Shreveport's new aquarium

[Catfish]

I just thought I'd put this little bit of info on here for anyone unfamiliar with the project, or anyone who isn't really following the updates.

Shreveport Aquarium (www.shreveportaquarium.com) opens to the public on August 31... just over 1 month from now. The weekly updates they give on Facebook are awesome. The old Barnwell Garden & Art Center, which was a museum with a small botanical garden area, is being transformed very quickly into this new attraction. While I'm excited, I really wish they would have honored the Barnwell family by calling it Barnwell Aquarium, or something along those lines. Even H.M. Shreve Aquarium would be a less generic name than Shreveport Aquarium.

That said, I'm still very excited for this new development. They will have sharks and many other aquatic creatures. The aquarium will also include a cave, a shipwreck, and a tunnel area through the main ocean tank, where you can walk through and see the sea life to your sides and above your head. They are going to have touch tanks as well, and the old botanical garden area is being transformed into an area for aquatic species native to our region.

This will be a big boon to the riverfront district. Right next door to two casinos, across the street from the civic theater and the Sci-Port children's museum and IMAX, and right across the river from Margaritaville and Louisiana Boardwalk. Also next to the newly renovated Riverview Park and Festival Plaza.

Since they're expecting big crowds when they first open, the public will have to buy tickets to reserve a time slot. Hopefully they'll do away with that eventually, but I hope the excitement never wanes.

It will also feature Shreveport's first riverfront dining option, a new restaurant called SALT, which will have outdoor patio dining along the riverfront.

Now, if we can only get a zoo... I mean a real, decent sized one... not something like the Cypress Lake Zoo or Gators 'n Friends.

[richyb83]

Nice to have you back  Brian!  Thanks for posting this    

Really like the set-up along the SBC Riverfront! The aquarium looks to be a really nice addition!  So will the Dome from the Barnwell Center remain intact?? & a small portion of the garden area? 

Like the tiered slope along the riverfront to the south...is that Festival Plaza?

[Catfish]

Thanks, Richy! Good to be back... I don't know why I fell off over the years, just life I guess. And the fact that I had moved to the country and didn't worry too much about the city stuff. But living back in the city, downtown to be exact, it's renewed my interest in everything.

The old garden dome area is remaining intact, but it's going to house the "local" aquatic ecosystem. It'll have things like you would see in the lakes and rivers around here. The rest of the aquarium will house more exotic things, from jellyfish to sharks. I guess the dome area will resemble what you'd see in the Bass Pro Shops aquarium. Probably the same type of stuff you guys have in your Bass Pro aquarium. I hope it's done well and is neat... I'm looking forward to it!

Though small by comparison to aquariums in larger cities, including NOLA, the aquarium should still be exciting for an area this size. And according to the developer, it will be the first of many he wants to build in other medium-sized cities... so who knows what city he's got his sights set on for next.

[Catfish]

Not sure if this is an old or new rendering of the aquarium, but it shows the parking garage across the street - which is going to be used as the parking area for the aquarium - painted like an ocean scene, with the bushes in front shaped like dolphins. This would look awesome, but again... not sure if this is an old rendering or a new one.

[Catfish]

I just read where the soon-to-be former employees of Sci-Port are going to protest their layoffs. People protest everything these days. But here's the truth: they were overstaffed, and many of the kids they had working there, from what I've heard from many people, were mostly rude anyway.

So, to clarify WHY the layoffs occurred in the first place, and why I'm posting about Sci-Port under this topic; for those who haven't heard, Sci-Port will now be run by company that is building the new aquarium being built right across the street. Sci-Port, in a recent audit, is in the hole for $350,000. They were bleeding money... perhaps some of that can be attributed to those same employees who will be protesting being laid off. Who knows, but the fact is, they weren't making money and the CEO was out back in July.

Protest aside, Sci-Port will be closed down until the end of the year, and then it will reopen as a fresh, new place with fresh, new employees. I think the center will be better for it, and if they somehow tie it in with the aquarium, that will be even better.

https://www.ktbs.com/news/sci-port-closes-abruptly-as-board-announces-management-change/article_93e628b8-82b6-11e7-a811-1f1818ba0d58.html

[Catfish]

Aquarium opening pushed back to late September/early October. Well, duh... I knew they were more than 8 days from opening. Way too much left to do in just 8 days.

[Catfish]

SALT, the restaurant inside the aquarium, is now open. The aquarium has set a Nov. 1 opening.

[Catfish]

A look inside Shreveport Aquarium...

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/videos/news/2017/10/13/first-look-shreveport-aquarium/106566468/

 

[richyb83]

Looks really cool!   Glad to see Shreveport add this nice attraction!

[Catfish]

I just realized I haven't been here in a while now. Just checking in, I went to the aquarium during its grand opening weekend and it is VERY nice for a small aquarium. Takes at least a half hour to go through and see everything, so there is plenty to see. You can touch starfish, rays, and other creatures, and you can watch sharks swimming overhead as you walk through the tunnel. I hope everyone gets a chance to check it out and enjoy it as much as I did.