On March 18, 1972, Seven Seas officially opened its gates in Arlington. Located “off the Turnpike,” the park sat between Six Flags Over Texas and Arlington Stadium—the initial home of the Texas Rangers, who were also preparing to begin their debut season in the city.
The festivities kicked off with a parade and a “fishnet” ribbon-cutting led by Mayor Tom Vandergriff. Admission was just $3.75 for adults and $2.75 for children. On that first day, over 10,000 guests explored the marine life and themed attractions, with many children taking home a bowl of live goldfish as a souvenir.
The city-owned, $9 million, 35-acre park was divided into seven distinct sections representing the seas and oceans of the world. Human performers shared the stage with marine life, including a killer whale, penguins, seals, and dolphins. Guests could feed koi fish, watch “mermaids,” or enjoy a high-dive show from a replica 18th-century pirate ship. The park’s sole ride was an arctic-themed adventure where guests traversed “icy” waters in six-passenger icebergs, dodging simulated snowstorms and a “snow monster.” For those looking for a bite, the Sea Cave restaurant at the entrance offered seafood, oysters, and cocktails.
Touted in 1972 newspaper ads as “finny, funny, and fantastic,” the project was met with initial enthusiasm. While the park was profitable and welcomed over 500,000 visitors in its first season, attendance struggled to meet high projections—especially compared to the 2 million visitors Six Flags drew that same year.
Despite the initial charm in its first season, Seven Seas lacked repeat visitors as the novelty soon wore thin. Paired with high expenses and upkeep, profits began to dwindle.
By the 1976 season, the park was rethemed as Hawaii Kai with an attempt to boost interest. However, struggling attendance fell even further, and the park closed for good at the end of the season. The site was eventually demolished, and the Sheraton Arlington hotel was built in its place, using some of the park’s lagoons for its pool area. Today, the area continues to evolve as part of Arlington’s growing Entertainment District.
Although its run was short-lived, many North Texans still hold fond memories of their summer days spent at Seven Seas and Hawaii Kai.
Seven Seas bumper sticker
Part of the Seven Seas collection at Fielder Museum
Seven Seas map
Ad for Sea Cave restaurant at Seven Seas
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – March 22, 1972
Newspapers.com
Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 03-18-26
Jason S. Sullivan 