So I wanted to do a little update on a dream/speculative facility for a city that lacks such an attraction but I think would be a good spot for it. I don't think there will be too many changes from the last time I made a post about this place, but enough where I wanted to give it another shot.
Situated in the city of Charolette, North Carolina, this is an AZA-accredited institution mainly inspired by its similar facility nearly four hours away in Atlanta. The journey begins after the automatic doors part and introduce guests to a room with a massive 360 tank full of palometa. Soon after this, we enter the first gallery before the lobby.
The Open Ocean
The first exhibit is a large tank that extends to the floor, the bottom just beyond view to further mimic an open ocean look. In this tank-
Pacific bluefin tuna
Wooden double doors are a bit further down the dim hallway, and just behind the doors, hanging rubber chains to sift through, and we enter a small walkthrough aviary. Guests walk to the edge of a boarwalk and peer over into the exhibit below and in front of them. Just below is the saltwater pool and in front, a large land area with a mock rock wall with large holes and ledges, fake trees, and moderate foliage. In here, a small group of 2.3 brown pelicans. Just before the exit of the aviary, a large tank in the wall with white sand and seashell substrate, some live plants, and driftwood for-
Atlantic croaker
Bonefish
Gulf toadfish
Upon exiting the aviary is a large bubble tank with seaweed and white sand. Blending in with the seaweed, a sargassum fish.
The next and last exhibit in this gallery is the largest and takes up the remainder of the gallery. A massive tank that nearly takes up the rest of this area of the facility. There will be several viewing windows into it before the grand viewing area right before the lobby. This tank also extends to the floor and gives an illusion of an open ocean, although there is some large mock rock scattered about. In here-
Black sea bass
Queen snapper
Silky shark
Spotted eagle ray
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Bermuda chub
Lookdown
Sandbar shark
Black jack
Atlantic spadefish
The Open Ocean gallery is down and we enter the lobby where we can go to any other gallery. The lobby is inspired by Aquarium of the Pacific's lobby. A life-sized model of a bull sperm whale is suspened from the ceiling, and murals of fish and other sea life decorate the walls and rest of the ceiling. Down below in the center of the lobby is a large pound with gravel for substrate and a few lilypads scattered across the surface. In here, several varieties of koi. Near the pond and kept safe by an open-topped glass barrier all around it is a shallow pool with mock rock and sculptures of sea lions resting on the rocks.
Now to the next gallery to the left of The Open Ocean upon exiting it.
Situated in the city of Charolette, North Carolina, this is an AZA-accredited institution mainly inspired by its similar facility nearly four hours away in Atlanta. The journey begins after the automatic doors part and introduce guests to a room with a massive 360 tank full of palometa. Soon after this, we enter the first gallery before the lobby.
The Open Ocean
The first exhibit is a large tank that extends to the floor, the bottom just beyond view to further mimic an open ocean look. In this tank-
Pacific bluefin tuna
Wooden double doors are a bit further down the dim hallway, and just behind the doors, hanging rubber chains to sift through, and we enter a small walkthrough aviary. Guests walk to the edge of a boarwalk and peer over into the exhibit below and in front of them. Just below is the saltwater pool and in front, a large land area with a mock rock wall with large holes and ledges, fake trees, and moderate foliage. In here, a small group of 2.3 brown pelicans. Just before the exit of the aviary, a large tank in the wall with white sand and seashell substrate, some live plants, and driftwood for-
Atlantic croaker
Bonefish
Gulf toadfish
Upon exiting the aviary is a large bubble tank with seaweed and white sand. Blending in with the seaweed, a sargassum fish.
The next and last exhibit in this gallery is the largest and takes up the remainder of the gallery. A massive tank that nearly takes up the rest of this area of the facility. There will be several viewing windows into it before the grand viewing area right before the lobby. This tank also extends to the floor and gives an illusion of an open ocean, although there is some large mock rock scattered about. In here-
Black sea bass
Queen snapper
Silky shark
Spotted eagle ray
Scalloped hammerhead shark
Bermuda chub
Lookdown
Sandbar shark
Black jack
Atlantic spadefish
The Open Ocean gallery is down and we enter the lobby where we can go to any other gallery. The lobby is inspired by Aquarium of the Pacific's lobby. A life-sized model of a bull sperm whale is suspened from the ceiling, and murals of fish and other sea life decorate the walls and rest of the ceiling. Down below in the center of the lobby is a large pound with gravel for substrate and a few lilypads scattered across the surface. In here, several varieties of koi. Near the pond and kept safe by an open-topped glass barrier all around it is a shallow pool with mock rock and sculptures of sea lions resting on the rocks.
Now to the next gallery to the left of The Open Ocean upon exiting it.
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