Previous coverage: Winter the Dolphin dies after battle with intestinal issues

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — She was a movie star, an inspiration and the bottlenose dolphin that put Clearwater Marine Aquarium on the map. Now, Winter has her very own exhibit.

“Tales of Winter the Dolphin” opened last week at CMA as a tribute to Winter’s legacy, four years after her death in 2021.

Winter was rescued in 2005 after becoming tangled in a crab trap line in Mosquito Lagoon off Florida’s Atlantic coast. After losing her tail from her injuries, Winter was transferred to CMA for long-term care.

Beating the odds, Winter learned to swim and eventually received a prosthetic tail, inspiring the films “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2,” which the aquarium said helped generate a $2 billion economic impact in Pinellas County between 2012 and 2015.

“Winter’s journey captivated hearts across the globe and helped define who we are as an organization,” Joe Handy, CEO of Clearwater Marine Aquarium, said. “She wasn’t just a dolphin — she was a symbol of hope. This exhibit is our way of honoring her spirit and the countless lives she changed, and we’re excited to share that legacy with new generations of visitors.”

The exhibit tells the story of Winter’s rescue and the invention of the prosthetic tail that was her and the aquarium’s claim to fame. Visitors can also see a life-size replica of the trap that injured Winter, prosthetic tail models, props included in the film and other mementos from her life and time at CMA.