Marine World/Africa USA

There were two successive Africa U.S.A. parks in California, both associated with animal trainer Ralph Helfer. The first Africa U.S.A. in California was created in 1962 as a affection training compound by Ralph and Toni Helfer. It was located in Soledad Canyon near Palmdale, north of Los Angeles. Ivan Tors first discovered Clarence, the cross-eyed lion, at Africa, U.S.A. and it inspired him to create the film Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion (1965) and the spin-off television series Daktari, which was partly shot on location there. Judy the chimp, another star of the show, was also owned by Ralph Helfer. A few other shows such as Cowboy in Africa, Gentle Ben, as well as an episode of Star Trek ("Shore Leave") were also shot there. Helfer provided both the location and the animals. In January 1969, Africa U.S.A. was struck by a powerful rainstorm over Soledad Canyon. The resulting severe flooding and mudslides in the canyons destroyed the compound, but only nine of Helfer's 1,500 animals had drowned. Helfer first relocated his animals to a second site in Ventura County before the move to Redwood City. Heavily damaged by the Sand Fire (2016), the property was sold on June 29, 2018, to the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority with the assistance of The Trust for Public Land, and is currently being restored to its natural condition in preparation for reopening to the public. == Marine World/Africa U.S.A. ==

The Marine World/Africa U.S.A. site occupied approximately of reclaimed tidelands in the San Francisco Bay within the confines of the Redwood Shores district of Redwood City. Numerous shallow sloughs, which have long been filled in, are known to have meandered across the property in its natural state. The general area of the site was diked off from the bay about 1910, and was used for pasture until about 1946 when it was converted to salt evaporation ponds. The site was then cleaned and leveled, and between 1964 and 1965, received about two feet (60 cm) of fill dirt. Construction of Marine World took place between 1966 and 1968. Available topographic surveys indicate that surcharges of two to three feet (1 m) were placed over some of the old slough areas prior to construction of the animal park. Marine World opened in July 1968. The park was owned and operated by the American Broadcasting Company. Mardji's original Bantha costume was on display for visitors to view at her enclosure. Mardji died on November 26, 1995, in Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. == Campus closure and move ==

Due to financial struggles, the Marine World/Africa U.S.A. park moved in 1986 to Vallejo, California, where it eventually became Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The Redwood Shores location of the former Marine World/Africa U.S.A. became an office complex for Oracle Corporation. ==References==