R.I.P. Flipper
A gray flash beneath the water catches the attention of the audience. Suddenly surfacing, the smiling dolphin puffs through its blowhole and emits a squeaky, high-pitched tone before plunging back underwater. Will it shoot up from beneath and do an aerial somersault? Will it rise up on its tail and propel itself across the lagoon? The archetypal sea mammal that burned these maneuvers into the minds of millions around the globe once resided here on Grassy Key. Mitzi, better known as Flipper, the world’s most famous bottlenose dolphin, spent her final days at what is now the Dolphin Research Center.
The facility was originally founded in 1958 as Santini’s Porpoise School. Mitzi, who was Milton Santini’s first pupil, launched the training center to national prominence after her heartwarming debut performance in Flipper in 1963 at the tender age of five. In the film, Flipper is accidentally speared by a fisherman and rescued by Sandy Ricks, played by actor Luke Halpin. As an expression of her gratitude, Flipper takes a liking to young Sandy and soon becomes his best friend and protector. If sharks are afoot, Flipper chases them away. If Sandy and his pals want a show, Flipper gladly obliges them.
Info
Address 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL 33050, +1 305.289.1121, www.dolphins.org | Hours Daily 9am–4:30pm| Tip Visit the nearby Keys Cable Park (59300 Overseas Hwy) in Marathon to go wakeboarding. Whip and flip on a rentable wakeboard, the hipper alternative to waterskiing. Lessons are available for beginners.
On the heels of Flipper’s success, visitors came to Santini’s to “ride” Mitzi or have her tug them along on a small boat. She retired from her movie career after the 1964 sequel, Flipper’s New Adventure. In 1972, Mitzi passed away from a heart attack at the age of 14 and a memorial was erected here in her honor.
Since 1984, the Dolphin Research Center has been devoted to creating a wholesome environment for both its human visitors and sea-mammal residents, offering the best care and rehabilitation for dolphins and seals deemed unfit to live in the wild, while providing a rich educational experience for curious guests. For the existence and continuous growth of the DRC, we have Mitzi to thank.
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