SeaQuest Folsom sold after bankruptcy, years of animal neglect accusations

SeaQuest in Folsom's Palladio Mall has been sold in bankruptcy court and may soon undergo a rebranding. Businessman Jeff Cox has taken over the SeaQuest Folsom location ownership, along with locations in New Jersey and Utah, according to court records. The company is reportedly being rebranded to NorCal Aquarium and Wildlife Adventures LLC. A new Facebook page has been established for this company but so far has no posts. SeaQuest has been under fire for years, with allegations of animal neglect and safety concerns. ABC10 conducted an in-depth investigation and talked with former employees at SeaQuest who revealed disturbing cases of animal abuse and neglect they witnessed. Similar investigations at its other facilities also resulted in public scrutiny and led to its eventual declaration of bankruptcy last year. As the Folsom Telegraph previously reported, in September 2024, SeaQuest Folsom was issued a "critical citation," the most serious level of citation, from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) over the death of a parakeet. Another citation was issued over sanitation concerns in the wallaby enclosure and an "ongoing fly issue." According to the citation, clusters of flies amassed in the wallaby enclosure and spread through the facility. In addition to the citations issued in September, the Folsom SeaQuest incurred 14 other citations from the USDA in recent years. Folsom Assemblyman Josh Hoover also expressed concerns about the allegations and called on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to investigate allegations against SeaQuest. Cox is the owner of Noveen Capital Inc., and the purchase of the Folsom aquarium reportedly includes the animals. ABC10 reported that sources have provided a video of SeaQuest Folsom's front space appearing empty, making it unclear who is taking care of the animals in the building. The Folsom Telegraph spoke with representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in December 2024 when SeaQuest declared bankruptcy; at that time, the organization was urging the judge overseeing the case to ensure animals would be properly cared for before a sale was approved. With the sale of SeaQuest Folsom, PETA said it will continue to keep a close eye on the operation but has ongoing concerns the animals won't receive proper care. PETA Foundation General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet sent this statement to the Folsom Telegraph regarding the sale: "It doesn't matter who owns the shady shopping mall aquarium and petting zoo in Folsom, as animals will always suffer when they're denied any semblance of a natural life and forced into dangerous and frightening public encounters. PETA will continue fighting SeaQuest and other businesses like it until they are all shut down for good."