The Landlocked Ocean

How did wild-caught dolphins end up in a knotty-pine tank in the Black Hills, or spending their winters in an Arizona car dealership parking lot? In this episode, we uncover the surreal and often somber history of Rapid City Marine Life, a roadside attraction that feels like a fever dream from a different era of animal entertainment.

We trace the journey of these cetaceans from the Gulfarium in Florida to the unconventional indoor dolphinarium of South Dakota. From dolphins performing leaps for trainers on ladders to the bizarre logistical feat of transporting marine mammals to a Scottsdale Ford dealership for winter housing, we examine the ethics, the eccentricities, and the eventual closure of this local landmark.

This is an episode you do not want to miss!