Ridgmar Mall opened in 1976 with Dillard's, JCPenney, and Neiman Marcus as the original anchor stores.

[15] In July, 3 whistleblowers & former employees contacted PETA and provided documentation and footage underlining alleged animal cruelty being conducted by SeaQuest Management.

[16] On August 12, after a failed attempt to work with Fort Worth Animal Control to handle the situation, PETA sent a letter to the Tarrant County District Attorney, Phil Sorrells, requesting that his office launch an immediate investigation, including criminal investigations into SeaQuest.

On August 16 the Fort Worth Police Department launched investigation into the claims made by the whistleblowers of animal cruelty and deaths.

In the same month, PETA put up billboards in the vicinity of Ridgmar Mall prompting Fort Worth residents not to visit the aquarium.