Marineland Dolphin Adventure, the nearly century-old marine park south of St. Augustine, has won an unlikely reprieve.
A Delaware bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved its sale to a Florida-based preservation group that plans to keep the landmark oceanfront attraction operating as a marine park rather than see it redeveloped.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Wednesday authorized the sale of Marineland’s assets to Apex LLC, a consortium led by Jon and Barbara Rubel of Green Cove Springs.
“We are very pleased with the judge’s decision,” the Rubels told The Citizen in a statement after the approval. “We look forward to moving forward!”
The transaction, valued at about $7.1 million, includes $6.5 million in cash and roughly $635,000 in cost savings through the assumption of contracts and retention of staff.
The sale concludes months of uncertainty following the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Leisure Investments Holdings LLC, the Mexico-based parent company that cited financial strain across its marine attractions.
Marineland’s 20-acre property, located at 9600 N. Oceanshore Boulevard, was one of several holdings put on the market.
Initially, Texas developer Craig Cavileer appeared poised to take control after his firm, Delightful Development, won the first auction in October with a $7.1 million cash offer.
But the Rubels’ group—working with marine-mammal advocate Jack Kassewitz and former Marineland manager Felicia Cook—challenged the process, claiming their bid to continue operations had been unfairly excluded.
After reviewing the dispute, Judge Laurie Silverstein reopened the auction earlier this week, allowing the Apex bid to move forward.
She later approved the sale, citing the proposal’s good faith, preservation of jobs, and commitment to maintain the facility as an active marine attraction.
Under the agreement, Marineland’s dolphins will remain on-site except for three — Sandy, Soleil, and Capri — who will be relocated to Theater of the Sea, a family-owned marine park in Islamorada that purchased them for $500,000.
Founded in 1938 as “the world’s first oceanarium,” Marineland has long been a fixture of Florida’s coastal identity, blending tourism, education, and marine research.
The park’s survival under new ownership marks a rare instance of preservation in a market where coveted waterfront properties often face redevelopment.
