An artist's rendering of what the Oregon Coast Aquarium's new touch pool will look like.
Courtesy of Oregon Coast Aquarium
The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is closing some exhibits to the public Tuesday, as it takes the next step in a $25 million dollar renovation.
After 30 years of operation, the aquarium is undergoing a transformation. “It really needed a refresh,” said capital campaign director Molly Dumas.
Last year the aquarium built a new children’s play area, an outdoor amphitheater for animal presentations and a new exhibit on headwaters.
Now in phase two, it’s closing two galleries with exhibits on shore species and tidepools so they can be expanded and improved. Dumas said they’re also changing the pool where visitors get to touch the animals.
“We’re expanding the touch pool to be more accessible,” she said. “Guests of all ages and abilities will be able to touch sea stars and anemones, plus they’ll see a new octopus exhibit.”
The aquarium’s café will also undergo a renovation.
The two exhibit galleries are expected to reopen next summer.
An artist's rendering of what the Oregon Coast Aquarium's new jellyfish exhibit will look like.
Courtesy: Oregon Coast Aquarium
Work on the third phase of the renovation is planned for 2024 and will feature tropical species, sea jellies and mangrove exhibits. The aquarium’s focus will extend from the Oregon shore to the entire Pacific Rim by looking at ocean acidification, plastic pollution and coral bleaching.
“We’re finding that the things that we’re experiencing across the Pacific are impacted by the decisions that we make here on the shore,” Dumas said. “So we’re going to feature coral that is experiencing bleaching from the acidification of the ocean from pouring chemicals into it. We’re going to have mangrove exhibits so we can see small species that are down by the Indo-Pacific. And how plastic bottles that we discard are being tangled into these mountains of pollution down there.”
Aquarium visits this year were the highest in a decade, following a lull from the pandemic.
The nonprofit had to change direction after shutting its doors due to the spread of the coronavirus. It put more programming online and organized educators to meet virtually with schools and scout troops. It plans to maintain a strong online presence as the exhibit halls close for renovation.
Admission prices can be found on the aquarium’s website, starting at free for children 2 and younger up to $24.95 for adults ages 18 to 64.
Ticket sales and memberships pay for animal care as well as conservation and rehabilitation efforts.
An artist's rendering of what the new mangrove exhibit will look like at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Courtesy: Oregon Coast Aquarium