Aquarium Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary Of 'Dolphin Tale' Filming

CLEARWATER, FL — Fans of Winter the dolphin are invited to help the Clearwater Marine Aquarium celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of the major motion picture that made her famous around the world.

Throughout September, the aquarium will mark a decade since the filming of "Dolphin Tale," bringing back movie memories, film props from the original Winter Zone set location and screenings of "Dolphin Tale" and "Dolphin Tale 2."

The 2011 Warner Bros. film was based on the story of one of the aquarium's permanent residents, Winter.

Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was discovered entangled in a crab trap line, in Mosquito Lagoon near Cape Canaveral on Florida's east coast on Dec. 10, 2005.

Fisherman Jim Savage was out in his boat when he noticed movement in the water. He discovered the 2-month-old dolphin, later named Winter.

See related story: Winter The Dolphin Reunited With Rescuer 14 Years Later

The crab trap line had cut off the circulation to her tail flukes. She was transported to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium where her injured tail began to degrade, and she eventually lost it. Without a tail, the dolphin couldn't swim, and her prognosis was grim. Veterinarians and marine biologists from the aquarium worked with Florida-based Hanger Clinic, specializing in prosthetic limbs, to develop a first-of-its-kind prosthetic tail for Winter so she could swim again.

Winter plays herself in the movie, which also stars actors Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman and Kris Kristofferson.

"Dolphin Tale" was followed in 2014 by "Dolphin Tale 2," which reunited the original cast of "Dolphin Tale," and introduced Hope, another rescued dolphin, who Winter took under her wing (er, fin). To this day, Winter and Hope are BFFs.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium will show the two films in its new theater at the aquarium.

Daily movie show times through Sept. 30 are:

• 11 a.m. – Dolphin Tale
• 1:30 p.m. – Dolphin Tale 2
• 3:30 p.m. – Dolphin Tale

All screenings and activities are included with admission to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Click here to purchase tickets.

The community is also invited to help celebrate the anniversary by donating to Winter's Rescue Fundraiser to help other marine animals. Every dollar donated goes toward the aquarium's rescue and conservation efforts. Click here.