Marineland of the
Pacific (see aerial photo to right) was located on a 90-acre site on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, adjacent to the Pacific
Ocean and just north of Portuguese Bend (see Portuguese Bend for additional
history on the area's use in history).
The area was once a part of a Spanish land grant which was called Rancho San Pedro and which was awarded to Juan Jose Dominguez in 1784 by the Spanish Governor Don Pedro
Fages. Marineland of the Pacific, which opened in 1954, was then much like
Seaworld is today. Unfortunately, this fine place closed down in 1987 due to
dwindling revenue. The land is now vacant.
For the film, "Pirates of the Caribbean", a fort was erected on the
site.
DIRECTIONS: From Los Angeles, take the 110 Freeway south to the end. Turn right onto N. Gaffey Street. Turn left on W. Summerland Ave. Turn left (south) at Western Ave. Turn right (west) at 25th Street which becomes Palos Verdes Drive South. Travel about 4.3 miles, then turn left.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY:
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (Walt Disney 2003) Directed by: Gore Verbinski. Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Jonathan Pryce.
