05/28/2026
We're all pretty familiar with Niagara Falls daredevils, the humans who decided to take on the mighty falls. But did you know a sea lion escaped Marineland and survived the stunt?
Jeff the sea lion’s story is part of what contributed to Marineland’s early popularity. The park, originally named “Marine Wonderland,” was founded in 1961 by John Holer and sea lions were the main attraction when it opened.
On the morning of Thursday, May 23, 1963, Jeff was missing from his enclosure at the park. He had managed to slip underneath the fence before going on an adventure to find other bodies of water nearby. It is unknown if he headed for Dufferin Islands or went straight to the Upper Niagara River.
He was spotted later that day in the Lower Niagara River; first near the Maid of the Mist docks, then at the Queenston Docks. Clearly Jeff had gone over Niagara Falls. A helicopter search was conducted on Friday but Jeff managed to evade the search. On Saturday, Jeff was spotted at the Youngstown Yacht Club, Queenston Docks, and, lastly, in Niagara-on-the-Lake where he did a flip near Tommy Haines’ rowboat (Tommy was approximately 13 at the time). Mr. Holer tried retrieving Jeff from Youngstown, but Jeff had already moved on.
On Sunday morning, Walt Goring was fishing at Queenston Docks when he saw Jeff. Walt attempted to capture Jeff, but Jeff slipped right out of his arms and headed back to the river before he thought better of it and decided to play a game of fish-fetch with Walt. Jeff brought a perch to the shore near Walt, Walt cast the fish back in the water, and Jeff brought it back once more (maintaining a safe distance) before he grew bored of the game and continued his journey from Queenston Docks back to Niagara-on-the-lake.
Around 11:30 am the same day, Tommy Haines was with his parents in their motor boat when Tommy spotted Jeff a second time, this time the sea lion was sunbathing on the shore. Tommy joined Jeff on the shore, and talked to him from a safe distance away for about an hour while his parents hurried to Queenston Docks to contact John Holer.
John arrived with Thomas Monaghan, and the two of them met Jeff and Tommy on the shore. Jeff fought back, biting John Holer in the arm, but was inevitably recaptured and returned to Marine Wonderland on May 26, 1963. He was allegedly grouchy the entire trip back until he was reunited with the other sea lions; Princess, Jerry & Patsy. You’ll be shocked and pleased to know that, after all his adventures, Jeff only sustained mild injuries from his plummet over the falls, he had an injured left flipper that gave him a limp, and inflammation around his eye and mouth. And Tommy got a reward of $50 dollars for his assistance in finding Jeff.
