This article was originally written by James Connolly for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
There are movie fans, and then there are movie superfans — the kind that bring elements from the imaginary world into the real world. Jon Fieldhouse is one of those people: He built the first-ever full-scale replica of the boat from Jaws, and tourists are traveling from around the globe to climb aboard.
The vessel, based on the Orca from the 1975 blockbuster, is moored in Conwy, north Wales, where it recently opened to the public. “We’ve already had someone fly all the way from Alabama to see it and we’ve only been open a week,” Fieldhouse, 59, told SWNS at the end of April. “I can’t believe the response it’s had — but it’s the only one in the world, so it’s quite special.”
The labor of love was inspired by Fieldhouse’s lifelong obsession with Jaws, which he first watched as a child. “I was only 8 and it frightened the life out of me, but ever since then I’ve loved it,” he said, adding: “There are so many shark films now, but the acting and writing in Jaws makes it very special. I just think it’s fabulous.”
Despite the movie’s massive fanbase, Fieldhouse discovered no one had ever completed a life-size version of the Orca, so he decided to take on the challenge ahead of the film’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
While the original Orca was based on a Bertram sportfishing boat, Fieldhouse chose a traditional vessel to better match the weathered look in the movie: a roughly 42-foot-long 1969 Grand Banks that he found in Brighton, England. Although he purchased it in pristine condition, he deliberately aged and altered it, taking nearly a year to transform the exterior.
“It was funny, because while everyone else in the marina was working hard on shining up their boats for the spring, I was making mine look as old as possible,” Fieldhouse said.
Re-creating the inside proved even more challenging. He searched far and wide for authentic-looking props, from vintage kitchen equipment to the smallest details seen on-screen. Among the standout features are the yellow flotation barrels used to track the shark in Jaws, along with a hand-built shark cage and replica beer cans famously crushed by Quint.
Fieldhouse said the effort was worth it when he finally saw the finished result: “I stepped back onto the gangplank to look at it and I got such a buzz. Every time I walk onto the marina I have such a huge smile on my face — I’ve got the best job in the world.”
Guests can book hour-long sessions on the Orca II, and a portion of ticket sales goes toward shark conservation organizations. Visitors are given time alone to explore, take photos, and relive scenes from the film; Fieldhouse even performs the famous USS Indianapolis speech at the end of their tour. “Some people have been in tears when they’ve seen [the boat] because they love the film that much,” he said. “Seeing people smile has made it so worthwhile.”
He’s now hoping the unique attraction will put Conwy firmly on the global map, and even lure some Hollywood stars. “Steven Spielberg is rumored to be interested,” he said, “and I’ve heard that Tom Cruise is a big Jaws fan.”
RELATED: Christmas Movie Dreams Come True: You Can Stay in a Real-Life Replica of “The Holiday” House
Share to:
