Kentucky aquarium's May opening goes swimmingly

With its sweeping exterior design and creative interior aimed to captivate, Oceanic Adventures Newport Aquarium promises to become a regional landmark when it opens this month.

The $40 million facility will showcase 11,000 animals, including more than 50 sharks, 16 king penguins, alligators and electric eels. Nestled on the banks of the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky (across the river from Cincinnati), the aquarium will house 54 specially designed fresh- and salt-water exhibits.

"Each area has a theme and a feel that will envelop visitors. Even the escalators have a special design," said General Manager John Tighe. The aquarium will also include five seamless acrylic tunnels that will surround visitors with water and creatures from the deep. "Walking through the 200feet of tunnels will give visitors the feel that they've been swimming with the sharks, diving a coral reef and floating with the grace of the jellyfish," Tighe said.

The Newport Aquarium is the cornerstone of Newport on the Levee, a $77 million entertainment complex.

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