Sunday, May 09, 1999
Aquarium previewers impressed
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — The lines were so long that the Oceanic Adventures Newport Aquarium had to open an hour earlier than expected Saturday.
The sneak peek for members only was in preparation for the aquarium's grand opening next Saturday.
“We were going to open at 10, but the lines were so big we opened at 9 a.m.,” said Lisa Popyk, spokeswoman for the aquarium. “We were braced for a big crowd, but you never can anticipate people's reactions.
“All the kids are laughing; the parents are excited. They're on all fours looking down at the gators. They don't want to leave the shark tunnel. The staff is so excited that people are enjoying themselves.”
In the first half hour, 500 people stepped into the giant porthole to ride down a darkened escalator into a maritime adventure.
And by the end of the day, nearly 5,000 people had marveled at what they saw — the fish, the penguins, sharks and other aquatic life.
“I think we're all relieved,” Ms. Popyk said. “We've been working on the details for so long. Everybody that came through had such a spectacular time.
“It's so nice to see other people share our enthusiasm,” she said. “It's surpassed our every imagination.”
At the end of the darkened escalator, visitors stepped through a giant pink shell into a room called The World's Rivers..
Kids squealed at the turtles in the tank in the middle of the room. One even tried to climb in as a guide joked, “You'll never look at turtle soup in the same way again, will you?”
And then it was on to the Shore Gallery, where visitors can see marsh fiddler crabs and butterfly mudskippers and a short movie at the Pirate Theater.
But where most patrons lingered was in the shark tunnel. Only 2.5 inches of acrylic separated visitors from nurse, sandbar and other sharks.
Some children gasped and others squealed as the graceful creatures glided overhead.
A giant mirror hangs at the end of the shark exhibit that says: “The Greatest Predator...” as you see your own reflection.
Another of the more popular rooms was the River Bank. Standing next to the River Queen, a wooden replica of a steamboat, patrons felt the steam off the water and watched as bass and other river creatures swam by. Some knelt down to get a closer peek at the alligators through the glass in the floor.
“It's still a work in progress, but I think it's going be a really nice aquarium when it's actually finished,” said Betsy Westendorf of Liberty Township. “When that smell (of the river) and blast of air hits you in the face, it's like home.”
There's even a place to stop and eat a snack.
“They won't let me go into the tank,” said Zona Gabbard, manager of the Lighthouse Cafe. “I can't have any nice filet of fish for you. ... And there's no turtle soup, either.
Many anticipate the completion of the jellyfish gallery. In the tranquil setting of what looks like an art gallery, visitors will see six different types of this creature. A red, crushed velvet couch sits in the middle of the room and a chandelier, shaped like a jellyfish, hangs above it.
The last exhibit was for the penguins. Many children sat on the big, carpeted steps and waited for one of the birds to jump in their tank. Other youngsters ran back and forth in front of the tank, playing tag with some of the birds.
“We've been sitting here saying "Jump, jump,'” said Lois Spencer of Colerain Township. “We're going to sit here until one of them jumps in.”
Before returning to the lobby, spectators also got to look down into a giant fish tank from above.
“It's wonderful,” said Ramona Collins of Alexandria. “It's what we expected and more. It's a great place to take the kids. I think this is the kind of place where they'll never get bored.”
The aquarium staff will allow those who want to buy memberships to visit today between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. After that, they'll have to wait until Saturday's grand opening.
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