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Marine World moved to Vallejo 35 years ago

So why did former Vallejo Mayor Terry Curtola receive a kiss from a killer whale and a hug from a diaper-wearing baby chimpanzee in 1985? Both trans-species displays of affection were to celebrate the announcement that wild animal-themed amusement park Marine World, which had been in Redwood City since 1968 and was floundering financially, was moving to the South Bay.

It was the culmination of a long campaign that had started two years prior when Vallejo was chosen as one of three finalists (including Oakland and Mountain View) that had been whittled down from a pool of more than 100 applicants vying to be the park’s new home.

While orcas and chimps may have expressed (anthropomorphized) happiness at the news, some of their fellow mammals – Vallejo golfers – were upset that the new facility was to be built on a golf course they loved near Lake Chabot.

Marine World merged with Africa USA in 1972 and offered guests close – very close – encounters with wild animals. Decades before “Tiger King” became a Netflix pandemic mustwatch, Redwood City’s Marine World Africa USA guests could pet a wild tiger that was led around the park on a leash.

Moving all the animals to Vallejo could have been done by the freeway, but where’s the fun in that? Marine World President Mike Demetrios had more than a bit of P.T. Barnum in him and on Oct. 13, 1985, he opted instead to sail down the San Francisco Bay in a “Park Ark” named Princess Yaka after one of the killer whales. He even dressed up as Noah to boot. The trip did not take 40 days and 40 nights, just nine hours. Onboard were 100 plants and 22 animals including four camels, three llamas and five peacocks. Demetrios wasn’t the only one onboard wearing a costume. An elephant named Mardji was rocking a definitely-not-mentioned-in-theBible-book-of-Genesis “Star Wars” Bantha outfit.

Besides the ark, some of the aquatic mammals were transported by airborne slings and the giraffes made the 55-mile trip to Vallejo in specially made vans.

Construction on the new Marine World began shortly after the announcement of the decision was made. The expected 18 months of work to get the 160-acre park up and running only took nine, but the price tag ballooned from $35 million to $50 million. Marine World opened in Vallejo on June 16, 1986. At the grand opening ceremony, the traditional red ribbon that was cut was appropriately replaced by a vine held between two elephants.

Marine World instantly became Vallejo’s fourth-largest employer. Excitement on opening day was evident as 12,000 people poured in to get splashed, see the sea lions, seals, water-skiers and the killer whale stars of the park, 9,000-pound Yaka and 5,500pound Vigga.

While most enjoyed the new attraction, Vallejo-based People for Animal Welfare and Galtbased Performing Animal Welfare Society called keeping the animals there inhumane. The animals may not have loved it there, but there was still some serious lovin’ going on. Even before they had opened to the public, Marine World animals gave birth to two harbor seals, two tigers and a zebra.

Local shared remembrances of Marine World – now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – on Facebook:

Raife Blake: I remember when it was Marine World Africa USA in Redwood City – and I still remember the jingle from the old radio/TV ads, too.

Eddie Kim McGee: I hated it because it took away one of my favorite short courses, Lake Chabot: 18 holes you could play in two hours.

Robert Basa: In 1975, Homer Formentera and I were golfing there and we came across a dead mud hen. We could see it had been struck in the head by a golf ball. We figured since it was still warm it was a “fresh kill” so we stuck it in our golf bag and took it home to try and cook it. Mud hens are bottom feeders so when we tried to clean it, the smell of what it had been eating stunk up the whole house. It smelled so bad we tried to give it to my dog, but he took one sniff and left. We ended

Tony Wade Back in the day up throwing it over my fence. So I can actually say that I got a “birdie‚ on my second attempt at golfing. I haven’t golfed since.

Mark Rose: My mother-inlaw helped get Marine World to Vallejo and worked there for years. She would put a big speaker on her car and drive around town telling people to bring them to Vallejo.

Kathleen Cordingley: One of the riding camels at Marine World bit me. I still have the scar.

Sharon Lim: I was a balloon/ merchandise/kiosk girl with a striped shirt and fuchsia skirt trying to sell giant dolphin balloons. I got the worst tan lines ever!

Jeff Ackman: At Marine World, they would let you take a pic with a live monkey.

Kevin Miller: Jeff Ackman, that’s because taking a pic with a dead monkey wouldn’t go over so well.

Courtesy photos Microfilm images of Marine World’s opening in Vallejo in June 1986.

Reach Fairfield humor columnist, accidental local historian and author of the upcoming book “Growing Up In Fairfield, California” Tony Wade at toeknee weighed@gmail.com.

Solano board lowers business license cost for small home-based businesses

Todd R. Hansen

THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County supervisors this week lowered business licence fees 75% for small home businesses.

The action takes the initial fee from $429 to $110, and a renewal license from $277 to $72 for those qualified businesses with gross incomes of $15,000 or less each year.

The program applies to the micro-enterprise home kitchens, as well as other home-based businesses, the board was told.

Supervisor Mitch Mashburn said he had been contacted by several constituents on the matter, specifically noting an older woman who sells crocheted squares to offset her Medicare prescription costs.

The county will initially take the word of the license applicant but could require proof of business income as necessary.

In other action, the board: n Approved the Notice of Completion for the Claybank Campus Perimeter Security Fence Replacement Project at 2500 Clay Bank Road in Fairfield. The cost was $785,047, of which $518,937 was construction. The fund balance was $200,953, which will be used for project-related costs including some maintenance. The contractor was Golden Bay Fence Plus Iron Works Inc. of Stockton. n Renewed the Behavioral Health performance contract with the California Department of Health Care Services through June 30, 2024, outlining conditions and requirements to receive funding for Mental Health Services Act, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and Substance Abuse Block Grant programs. n Received the Sheriff’s Inmate Welfare Fund Report of Expenditures that ended June 30. n Accepted the $257,698 California Office of Emergency Services grant for the county Victim Services Program through Dec. 31. n Approved an appropriation transfer of $493,446 to recognize unanticipated revenue for Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant-Juvenile Justice Realignment. n Authorized the Solano County Probation Department to participate in the Youth Programs and Facilities grant program funded through the state general fund and administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections, and approved an appropriations transfer of $152,571 for unanticipated revenue from the state board. n Approved an agreement with Yolo County for each jurisdiction’s Public Works agencies on a joint one-time chip seal maintenance project of various Yolo County roads. n Approved submitting a request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for a $133,590 allocation from the state Pedestrian and Bicycle Project funding for the Benicia Road Complete Streets Project for the current fiscal year. n Approved an appropriations transfer for $200,000 to recognize unanticipated revenue for the California Department of Public Health California Safe Schools for All, program and approved a $317,750 amendment to the contract with California Health Medical Reserve Corps, for a total contract of $365,750, to support the project’s goals through June 30, 2022. n Approved a $25,000 revenue contract with Solano Community College for the Department of General Services to provide vehicle leasing and vehicle maintenance services from Sept. 1 through May 31, 2022.

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