“Dolphin Tale” is a 2011 family drama film directed by Charles Martin Smith that follows a lonely 11-year-old Sawyer Nelson and an injured dolphin named Winter. He spots a young dolphin on the shore after she gets stuck in a crab trap. Although she is immediately taken to a naval hospital, her tail is severely damaged and almost impossible to save.
Now Winter needs a miracle if she wants to get back in the water and swim again. Fortunately for her, a marine biologist, a prosthetics designer and her devoted friend Sawyer come to her rescue and make the impossible possible. Aside from the wholesome storytelling, viewers are likely to be invested in the various locations that appear in the heartwarming film’s backdrop. In case you’re wondering where ‘Dolphin Tale’ was filmed.
Where Was Dolphin Tale Movie Filmed?
“Dolphin Tale” was filmed entirely in Florida, particularly in Pinellas County. Principal photography for the dolphin-based film reportedly began in September 2010 and ended after three months in December of that year.
The real Winter, who plays herself on screen, lived in Florida, so the crew decided to shoot the film on location to bring more authenticity to the narrative.
Florida
All key sequences for ‘Dolphin Tale’ were shot in Pinellas County, located on the west central coast of Florida. The production crew was primarily camped at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium at 249 Windward Passage in Clearwater, where Winter lived.
The Long Center at 1501 N Belcher Road in Clearwater also served as a prominent manufacturing location. Meanwhile, the beach scenes were seemingly filmed at Fort De Soto Park at 3500 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde.
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During the shoot, the cast and crew were seen shooting several important scenes on the premises of two different institutions. They are Admiral Farragut Academy – Preparatory School & International Boarding School at 501 Park Street North and Pinellas Technical College at 901 34th Street South, both in St. Petersburg. Additionally, some interior scenes were recorded at the Bay News 9 studio at 700 Carillon Parkway #9 in St. Petersburg.
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The crew used locations in the town of Tarpon Springs, Satin Leaf Avenue in Oldsmar, and Honeymoon Island State Park at 1 Causeway Boulevard in Dunedin to film the rest of ‘Dolphin Tale.
In addition to this dolphin-based film, Pinellas County served as an important filming location for many other productions such as The Punisher, ‘Spring Breakers, ‘Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks’ and ‘Waiting on Mary.
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