South Bay : Waving Farewell to Marineland Skytower

It became one of Southern California’s most recognizable landmarks, a popular backdrop for motion pictures and television shows for nearly three decades.

But this week, with little fanfare, workers are dismantling the 320-foot Marineland Skytower on the shores of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Its metal will be sold as scrap.

In the old days, visitors were whisked by elevator to the tower’s top for a 360-degree view of the South Bay.

After Marineland closed in 1987, the once-proud edifice became a target for vandals. It has lacked lights since 1991, and aviators were warned to steer clear of the peninsula for fear of running into the tower in the dark.

Demolition started Monday and is expected to continue through the weekend, said Carolynn Petru, planning administrator for Rancho Palos Verdes, who was surprised by the lack of community concern about the tower’s demise. “I thought we would be getting calls and calls,” she said. “But we haven’t.”