Niagara Falls, Ont. — The future of the now-closed Marineland is uncertain, but many Niagara residents say they already know what they want next: a new amusement park — one that captures the joy of Marineland’s rides and community spirit, but without animals in captivity.

The 323-hectare property, once a cornerstone of Niagara tourism, sits in limbo after the passing of longtime owners John Holer in 2018 and Marie Holer earlier this year. The estate, now held in trust, is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the fate of 30 remaining beluga whales and other animals remains unresolved after the federal government recently denied Marineland’s request to export the whales to China.

A generation that grew up at Marineland wants change

For Dominic Cliffe, who grew up visiting Marineland, the nostalgia is mixed with a modern awareness of animal welfare.

“Maybe it could be, like, a roller-coaster park,” said the 18-year-old Niagara Falls resident. “I don’t want to see them tear everything down because there’s a lot of good things there — but maybe not with, like, animals.”

Founded in 1961, Marineland was once famous for its killer whales, belugas, and marine shows. But following years of controversy, animal rights investigations, and declining attendance, the park did not reopen for the 2025 season, marking its first full closure to the public.

Economic hopes tied to revival

Former ride operator Ashley Mercer, who worked at Marineland as a teenager, remembers the energy the park once brought to her city.

“Just being able to give people that experience to come to my city and be thrilled to come to my town always made me feel really happy,” said Mercer, who now works at the Niagara Falls Fun Zone on Clifton Hill — currently the only area in the city still operating roller-coasters since Marineland’s closure.

Mercer hopes new investors will reopen the park or at least preserve its rides. “I would love to see someone come back and take the love that we all had for Marineland when I was a kid,” she said.

Local resident Devon Herrington agrees that losing Marineland without a replacement would be a “lost opportunity.”

“It’s important for the economy in Niagara Falls and the tourist experience,” he said. Herrington believes a rebuilt park should focus on education and immersive technology instead of animal shows: “You could have something that’s interactive — posters, animatronics, video — so people can learn without animals being kept there.”

Parents and longtime locals echo support

Kyler Sanderson, who used to take his young son to Marineland, says the region needs a family attraction again — just not one involving live animals.

“It’d be nice to just have somewhere to take our kids,” Sanderson said. “Any type of zoo has the potential for mistreatment. I’d rather see a kid-friendly amusement park for ages five to twelve.”

Vicki Grandits of nearby Chippawa — whose husband once worked at Marineland — said she loved the park as a child but became uneasy about animal conditions as she grew older.

“There were issues with the animals,” Grandits said. “I’d like to see another theme park built there so families don’t have to drive to Canada’s Wonderland. It would bring more jobs — right now, there’s not much going on in Niagara Falls.”

A city and mayor aligned with residents

The calls from residents mirror the position of Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, who has publicly stated that the Marineland property should become a “world-class attraction — without the animals.”

Diodati told CBC News he has spoken with Marineland representatives and that the trust managing the estate is facing financial strain as funds to care for the remaining animals dwindle. “I hope the property goes up for sale once the animals are safely relocated,” he said.

Changing times for a historic park

For many, Marineland’s closure marks the end of an era — but also a chance to build something new that aligns with contemporary ethics.

Hamilton resident Jeremy Ludkin, who visited the park more than 35 years ago, said, “It seems to be out of favour now to go to a park and see animals performing. It’s a different world.”

Marineland’s decline mirrors a broader global shift away from captive animal entertainment. The park ended its famous whale shows in 2019 and has since struggled to maintain attendance amid protests and regulatory scrutiny.

Still, residents like Mercer see potential. “Find new owners, even if it takes a few investors,” she said. “We can still have a place that brings families joy — just with compassion this time.”

Lansdowne Station, N.S. — Newly released court documents reveal that two residents living near Jack and Lilly Sullivan’s home told police they heard a vehicle repeatedly coming and going in the early-morning hours before the Nova Scotia children were reported missing on May 2.

The details, unsealed after CBC News successfully petitioned to lift redactions, are drawn from investigative affidavits filed by the RCMP as they sought search warrants for phone, banking, and video records connected to the case. The statements have not been proven in court.

Neighbours report late-night activity

According to the documents, neighbour Brad Wong told police he heard a “loud vehicle” near the family’s property in Lansdowne Station, roughly 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax.

“He said his residence is at an elevated position from Daniel’s residence and he could see vehicle lights over the treetops,” wrote RCMP Cpl. Charlene Curl. “He said the vehicle left three or four times after midnight … he could hear it stop and return.”

Another resident, Justin Smith, said he was awake and browsing Facebook around 1:30 a.m. when he heard a car turn around near the railroad tracks at the intersection of Gairloch Road and Lansdowne Station Road, close to where the children later disappeared.

“It made noise then went quiet,” police recorded him saying. “The vehicle was quiet for about two minutes then drove towards Lairg Road.”

Smith later told officers that Wong believed the vehicle belonged to Daniel Martell, the children’s stepfather.

Family’s version of events

According to police interviews, Malehya Brooks-Murray, the children’s mother, said she put Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, to bed first, followed by their baby daughter, before turning in around 9 p.m. Martell, she said, stayed up to clean but “the house wasn’t clean” when she awoke. She said she was not disturbed during the night and did not know when Martell went to bed.

Martell told investigators he went to bed “fairly early” and slept until daylight. In a phone interview Friday, he denied any vehicle movement that night.

“No one from the family left the property,” Martell said. “The only time a vehicle left was that morning, when I took the SUV to look for the kids. It’s not loud by any stretch of the imagination.”

He added that investigators never questioned him about the vehicle activity. “I know they work hard,” Martell said. “They’re exploring every lead.”

The disappearance

Brooks-Murray reported her children missing around 9 a.m. on May 2, telling police they had wandered away from the property. The siblings lived there with their mother, stepfather, baby sister, and grandmother.

What followed was one of Nova Scotia’s largest ground searches in recent memory — covering 8.5 square kilometres of rugged terrain with 160 volunteers, search dogs, drones, and helicopters.

Despite extensive efforts, no trace of the children has been found.

Social media speculation and family tensions

Court files also reveal police interviews with Darin Geddes, a relative of Brooks-Murray, who has shared speculative theories online and on a YouTube true-crime channel It’s a Criming Shame, under the pseudonym Derwood O’Grady.

Geddes suggested — without evidence — that Brooks-Murray may have sent the children away before calling 911. Investigators described him as “confrontational and evasive” and noted he demanded information about the case.

Police also received a video recording of a June 21 phone conversation between Geddes and Patti Pearson, Brooks-Murray’s grandmother. The recording, submitted by Brooks-Murray, captured a private exchange but its contents were not disclosed in the documents.

Case remains a missing-persons investigation

As of July 16, RCMP investigators stated that the children’s disappearance was not believed to be criminal in nature. Last week, police confirmed that cadaver dogs found no human remains around the property or in nearby search zones.

In an interview, Staff Sgt. Rob McCamon said the case continues under the Missing Persons Act. “It remains an open and active investigation,” he reiterated.

Lingering questions

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Jack and Lilly Sullivan has drawn national and international attention — not only for the scale of the search but also for the uncertainty that persists five months later.

For now, investigators continue to follow new leads, neighbours continue to hope for answers, and a quiet rural community remains haunted by the unanswered question of what happened on that May night.