Volume 1, No. 5. April 6, 2001
It’s twin animal interactions!
Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, California, announces the arrival of Dolphin Discovery and Sunset Safari, March 17, 2001.
It’s hard to tell who gets more excited by the interaction: the public patrons who get up close and personal with the dolphins, or Merlin and Bayou who get to strut their stuff to a new group of "trainers."
Six Flags Marine World’s new dolphin interaction program opened the season with strong participation and positive feedback. Up to 20 people can reserve space for the two-hour morning programs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and between the public announcement of the program in December and opening day more than 350 spaces had been filled, including a sold-out opening weekend. The $99.99 price tag includes an hour of classroom instruction and dressing in a wet suit for in-pool interaction with Merlin and Bayou. Admission to the park is also included.
Sunset Safari provides an exclusive animal interaction program with the park’s land animals for up to 20 guests at a cost of $9.99 each. Depending on availability, guests can pet a penguin, porcupine, elephant, and giraffe, tour the veterinary clinic, and visit with tigers. The tour attracted only two comers on opening Saturday, but every day since it has sold out, said Jeff Jouett, public relations manager.
"We’ve always had people ask us if they can have their picture taken with the penguin, or if they can be the one person chosen out of every wildlife theater show to pet the porcupine," Jouett said. "We knew if we could do this with a small group and slight up-charge, we’d have a winner on our hands."
©2001, Minton Enterprises LLC
All rights reserved