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Meet Dolphin Tale Star Winter at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
In 2008, a critically injured dolphin was taken into the care of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and fitted with the very first prosthetic dolphin tail. Named Winter, she thrives as a permanent resident of this marine rehabilitation center on Florida’s central west coast.
Now, Winter’s story is being told on the big screen, and the aquarium is preparing for the limelight with the September 23rd release of the Warner Brothers 3-D movie Dolphin Tale. The movie, starring Morgan Freeman, Kris Kristoffersen, Harry Connick, Jr., and Ashley Judd, stays true to the tale of the rescued dolphin, with the addition of dramatic Hollywood twists that tug at the heartstrings.
While open to the public, the CMA is primarily a hospital and not a show aquarium. The new movie is expected to be a game changer, so the facility is sprucing up with renovations, new programming, and an eventual expansion. Visitors are offered several daily educational presentations describing the care and feeding of the resident dolphins, sea turtles, river otters, nurse sharks, stingrays, and fish. Other popular programs include the “Wade with a Dolphin” animal interaction program and the two-hour “Sea Life Safari” boat tour.
The AAA four-diamond Sandpearl Resort has partnered with the aquarium to offer new Winter the Dolphin packages, just in time for the movie’s premiere. Located two miles away from the aquarium on the silky white sands of Clearwater Beach, the Sandpearl is a new, stylishly upscale yet casual resort with a spa, lagoon-style pool, kids’ camp, and fitness programs.
The new Sandpearl package (available through December 31) includes accommodations, breakfast, a copy of the book Winter’s Tale, and admission to the CMA to meet the charismatic creature. Rates range from $274/night for the bay view room category to $444/night for a junior suite with views of the Gulf of Mexico.
Even better: There’s a philanthropic twist to the hotel’s new deal. “A portion of the proceeds from the package will be donated to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium,” says Eric Waltz, general manager of the Sandpearl. The funds will “help with the feeding and care of Winter and her friends.”
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Can you actually swim with the dolphins at The Clearwater Marine Aquarium?
Thank you.
Kathy Cassiy
i loved the movie dolphin tale and i would truely love to meet winter!
I just saw Dolphin Tale. Winter really does have an inspirational story, and I enjoyed the movie.
I love the movie very much I feel for winter glad they help her it was very sad and touching movie I myself love dolphins and meet winter someday!
Hi Kathy,
Good question, and thanks for asking. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium offers a few animal encounter programs, including Wade With Dolphins and Dolphin Encounter. Check out the full list of encounters on the Clearwater Marine Aquarium site.
I just watched the movie twice in a row. It was really good and i know were thepeople are coming from. When something that severe happens to someone. You just want to give up and think its the end of the world. But never give up and be strong and you can conquor anything.
Love the movie my nana and brother plan a trip in June hope to meet winter
A utterly fantastic movie and one that really stimulates how compassionate we are to animals and humans in need of love, strength, and bonding. We Americans have a lot of patience when we want to use it, but too often expect and want things done right now. I have a question, “have the wonders of this facility on rehab and how it works with Winter, been exposed to any of the Wounded Warriors who are having problems with themselves on giving up on Life and their pursuit of happiness–wouldn’t they have fun swimming with Winter and who knows what value it might have to them”? We tend to Bond with identity, and success. Thanks for a great movie and I will be down to see Winter in all of her glory.