New at the Gatlinburg Aquarium: Ripley’s Shipwrecks Exhibit
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has opened a new exhibit called Shipwrecks! The exhibit is the perfect combination of history, education and fun. Now when you visit the Gatlinburg aquarium, you’ll not only be able to interact with sea life, walk through an underwater tunnel and enjoy other unique experiences, but you’ll be able to learn about shipwrecks from around the world! Here is all you need to know about the Gatlinburg aquarium’s new exhibit and other things to do while you’re there:
About the Shipwrecks Exhibit
When you visit the Shipwrecks exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium, you’ll have the opportunity to see reenactments of shipwrecks and learn about the history of famous ships. The exhibit features a replica of the famous Chuuk Lagoon, which is best known for its world-class wreck diving, and you’ll get to take a picture with it! You’ll also get to learn all about Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge ship, the Edmund Fitzgerald, the CSS Alabama, the Hunley and so many more. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover shipwrecks from early B.C. to the forgotten shipwrecks and find out what caused them! Don’t forget to unearth some buried treasure before you leave and snap a picture by Abraham Lincoln!
More to Do at the Gatlinburg Aquarium
While you’re visiting the new Shipwrecks exhibit, be sure to explore everything else the Gatlinburg aquarium has to offer. You can’t leave the aquarium without walking through the underwater tunnel in Shark Lagoon and seeing snappers, squirrelfish, a green sea turtle, giant stingrays, 10-foot sharks and more swimming all around you!
There are also a number of unique experiences for you to try while you’re there. After you learn about shipwrecks in history, head to the Penguin Encounter to come face-to-beak with playful penguins, or stop by Touch-A-Ray Bay to get up close and personal with stingrays! If you’re feeling adventurous, take a ride on Ripley’s Glass Bottom Boat Adventure. You’ll venture out into the middle of Shark Lagoon in a glass bottom boat with just 3 inches of glass separating you and the sharks! And that’s not all — you can also spend a night sleeping with the sharks or have a pajama party with the penguins. Your fun-filled night at the aquarium includes a dive show, scavenger hunt and a special late-night activity!
If you want more educational fun, visit the Discovery Center, where you can solve puzzles and participate in group discussions, touch live horseshoe crabs and even touch a jellyfish with the help of the educators! The Discovery Center is the best place to go to learn about nature by experiencing it first hand, and it’s a popular exhibit among children.
For more information about Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, read our blog, “What to Know Before You Go: Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg.”
You’ll want to take a special trip to the Smoky Mountains to see all of these incredible experiences for yourself! Save money on tickets to the Gatlinburg aquarium and start planning your adventure!
