The Dolphin Research Center is a dolphinarium on Grassy Key, Florida. The 90,000-square-foot series of saltwater lagoons is home to several dolphins and California sea lions. Fisherman Milton Santini opened Santini's Porpoise School in 1958, which he operated until 1972. Santini blasted lagoons into the seashore with dynamite to create deeper pe…
The Dolphin Research Center is a dolphinarium on Grassy Key, Florida. The 90,000-square-foot series of saltwater lagoons is home to several dolphins and California sea lions. Fisherman Milton Santini opened Santini's Porpoise School in 1958, which he operated until 1972. Santini blasted lagoons into the seashore with dynamite to create deeper pens for the dolphins. One of Santini's dolphins, Mitzi, starred in the film Flipper. The property was sold and renamed as Flipper's Sea School in 1972 and operated under this name until 1977. At this point, it was purchased by Jean Paul Fortom-Gouin. Fortom-Gouin closed the property to the public, running it as the Institute for Delphinid Research until 1983. The Dolphin Research Center was founded in 1984 by Armando and Jayne Rodriguez.
Location: Grassy Key, Florida, United States
Date opened: 1984
No. of animals: 31
No. of species: 3
Memberships: AMMPA IMATA
Major exhibits: Dolphin lagoons, California sea lion lagoon
Save
Share
More