NEWPORT — The Oregon Coast Aquarium will close two exhibits and its café Tuesday as it begins the second phase of $18 million in renovations.
Construction is to be completed in spring 2023, and involve gallery improvements and new additions.
The café, Rocky Shores, Sandy Shores, and Coastal Waters galleries are undergoing general renovations starting Tuesday. The Sandy Shores gallery will be outfitted with a newly remodeled touch pool, expanding its capacity and providing more opportunities for visitors to see Oregon’s intertidal species. The Coastal Waters gallery will feature a new mangrove exhibit.
Alongside the existing galleries, the aquarium will also construct a new gallery space dedicated entirely to sea jellies.
The café, Sandy Shores and Rocky Shores galleries will close during the remodel.
Admission prices will remain unchanged, and guests will continue to have access to a variety of other exhibits and features.
The first phase was completed this spring and created a nature play area, outdoor amphitheater, headwaters feature, a new admissions annex and lobby renovations. The aquarium plans to begin the final phase of its renovations in 2023 with the construction of a new marine rehabilitation center.
Money for the projects is coming via a capital campaign involving state funds, foundation grants and individual donations.
