^ You'll be wishing they allowed strollers when there's a bunch of 18 months olds running around, bumping into you. 

Speaking as someone with a 15 month-old child, I completely support the aquarium's decision to ban strollers. There's nothing worse than getting stuck behind an empty stroller. I don't see how they'd be conducive to the underwater walk anyway.

 

 

^ You'll be wishing they allowed strollers when there's a bunch of 18 months olds running around, bumping into you. 

 

That's why tripping was invented.

@ StrapHanger

 

I think the desire for a lakefront location speaks to the broad desire for a more vibrant North Coast Harbor. While the aquarium would certainly help things on the lakefront, you can look at what the Browns Plan proposes and quickly realize we can improve North Coast Harbor in other ways.

 

The Flats West Bank has the potential to turn into a fantastic attraction in its own right. The Powerhouse location should offer plenty of spin off development. It's easy to envision a boardwalk there. That would be the magic formula to foster neighborhood connectivity with improved access to the river. In that regard the aquarium could be a tremendous catalyst.

 

However, it pains me to say I have some very serious doubts about the greater vision (or lack thereof) for the West Bank.

 

Think of all of the tremendous potential there for a vibrant, walkable, attractive community. And sadly, we are getting burdened with some really awful, incoherent, counterproductive, streetlife killing architecture.

 

It's pretty frustrating to lose interaction with the street, and it sets a very bad precedent.

 

Blame Larry Flynt. The horrid windowless design and look of the Hustler Club is unforgivable. Blame K&D. Especially K&D, they of all people should know better. Or blame the city for whatever schizophrenia or incompetence that allows this to occur in such an important and historic district.

The Flats location for the new aquarium is fine by me.  And I want to give the aquarium the benefit of the doubt to prove itself and convince me it's a real attraction. Unfortunately, I think we all know the Monterey Bay or Shedd Aquarium this ain't... at least for now..., From the (apparent) low ceilings to the small initial scale, to the unexciting name ("Greater Cleveland Aquarium" - which should, at the least, have been Cleveland Marinescape Aquarium, or better) - it just seems more like an amusement than an attraction.  Hope I am proven wrong.

i support the aquarium that is being built. but i think, in an ideal world, the aquarium would be best served by being on the lakefront next to the science center or on wade oval drive next to the natural history museum.

 

I think learning institutions and museums work best when grouped together.  For an example, when i want to go to something like this my first thought is, 'we can go to university circle', then i decide which museum i want to go to. the same goes for the lakefront.  in the case of the aquarium, the first thought in the process has to be, 'i want to go to the aquarium'. it is forced to be its own destination.

^It works fine for the zoo.

^now that is a hell of a point

And as a quick sidenote: The zoo had one of their four biggest years in history in 2011.  People will go as long as it's a quality product.  It's right off of 2, so it's even more convenient than the zoo.

It's right off of 2, so it's even more convenient than the zoo.

 

Is that your suggestion of a marketing slogan for the new aquarium? ;-)

Now you're in my mind...I was going to say it, but thought it may come across corny haahaha

i don't really have to explain why the zoo is more of a destination than the aquarium, do i?

^can't describe why the zoo is a bigger draw than the aquarium when the aquarium isn't open yet  :?

Greater Cleveland Aquarium tanks are designed like movie sets

Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 5:15 AM 

Regina Garcia Cano, The Plain Dealer

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fish won't be the only things inside the tanks at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. How about lots of glitz.

 

Bright green, red and yellow artificial corals and rocks dress up the enclosures. There is even a shipwreck inside the largest of the 40 tanks.

 

"It's like a movie set," said aquarium artist David Stewart.

 

That maybe shouldn't be a surprising comment from Stewart, since his previous job was as a film-set designer in his native New Zealand.

 

A team of five artists from the aquarium's developer, New Zealand-based Marinescape NZ Ltd., have worked for the past five months on the interior design of the tanks. They also created the props and setting for the aquarium's alligator pit.

 

The aquarium on the west bank of the Flats, is the developer's first in the United States. The $33 million project will occupy half of the Powerhouse's 70,000 square feet.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/01/aquarium_tanks_are_like_movie.html

Greater Cleveland Aquarium was featured in USA Today in a story highlighting the top 8 attractions opening in 2012:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/FEATURES/2012-01-08-PNI0108tra-open-this-yearART_ST_U.htm

It's right off of 2, so it's even more convenient than the zoo.

 

But will there be signs at every intersection on the west side telling you in what direction the zoo is?

Greater Cleveland Aquarium was featured in USA Today in a story highlighting the top 8 attractions opening in 2012:

 

http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/FEATURES/2012-01-08-PNI0108tra-open-this-yearART_ST_U.htm

 

This is actually some pretty good publicity!

Nice work by the PR department.  I drove by when in town over the holidays and it looked pretty cool...Lord knows there will be plenty of parking!

 

Greater Cleveland Aquarium ready to splash Cleveland with Saturday's opening day

Published: Monday, January 16, 2012, 10:00 PM

Regina Garcia Cano, The Plain Dealer

 

Swim with the sharks. Touch a stingray. Eyeball an octopus.

 

Cleveland's newest attraction is built to let people from the North Coast get to know fish from all over and from all angles. Inside, visitors will traverse a 150-foot-long tunnel and get a look at the underbelly of fish, while at the same time standing next to multicolored specimens that until recently lived in the waters off Key West.

 

Welcome to the $33 million Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

 

The building, which opens Saturday, holds the promise of injecting new life into the west bank of the Flats. It will be the only freestanding aquarium in the state and contain a million gallons of water in 40 tanks.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/01/greater_cleveland_aquarium_rea.html

Well...we'll see how it does.  Hopefully it can spur more development in the West Bank.

Well...we'll see how it does.  Hopefully it can spur more development in the West Bank.

 

I think the faster the aquarium can inspire spinoff, the better for the aquarium.  The West Bank is going to require considerably more investment for it to become a destination once again.

It'll be interesting reading the reviews and hearing anecdotes about the place.

I'll let everyone know for sure!  We have our annual pass already, but going to Hair this weekend.

I also bought a family pass and will post my reviews as they come.

Went to the sneak peak this morning with my 15 month-old and we enjoyed it.

 

They way they fit the aquarium into the bottom floor is pretty impressive and the historic, solid nature of the building is used an asset.

 

The shark tank is awesome with it's floor to ceiling windows. However, outside of a school of rays that swim overhead, the underwater walk is a bit underpopulated just yet.

 

I expect there will be some negative reviews on a few issues this weekend, but hopefully people reserve their judgement until later (June?) when the water/glass clears up, the juvenile fish put on some weight and the staff figures out the routine.

 

Considering that I bought the family pass sight unseen, I plan to go back several times. My initial impression is that it is perfect for small kids (as long as you can handle ditching your stroller for an hour or two.)

First look at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium (with videos)

The list of world-class tourist attractions in Northeast Ohio grows by one with Saturday’s opening of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

 

Housed in the basement of the FirstEnergy Powerhouse on the west bank of the Flats in Cleveland, the $33 million complex is the only freestanding aquarium in Ohio.

 

In its 10 exhibition areas, the aquarium is home to an estimated 5,000 creatures in 35 exhibit tanks containing an estimated one million gallons of water.

 

http://news-herald.com/articles/2012/01/20/news/doc4f186cf099ad2580941212.txt

Hope someone posts pictures of this soon (ones without all the elected officials and talking heads :x) :-)

^ The video gives a good look.

^ The video gives a good look.

thanks. still looking forward to a photothread or two :| Also, I wonder how this compares to other aquariums (aquaria??) around the country. In any case, hopefully it will be a good attraction to draw more visitors to Cleveland.

^ The video gives a good look.

thanks. still looking forward to a photothread or two :| Also, I wonder how this compares to other aquariums (aquaria??) around the country. In any case, hopefully it will be a good attraction to draw more visitors to Cleveland.

 

i think that is unfair to compare at this point unless, you compare other aquariums at day one to ours.

Good point.  Although Chicago's Shedd Aquarium's original building was (is) amazingly gorgeous and ornate, it was (is) extremely small.

Can't wait to see how this Powerhouse venue develops over time!!

Did anyone else who saw the video feel like feeding the interpreter in the hat and cape to the sharks?

I was at the Thursday Preview.  The architecture of the Powerhouse is amazing.  The aquarium is small, but the way its put into the Powerhouse is fascinating.  I think to be competitive though, Phase II is a must.  I was spoiled always going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium growing up in CA :-o but don't get me wrong, this aquarium is very unique!  A side note:  Not all the animals were there on Thursday.  I know the octopus hadn't arrived, and as mentioned the water was still pretty cloudy.  It made the main tank eerily impressive though!  Here are some of my pictures.

 

 

Just a  few more from the main tank...

whoa great job on the photos and thank you very much!

 

you can see the care - they did a fine job.

 

the shot of the woman leaning back to match the architecture of the walk-thru section is just a priceless moment. that will happen with a lot of people as they walk into that area lol!

 

Nice job! I've been very lukewarm about this project. It's not that I didn't like it. I just didn't see what all the fuss was. But seeing these pictures, NOW I want to go see it! OK, I still miss Power Play, Howl at Moon Saloon and the Improv from back in the early 90s, but I'll give this a shot.... :)

The water is a little cloudy, isn't it?

Of course it's cloudy! We're in Cleveland.  I think it will be a bit cloudy at first while the water is fresh and there are dissolved particles in all the new equipment and such.  Should clear up over time.

The water is a little cloudy, isn't it?

 

This has already been covered.  The tanks take time to clear.

Nice job. Looks good.

Thanks for posting the pics. Looks great.

 

Seeing the pics of the old tunnels totally triggered a memory of playing video games back in there.

 

yes, thanks for the pictures!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/greater-cleveland-aquarium-cleveland

 

only three reviews, but this does not look good. im going on the 17th of february and will hold judgement till then.

^Rarely people go onto yelp and other sites to complement.  These sites breed complaints.  I wouldnt take them too seriously.  Aquarium snob?  Really?  Just go look at the fish, pal.

I don't agree with that statement. If these negative reviews keep coming, then there is clearly something wrong. Take a look at baltimores aquarium for instance. Many people go on to say great things about it.

 

http://m.yelp.com/biz/national-aquarium-in-baltimore-baltimore

Having been there and given the aquarium a generally positive review, I would say most of the negative comments have merit and should be addressed. I imagine things like signage on tanks and water quality already are actively being fixed and are only going to improve.

 

The criticism of the building and the layout of the aquarium are absurd with the exception of the unmarked exit through the gift shop. I think the layout and retrofit is one of the most interesting aspects of the place.

 

This aquarium is not a big affair, but it is a great addition to Cleveland and I imagine most small children will enjoy it immensely despite what their "aquarist snob" parents may think.

Those reviews really are disappointing to read; but not knowing too much about the project myself, nobody expected it to be on the level of the National Aquarium or the big one in Atlanta (built, of course, with Home Depot money), did they?

I didn't expect it to be on that level but I expected a top notch small aquarium. I enjoyed my visit but I was unfortunately expecting a different experience. I have to agree with the Yelp reviewers that every tank looks the same and not very realistic. There is just something missing, but I hope they continue to grow and improve. I think there is still potential.

I don't agree with that statement. If these negative reviews keep coming, then there is clearly something wrong. Take a look at baltimores aquarium for instance. Many people go on to say great things about it.

 

http://m.yelp.com/biz/national-aquarium-in-baltimore-baltimore

 

The Balitmore Aquarium is one of the most famous aquariums in our country.  People all over the region and country have heard of it and its easy to talk about on the web, not to mention it has been open for a really long time.  Of course there will be positive reviews, so many have experienced it and its visibility is large.  I doubt even half our city even knows we opened an aquarium, and its only been open a weekend.  I think it is expected that the only reviews after weekend are people that are pissed they spent 20 something bucks on it and expected it to be a big raunchy Baltimore aquarium.  They went right home and vented to the internet about it. 

 

I, for one, want this to be nothing like the Balitmore Aquarium, which i find mediocre at best.  I want unique and sleek.  I am hoping that is what I will find.

The lack of live coral is disappointing.  I can think of reasons why they didn't implement it (insufficient lighting, lighting costs, nutrient/fert costs, new tank syndrome) and can only hope that they will at some point put some in.  It hardly takes an 'aquarium snob' to build and maintain a marine tank with coral. But you would think this is one of the most important and visible parts of an aquarium that features marine fish.

 

I would have expected a post from the rainbow darter aficionado by now.

I hope the problems of the aquarium will be addressed in good time. Most of them sound like they won't be too difficult to fix. Better signage, improving water quality, and adding some live coral in the tanks.

 

I hope phase two can happen because that could really help put this aquarium on par with larger and more famous ones.