A Delaware bankruptcy judge has delayed approval of the proposed sale of Marineland Dolphin Adventure after a group seeking to preserve the site as an aquatic park claimed it was unfairly excluded from last week’s auction.
Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein adjourned the case until Nov. 3, ordering more details on the property — including plans for its 17 dolphins and roughly 1,200 other marine animals.
The auction earlier this month ran 34 rounds, producing a high bid of about $7.1 million from a firm led by real estate developer Craig Cavileer. Northeast Florida developer The Hutson Companies finished second.
The Florida marine park, which opened in 1938, was auctioned as part of the bankruptcy of its Mexico-based owner, The Dolphin Company, which cited financial difficulties and recent animal welfare findings at several of its aquatic parks.
Cavileer, a longtime industry figure known for his role in revitalizing Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards district and for leading the Silverton Casino in Las Vegas, declined to comment on the transaction last week.
A coalition led by marine mammal expert Jack Kassewitz, funded by a private family and advised by former Marineland manager Felicia Cook, argued that it was barred from bidding despite repeated attempts to participate.
The group said it had $4 million available for purchase and another $1.5 million to support operations through the slow season.
Kassewitz told the court Marineland could thrive if properly managed.
“On this record, I’m not going to approve the sale,” Judge Silberstein said, adding she may reach a different conclusion after reviewing additional information.
Attorneys for the sellers countered that the coalition never submitted a qualified bid under the court-approved procedures and cited possible conflicts of interest involving Kassewitz’s financial backers.
They also argued that continued operations are costly to the estate.
Silberstein voiced particular concern for the dolphins’ welfare and urged both sides to confer before the next hearing.
She said that she needed a fuller picture of Marineland before approving a sale — but noted that Kassewitz’s had a steep hill to climb to match the winning bid.
