douglas’ father) whose mission had changed during the Cold War years to that of a high security NIKE surface–to-air missile battery activated in 1954….the silos are concealed underground and occupy only a small part of the area so we are free to drive through the oldest part of the post….full of immaculately kept barracks, lush shade trees and green grass as it was at the turn of the century.
Next the Point Fermin Lighthouse, built in 1874 and operated finally with an electric light that could be seen for 22 miles until December 7, 1941 when it was removed after Pearl Harbor as fears mounted it would serve as a beacon for enemy planes and ships. The lantern room and balcony were replaced with a look-out shack that locals disapprovingly call, the “chicken coop”.
Then past the “sunken city” where in 1929 and continuing to the mid ‘30s, the southern tip of the city began to inexplicably slip into the sea, along with the homes….and now driving around the point and up the coastline on Paseo Del Mar and over to Palos Verdes Drive…..the haze which always hangs around San Pedro and produces this “lushness”, has lifted and its a perfectly clear day with a cloudless sky and Catalina Island off in the distance. For the next few miles, nothing but open land, blue ocean, beautiful empty cliffs and beaches; and no traffic.
We stop briefly at Wayfarers Chapel, the impressive glass church designed by Lloyd Wright (Frank’s son) in the 1940s, the sight of so many weddings, including Jane Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay in 1958….then a few more miles and we catch sight of the huge American flag atop a 100 foot pole up ahead and know we’ve arrived at our destination.
Most of the traffic comes from the other direction so we merge into the line that forms at the entrance and proceed down the hill to one of the many free parking lots. We were both here last month taking in the oceanarium and marveling at Bubbles, the 1,600 lb. pilot whale, so today we walk the path down to the beach and south to the Marineland Pier and take their scenic coastal boat cruise. Back at dusk; check into the Marineland Motel where rooms are set at terraced levels down the cliffs…with private balconies overlooking the ocean. We take a quick shower and slip over to the Marineland Restaurant for a bite; then back to our room …and into bed… her tan lines show in the moon glow as we listen to the waves crashing against the rocky shore below….until slowly the surf sings us to sleep.
EPILOG
The Marineland of the Pacific that had played host to from 800,000 to nearly 3 million guests depending on the year was purchased in 1986 by Sea World in San Diego with a promise to keep the park open. Then 6 weeks later, the whales and other animals were secretly removed one night to San Diego and the amusement park closed. The big tanks were drained rendering them unserviceable and structurally unsound. It would take no time for the undergrowth to take over. The once proud 320 foot Skytower now standing watch over a deserted and decaying park surrounded by a chain-link fence was finally disassembled in 1995, being an unlighted hazard to aviation. The old Marineland Restaurant operated as the “Catalina Room” until 2004. Then in 2006, what remained of Marineland was finally demolished. The place where orca and dolphins flew through hoops of fire to the delight of all ages was gone.
One of the great pleasures of owning a Corvette is taking a road trip with the top back on a warm, sunny day, listening to the rumble of the exhaust and taking-in the beauty of the countryside…..and “countryside” was something not easy to find in the congested beach-towns of Southern California even in the early ‘60s. But there was one such place nearby that was as picturesque as any I’ve ever seen….taking a trip to Marineland of the Pacific….and driving there along my special ocean route was part of a full day’s magic and enjoyment with a step back in time you wouldn’t forget. Just let the wind blow, pretty surfer-girl….get your scarf, your overnight bag and let’s go for a ride.
Marineland was located at the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula on a remote and spectacular 90 acre site overlooking the Pacific Ocean with almost a mile of oceanfront. When it opened on August 28,1954, one year before Disneyland, it claimed to be the world’s only 3-ring sea circus…ring #1 was the whale stadium with a tank holding 600,000 gallons of sea water, #2 was the oval tank where divers hand fed 3,000 fish under water and #3 was sea arena where porpoise and sea lions performed. In fact it was the world’s largest oceanarium and it was open every day of the year…for both young and old to enjoy. And CBS-TV seemed always here; first in 1958 for 4 years, filming all of Mike Nelson’s (Lloyd Bridges) above-water sequences in “Sea Hunt” (under-water sequences filmed in Silver Springs, Florida)….followed by an episode of “Route 66”with Buz in the tank feeding sharks and then “The Clampetts’ Go Fishing” (Beverly Hillbillys) shot in July, 1963.
We head the Vette west on Ocean Blvd through downtown towards the Port of Long Beach, cross over the pontoon bridge to Terminal Island and take the just opened Vincent Thomas Bridge to San Pedro. Having been long delayed and now complete, this bridge is 1,500 feet long…..the third longest suspension bridge in California…..tall and beautiful…..a shortened version of the Golden Gate (4,200 feet). And nearby is the stately WPA era San Pedro Municipal Ferry Building now dark and empty….made so by the much quicker and safer span.
The journey really starts in San Pedro where settlement began in 1769, with the town soon becoming known as the center of the Albacore fishing industry. Once on Gaffey St. we head towards the ocean making a quick detour over to 28th St. to test the Vette on 50 feet of the steepest section of public roadway in LA, as the street climbs at a 33 degree angle….we need second gear.
From here, over to Fermin Park and Fort MacArthur (named after Douglas’ father) whose mission had changed during the Cold War years to that of a high security NIKE surface–to-air missile battery activated in 1954….the silos are concealed underground and occupy only a small part of the area so we are free to drive through the oldest part of the post….full of immaculately kept barracks, lush shade trees and green grass as it was at the turn of the century.
Next the Point Fermin Lighthouse, built in 1874 and operated finally with an electric light that could be seen for 22 miles until December 7, 1941 when it was removed after Pearl Harbor as fears mounted it would serve as a beacon for enemy planes and ships. The lantern room and balcony were replaced with a look-out shack that locals disapprovingly call, the “chicken coop”.
Then past the “sunken city” where in 1929 and continuing to the mid ‘30s, the southern tip of the city began to inexplicably slip into the sea, along with the homes….and now driving around the point and up the coastline on Paseo Del Mar and over to Palos Verdes Drive…..the haze which always hangs around San Pedro and produces this “lushness”, has lifted and its a perfectly clear day with a cloudless sky and Catalina Island off in the distance. For the next few miles, nothing but open land, blue ocean, beautiful empty cliffs and beaches; and no traffic.
We stop briefly at Wayfarers Chapel, the impressive glass church designed by Lloyd Wright (Frank’s son) in the 1940s, the sight of so many weddings, including Jane Mansfield and Mickey Hargitay in 1958….then a few more miles and we catch sight of the huge American flag atop a 100 foot pole up ahead and know we’ve arrived at our destination.
Most of the traffic comes from the other direction so we merge into the line that forms at the entrance and proceed down the hill to one of the many free parking lots. We were both here last month taking in the oceanarium and marveling at Bubbles, the 1,600 lb. pilot whale, so today we walk the path down to the beach and south to the Marineland Pier and take their scenic coastal boat cruise. Back at dusk; check into the Marineland Motel where rooms are set at terraced levels down the cliffs…with private balconies overlooking the ocean. We take a quick shower and slip over to the Marineland Restaurant for a bite; then back to our room …and into bed… her tan lines show in the moon glow as we listen to the waves crashing against the rocky shore below….until slowly the surf sings us to sleep.
EPILOG
The Marineland of the Pacific that had played host to from 800,000 to nearly 3 million guests depending on the year was purchased in 1986 by Sea World in San Diego with a promise to keep the park open. Then 6 weeks later, the whales and other animals were secretly removed one night to San Diego and the amusement park closed. The big tanks were drained rendering them unserviceable and structurally unsound. It would take no time for the undergrowth to take over. The once proud 320 foot Skytower now standing watch over a deserted and decaying park surrounded by a chain-link fence was finally disassembled in 1995, being an unlighted hazard to aviation. The old Marineland Restaurant operated as the “Catalina Room” until 2004. Then in 2006, what remained of Marineland was finally demolished. The place where orca and dolphins flew through hoops of fire to the delight of all ages was gone.
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