This aquarium turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was much bigger and better than I expected. When I first read the “Downtown” part of this aquarium’s name, I envisioned a small, drab facility surrounded by tall city buildings. In actuality, this aquarium is located in a green section of Denver between two parks located along the South Platte River. Additionally, the inside of the facility had a fun design and atmosphere that somewhat resembled a theme park.
At the ticket office, visitors are issued one-use plastic wristbands instead of tickets printed on cardstock. The wristband is constructed such that the only way to remove it is to cut it off with a scissors or knife. I have previously seen this type of “admission ticket” at theme parks and club parties, but this was the first time I had seen one used at an aquarium.
The
aquarium is divided into nine themed sections, and I will describe each in the
order that visitors encounter them.
North American
Wilderness
This section replicated
freshwater environments found in North America.
The area was decorated to give the visitors the feeling that they were
walking along a mountain stream in a valley surrounded by rock walls.
Sign…
…pointing to overhead window.
Trout
Sunfish
River Otter Exhibit
Hard to photograph otters through reflections on tank surface
American eagle in a tree…
…turns out to be an animatronic robot.
There was a concession selling rocks and minerals as souvenirs
Large freshwater tank
Sturgeon
In the Desert
This section depicted America’s
desert regions and featured a number of snakes.
The exhibit below was located at the separation between the “In the Desert” zone and the “Under the Sea” zone, and perhaps was meant to represent the type of wetlands and beach environment that might be found in a transition zone between a desert and the ocean. The fish were salt-water specimens.
Under the Sea
This section featured coral
reefs and the marine creatures found among them.
Tunnel arch passage
Stingrays cruised overhead.
Visitors sit for a while in front of a very large tank depicting an ocean environment.
At the Wharf
This area really felt similar
to a theme park, with a simulated wharf and ship.
The tanks in this section featured small, but unique animals such as Sea Anemones, Starfish, and this Lumpfish.
The Rainforest
This section featured many
very realistic-looking replica trees and plants. The replica tree trunks looked exactly like
banyan trees that I have seen in the tropics.
The tanks in this area featured fish from South America, Africa, and
Asia.
Perhaps this animatronic orangutan was a bit overdoing it. It looked less like an orangutan and more like an awkward rendition of a prehistoric caveman.
The star of this area, and perhaps of the whole aquarium, was a Sumatran Tiger. It seemed to me that visitors spent more time in front of this exhibit than in front of other exhibits.
Coral Lagoon
This area depicted shoreline
environments with coral reefs and mangroves.
There were many colorful small fish.
Sunken
Temple
This area featured a very
large tank with a curved wall which gave visitors the sensation that they were
walking underwater.
Large Barracudas
Coral reef and butterfly fish
Shipwreck
This area featured sharks and
large schools of fish.
Moon Jellyfish
At the Beach
This
last area included displays of eels, octopi, and other animals that inhabit the
shallow waters just off the beach. It
also featured a “Mermaid Cove” where 3 young women wearing mermaid costumes
posed for photographs with visitors.
There was also a play area for children and electronic arcade video
games.
Educational Efforts
There were many colorful
explanatory signs throughout the aquarium, and they were placed in locations
where visitors would most likely stop to read them.
Here is a sign asking visitors to not touch the fish.
Explanatory signs in front of Sumatran tiger exhibit
Opportunities for Animal
Encounters
The sign in the below photo
was in one of the larger tanks in the “Under the Sea” section. Apparently, visitors can do snorkel or scuba
sessions in the tank.
In the “Coral Lagoon” section, there was an invertebrates touch tank.
Also
in the “Coral Lagoon” section, there was an opportunity for visitors to feed
archer fish.
Food and Souvenirs
Immediately after exiting the
aquarium area, visitors will see the entrance to the “Aquarium” restaurant. According to the aquarium pamphlet, the
tables in the restaurant offer views of a 150,000 gallon centerpiece tank. Unfortunately, I did not have time to try out
this restaurant.
The
photo below is of the “Dive Lounge” bar.
The
souvenir shop had a wide variety of fashion accessories, plush toys, key
chains, etc.
Getting There
This
aquarium is only a few kilometers from central downtown Denver where most of
the hotels are located. But because there
doesn’t appear to be any nearby train lines, it is probably best to take a
taxi.
(Note:
The photos used in this post were taken during a visit on June 3, 2016. The comments in this post are based on
observations made on that day.
Conditions may have since changed.
Please check it out for yourself!)
