Grapevine Aquarium

[gc]

Ripley to build aquarium in Grapevine
Sandra Zaragoza - Staff writer
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2004/06/14/daily49.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Orlando, Fla.-based Ripley Entertainment Inc. is building an aquarium entertainment center on a 52-acre lakeside site in Grapevine next door to Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center, Cowboys Golf Club and Grapevine Mills mall. Ripley has signed an agreement with Dallas-based GreyHawk Realty Capital L.L.C. , which owns the land, to be long-term partners in the development.

The development, located on State Highway 26, is in its initial planning stages. The aquarium could be open in the next year and a half, according to Michelle Corson of GreyHawk. "We will be assisting GreyHawk in the masterplanning of the acreage, but we will be building our own Ripley's aquarium," said Tim O'Brien, vice president of communication for Ripley Entertainment.

Ripley Entertainment owns two other aquariums: the 89,000-square-foot Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and the 115,000 square-foot Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Both locations see more than million in visitors annually. A third aquarium location is under construction in Canada. The Myrtle Beach aquarium had a $30 million price tag.

The existing Ripley aquariums are indoor facilities with a focus on "edutainment" and conservation, O'Brien said. "We are very pleased that Ripley's has decided to come to Grapevine," said Harry C. "Skeet" Sherman II, principal of GreyHawk. "Grapevine is rapidly becoming a major tourist and convention destination, and Ripley's could not have chosen a better location."

[tamtagon]

Grapevine, believe it or not.

[crescentboi]

I wonder if they even looked at Dallas and if they did, what made them pass it by.

[Lakewooder]

Sounds fishy!

[bloodandpopcorn]

Probably the fact that we already have two competing Aquariums, one of which is really first-rate. I guess they think that Grapevine is far enough away that the competition won't be that significant, but I really hope this doesn't hurt the Dallas World Aquarium. It needs to do really well and keep on expanding.

[crescentboi]

I know, i guess that's my main concern. I just wish that the aquarium in the west end would expand to have large mammals such as dolphins. I keep picturing the Shedd in chicago and it's stunning. i went to a show when i was 10 and i remember it like it was yesterday! that's what we need here.

[rantanamo]

Dallas World Aquarium has larger mammals than dolphins

[freewaytincan]

Dallas World Aquarium has larger mammals than dolphins

And they have penguins and such too. And when you think about it, the tourists either go to downtown (most, I'd say) or to the Grapevine/DFW area. Not only that, but it sounds like these will be two very different places. I mean, let's face it, calling it the Dallas World Aquarium is rather misleading; it's so much more.

[bloodandpopcorn]

Most good Aquariums are, though, because it's hard to get people to stare at tanks of fish for hours.

I agree,though, that I've yet to see an "Aquarium" like the Dallas World Aquarium. I still can't imagine how huge a difference the addition is going to make. It seems to me that the thing will maybe more than double in size! Which is incredible! Maybe not all of that will be used as part of the Aquarium though, much of it could be offices or other facilities.

[freewaytincan]

Most good Aquariums are, though. I agree that I've yet to see an "Aquarium" like the Dallas World Aquarium. I still can't imagine how huge a difference the addition is going to make. It seems to me that the thing will maybe more than double in size! Which is incredible! Maybe not all of that will be used as part of the Aquarium though, much of it could be offices or other facilities.

I believe they've moved all of that next door, and if I'm not mistaken, they should be building a skybridge soon, unless I somehow missed that.

[bloodandpopcorn]

The offices, you mean? I had hoped that would be even more exhibition space. Oh well.

[freewaytincan]

The offices, you mean? I had hoped that would be even more exhibition space. Oh well.

I think it also has storage, vetirianary (forget spelling on that!) facilities, offices, and maybe "classroom" type facilities.

[rantanamo]

For those who haven't been

Walk in, up the escalators and look down from the waterfalls
http://img6.photobucket.com/albums/v19/rantanamo/Dallas%20World%20Aquarium/DSCF0005.jpg

Look closely, there are a couple of large things in the water
http://img6.photobucket.com/albums/v19/rantanamo/Dallas%20World%20Aquarium/DSCF0008.jpg

JAWS!!!!, jk, manatees = larger than dolphins
http://img6.photobucket.com/albums/v19/rantanamo/Dallas%20World%20Aquarium/DSCF0019.jpg

[freewaytincan]

JAWS!!!!, jk, manatees = larger than dolphins

I believe the word you are looking for is "immense".

[tamtagon]

How's this place doing?

[mrowl]

How's this place doing?

never happened. They lost their investors. But, probably will happen now that the Wolf Resort has started construction next to the Gaylord.

[dfwcre8tive]

Grapevine council jumps ship on aquarium funding
Incentive corporations dissolved; developer wants to move forward
09:49 PM CST on Thursday, November 8, 2007
By MARICE RICHTER / The Dallas Morning News
mrichter@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/110907dnmetgvaquarium.31222f5.html

Plans for a premier aquarium near Grapevine Mills mall have all but dried up.

The Grapevine City Council this week officially dissolved two aquarium development corporations that were formed to provide investment incentives to help move the project along.

Without any movement on the project for months, the council's move was merely a matter of housekeeping, officials said.

"We're not aware of anything going on with this project," said City Manager Bruno Rumbelow.

But aquarium developer Erik Pedersen said he hasn't given up on building the project in Grapevine. He still owns a 2.5-acre tract of land near Grapevine Mills, where he hopes to eventually build.

"The market is very difficult right now," Mr. Pedersen said. "We're not letting that us deter us, but it has slowed us way down."

The Aquarium Development Corp. of Grapevine, created in 2004 to help stimulate investment, lapsed in 2006 and was re-instated that year as the Grapevine Aquarium Development Corp.

Since the second corporation was also unsuccessful at attracting investors, city officials said the project would have to be built with private financing.

The city would have had no risk or liability if the corporations had succeeded, officials said.

Mr. Pedersen's Grapevine-based company, U.S. Aquarium Team Inc., opened an immersion-style aquarium in Guam in 1999. He was also involved in the development of aquariums in San Francisco and Minnesota.

The Grapevine project would be the company's largest, involving walk-through tunnels in a 1.75 million-gallon tank.

The experience would simulate walking around the bottom of the ocean, Mr. Pedersen said.

But Mr. Pedersen said he still has no idea how soon his $40 million-plus project will take shape.

"We've got a great location and a great concept," he said. "All we need is the financing."

Mr. Pedersen said he isn't disappointed by the city's move to dissolve the development corporations.

"I actually assumed it was gone a long time ago," he said.

[AeroD]

Come to Dallas. The water is just fine.

[tamtagon]

Come to Dallas. The water is just fine.

Word. Fair Park would be an ideal location for a giant aquarium. Scaled similarly to the 250 million dollar GA Aquarium there'll be more than 2 million visitors a year.

I think Grapevine is still a great location for something like this, though.