Adventure Aquarium to Open on Camden Waterfront May 2005

CAMDEN, N.J.,  The Camden Waterfront will be swimming and soaring, as sharks, hippopotamuses, free-flying birds and sea life from around the world converge when Adventure Aquarium opens in May 2005 on the site of the former New Jersey State Aquarium.

"Adventure Aquarium will give visitors an unparalleled opportunity to experience the world that lives beneath the surface," said Greg Charbeneau, executive director of Adventure Aquarium and former vice president of husbandry for the New Jersey State Aquarium.

"We're redefining the aquarium experience for the residents and visitors of the region," said David Wechsler, president of Steiner Entertainment, developers and managers for the project.  "We have actively worked for years on designing, developing and populating Adventure Aquarium.  We're proud to feature exhibits and experiences that have never before been attempted in the zoo and aquarium world."

Adventure Aquarium will feature immersive experiences for visitors to surround themselves with the sights and sounds of the marine and animal world, including barrier-free environments designed to provide up-close and interactive adventures. Key features will include:
 

West African River Experience: Discover the underwater lives of  hippopotamuses in this indoor exhibit featuring hippopotamuses, free-flying birds, crocodiles and more than 1,000 fish. Explore this    unique opportunity to observe species as they co-exist in nature but have never before been featured together in an aquarium.

Shark Realm: There's nowhere and everywhere to turn as visitors watch sharks, stingrays and sawfish in a 550,000-gallon shark tank, featuring dramatic floor-to-ceiling views and a 40-foot walk-through tunnel for an enveloping immersive experience.  For an incomparable experience, the adventurous can "Swim with the Sharks" in a controlled setting where they can snorkel along the tank's perimeter under the guidance and supervision of experts.

4-D Theater:  Move from the natural to the virtual, with a 3-D/4-D theater integrating 3-D Iwerks cinematography with a sensory experience by Sim Ex, adding realism and wonder to the 164-seat theater.
 

Jules Verne Gallery: See what lives beneath the sea with seahorses, seadragons, and jellyfish in this exploration into the wonders of the sea.

Construction began in November 2003 when ground was broken on a new 86,000-square-foot facility on the Camden Waterfront.  Extensive renovations began on the adjacent building in September, 2004.  When completed, the new combined facility will feature nearly 200,000 square feet of space and more than 6,000 specimens making up more than 450 species.

More than $40 million is being invested in the new facility through loans and grants from the State of New Jersey and private funding through Steiner & Associates, a full-service real estate development company that combines attractions, family entertainment, specialty retail and restaurants with civic elements to create destination centers for communities.

"We're proud to bring Adventure Aquarium to Camden and the Philadelphia region," said Wechsler.  "Momentum has been building for the waterfront for more than a decade.  We're honored to build on the legacy of the New Jersey State Aquarium and join with our neighbors at the Camden Riversharks, the Battleship New Jersey and the Tweeter Center to bring family fun to residents of, and visitors to the waterfront."

The New Jersey State Aquarium opened in 1992 and welcomed more than 8 million visitors in its 12 years of operation.  Adventure Aquarium will continue to provide families with a fun, educational and enriching experience through exploring the world beneath the surface.
 

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