Made famous by the Dolphin Tale movies, Winter welcomes guests to her new home
CLEARWATER, Fla. (July 29, 2020) – Today, Clearwater Marine Aquarium fulfills its 14-year vision of providing a new habitat for Winter the Dolphin by unveiling the Dolphin Tale star’s 1.5 million gallon Ruth and J. O. Stone Dolphin Complex habitat with a ribbon cutting. This new habitat was developed to provide state of the art care for CMA’s resident dolphins, and is part of the $80 million expansion efforts currently underway at the Ruth and J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex on Island Estates.
The nine viewing windows offer sweeping underwater views of all five residents Winter, Hope, PJ, Nicholas and Hemingway, including the 40-foot wide by 14-foot tall Kate Tiedemann and Ellen Cotton Main Dolphin Pool and Observation Window. The Stone Dolphin Complex triples CMA’s dolphin pool space, allowing for the care of additional rescued animals.
“We are so excited to unveil this beautiful new space after 14 years of planning and discussions,” said CEO Frank Dame. “Each guest that comes through our doors allows us the ability to rescue, rehab, release, and care for our non-releasable resident marine animals.” Dame continued, “With the additional capacity this beautiful and custom-made habitat affords us, we will be able to care for twice as many rescued animals and give them the best care available.”
The opening of Winter’s new home is the first in a two-phased opening for the Stone Dolphin Complex. This fall, CMA will open third-floor access to the Stone Complex with views of Clearwater Beach and the top of the dolphin habitats. Additionally, Phase II of our expansion project will also include a whole new entrance experience, new dining areas and locally-sourced food options with beer and wine, a new retail area, private event space with a ballroom and full prep kitchen, high-tech theatre, double the education space, four private meeting rooms, and five-times the guest space.
Sitting on Clearwater Bay, this habitat is minutes from the pristine sands of Clearwater Beach and 90-minutes from Orlando. Visit seewinter.com to make reservations and for admission specials.
- Media Contact
- Kelsy Long, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, klong@cmaquarium.org, 727.441.1790 x259, or via cell at 410.507.1453.
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- About Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working marine rescue center dedicated to preserving our marine life and environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in education, research, rescue, rehabilitation and release. CMA is home to rescue dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, nurse sharks and more. Winter, the dolphin’s story of survival after injury that caused her to lose her tail, has impacted millions of people around the world. A major motion picture, Dolphin Tale, highlighted her life story in 2011. The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2, was released in September 2014 and features the incredible story of Hope, a young resident dolphin of CMA. The mission and potential to change people’s lives differentiates Clearwater Marine Aquarium from any other aquarium in the world
© 2019 Clearwater Marine Aquarium | 249 Windward Passage, Clearwater, FL 33767 | 727-445-1139 | 727-441-1790 | (Mission Site URL) | (Visit Site URL)
We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation.
A Florida non-profit 501(c)(3) organization