Nation's biggest aquarium opens in Atlanta Nov. 23
 

Aquarium unveils ticket prices, sales dates

By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/20/05

Tickets to the Georgia Aquarium, which opens Nov. 23, go on sale beginning next month, with prices ranging from $17 for a child's ticket to $59.50 for an adult annual pass.

Annual passes go on sale Oct. 15 on the aquarium's Web site, and general-admission and group-rate tickets go on sale Nov. 1. Tickets initially will be sold by time slot in an effort to reduce lines and spread out crowds throughout the day.

"It's so people don't have to wait," said aquarium spokeswoman Donna Fleishman. "It's like going to an art exhibit."

Ticket prices are similar to those of other major aquariums throughout he country but are not cheap. It will cost a family of four $79.50 to tour the world's largest aquarium, which is at the north end of Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. Two people on a date will drop $45.50 to get in the door and see things like whale sharks, coral reef displays and beluga whales.

Sherry Hoover of Alpharetta is familiar with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where a full-price adult ticket runs about $23. It will cost her $22.75 to get into the Georgia Aquarium. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, it would cost her $21.95.

The aquarium is not offering family discount tickets, which are common for some entertainment venues but rare in the aquarium community.

"I don't know of any major aquariums that do family plans," said Ken Peterson, spokesman for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Aquarium officials estimate that 70,000 Georgia schoolchildren will visit the aquarium during its first year. A pricing plan for those visitors has not been revealed.

It's gonna be SO cool. My husband was selected to be in an all-expenses paid course conducted by the Georgia Aquarium this past summer. They got to go to all these fabulous places and meet all the Aquarium people (who taught some of the courses) and participate in exciting aquatic activities down on the coast and along Georgia's rivers. We can't WAIT for the Aquarium to open!

I'm soooooo excited about this aquarium opening. DH is taking me for a date night since the grand opening is the day after my b'day. :) No more driving to Tennessee to look at the fishies!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

I want to go but I know it's going to be a zoo there (heh...literally) for the first couple of months. I still haven't gotten over to the new IKEA because of how busy it's been.

Nice to know there will be a home for a few more big fish.

Actually, best of luck -- the Denver Aquarium has struggled financially, even though it's beautiful. I hope Atlanta is more supportive.

Atlanta's has no debt - all a gift from Bernie Marcus - one of the founders of Home Depot. He's paying $200 mil, and has gotten the local biggies (not Delta, of course) to chip in too.

(The other Home Depot Founder - Arthur Blank - bought the Atlanta NFL Falcons for $400 mil.)

I don't think Marcus is going to turn it over to any govt. dept., so it will be operated like a Home Depot and probably be profitable.

Wolfgang Puck is the caterer, so if times are hard Puck can start serving more easily available fish, and maybe Puck's leftovers can reduce the fish food budget.

Maybe someone can tell us if Marcus or Blank are GLO alumni?

Denver aquarium = 1 mil. gallons

Atlanta aquarium = 8 mil. gallons

This was a letter about the aquarium to the participants in the program my husband did. So exciting!

Dear Rivers to Reefs participants –

Hopefully your school year is off to a great start! We have been busy on this end gearing up for the opening in November. The Education Department will be hosting an open house on Saturday, December 17th which you are all invited to view the education floor and preview some of our programming. We will also be taking the opportunity to conduct some post assessments to see how your experience may have influenced your classroom. We will also be inviting the 2004 professional development participants. We will be sending out formal invites later this fall with details so please mark your calendars.

On another note we wanted to make you aware of additional professional development opportunity – Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia Annual Conference - GREEN with EE: The Art, Science and Business of Environmental Education. The conference will be St. Patrick's Day Weekend: March 17-19, 2006 at the Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center on the Chattahoochee River in Norcross. You will enjoy a group field trip to the new Georgia Aquarium, hands-on sessions, presentations, sharing sessions, workshops, panels, field trips, keynote speakers, social events, exhibits, silent auction, award ceremony and discounted registration for EEA members. Scholarships are available. They are currently seeking Presentation Proposals

Please consider submitting a presentation proposal today. Postmark deadline: September 30, 2005. To submit a presentation proposal, visit their website at http://www.eealliance.org/conference.htm for the form.

I look forward to seeing you all and having you meet my educational team.



Brian Davis
Director of Education





Whale relocation underway – we need your help! The 4R program is an exciting opportunity to help the Georgia Aquarium relocate two beluga whales from Mexico. Visit www.georgiaaquarium.org for more information on this important program!

My cousin has been working with the Aquarium for some time during the construction phase. I'm glad it is opening soon! Somewhere else to visit when I'm in ATL!!:D