The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
Some day, Komodo dragons and venomous Egyptian cobras will roam at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center as spotted eagle rays soar overhead.
Some day. Not today.
The aquarium's $25 million renovation, targeted to be completed by Memorial Day weekend, is now geared to be launched this summer.
Aquarium officials cited unanticipated delays and declined to specify an opening date.
"It's really a long process to get an aquarium ready," executive director Lynn Clements said. "It's definitely coming along. It just takes time."
When it's completed, the aquarium will include an expanded "Journey of Water" gallery that depicts plant and animal life in Virginia today, and a "Restless Planet" gallery that explores what the commonwealth was like at various stages of its geological past.
The museum's collection of fishes, reptiles and mammals will double to 12,000.
Today, however, "Pardon our appearance" signs would be in order as construction continues. Hard hats are required for a behind-the-scenes tour.
Once the work is completed, the new tanks must be properly "seasoned" before the thousands of fresh creatures can be acclimated to the surroundings. This can take up to 14 weeks.
"It's really a two-step process," aquarium public relations manager Joan Barnes said. "Every day, things are looking more and more put together, but we still have a ways to go."
The renovation is the museum's largest since 1996, when the aquarium tripled in size and added a 300-seat IMAX theatre with a six-story-high screen.
Paul White, (757) 418-1447, paul.white@pilotonline.com
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what is sad..
2 years ago i purchased a family membership for my family and the place was under construction then took about 30 to go thru the whole place. and they are still charging high prices for a half open museum. i think they aught to offer discounted prices untill it is completely open. i grew up here loveing the museum, but was very disapointed reasantly when i went to visit.
Patience & Gratitude
If you grew up here, loving the museum (like I did), you'd realize that everything is still there, minus the nature room that was like the outdoors but indoors. And if you miss that room so much, perhaps a trip outside on their nature trail is due for you and your family. Why should they discount the same things you saw before?
The rates at our hometown aquarium have always been WAY below those at other museums around the country, try visiting the Georgia Aquarium this summer where you have an assigned time when you can visit along with a thousand other families.
At a time when tourism is taking a serious hit across the country, you should thank your lucky stars that you live in a place where instead of closing down, one of the largest attractions is expanding. Try a little patience and gratitude, not to mention looking at all the facts before you start complaining.