Workers lifted the floor to give children a better view of the tanks. Seeing a shark in real life is not the same as seeing on online or on TV. Fair Park stakeholders, the Dallas Zoo and the Park Department must come up with a business model that makes sense. The Dallas Zoo said it has prevention and response plans ready for both the Dallas Zoo and the Children's Aquarium … When she finally stopped to give him attention, he bumped his face against the glass. I was born in Waco, raised my own family in the suburbs and have been back in Dallas ever since. “That was a lot of piggy bank money all together,” Beathard said. One of the quickest responses is always 'go check out the Dallas World Aquarium.' B106. It would be greatly appreciated if hours were pushed back to 7pm closing time. Dallas Zoo Membership. Many school groups come through as a field trip. "Bird-feeding (children's area) and tortoise-feeding (also Zoo North) are favorite activities every visit, but the Wildlife Adventures Show (by the bridge) is FUN, educational and interactive for kids of all ages." “So truly, THANK YOU.”. Throughout the tour, almost every animal prompted Margeaux to share a story. According to a report from the Dallas Morning News, the first aquarium to open in Texas may be closing its doors soon as it faces financial uncertainty. Look Out For COVID-19 Vaccine ScamsGinger Allen reports. But he did point out that there is much to be learned from successful aquariums, particularly when it comes to marketing and ticket prices. Tasks such … Margeaux Maurer, a fifth grade student at The Hockaday School, visits the Indo-Pacific Reef exhibit at the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park in Dallas on Friday, Nov. 13, … Join today and save on a year of FREE admission and parking, discounts throughout the Zoo and on select programs, member-only experiences, and tons of other perks. You don’t get food at 12. “Smiling” cownose rays gently took food from children’s hands in the annex. Dallas Aquarium Kings is Dallas-Fort Worth's premier service provider for aquarium maintenance, aquarium service, aquarium cleaning, aquarium moving, and design Another company is facing closure as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on. What happened? Whether the venue is able to open to the public during that time is uncertain. Their ability to see above and below the water’s surface gives them an extra advantage. But city staff members had always intended for the aquarium to be a year-round attraction. What started out as an opportunity to learn about the relocation process turned into a preview of what might be the aquarium’s future. All rights reserved. However, the financial situation had been strained for years, costing taxpayers almost $1.7 million in the last decade alone. City Council member Adam Bazaldua, whose district includes Fair Park, announced he has found a way to put together $800,000 in unused bond money to keep the aquarium afloat for two more years. For now, the relocation of 4,000 animals is on pause after Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua, who represents Fair Park, identified $800,000 in unused bond money to keep the aquarium afloat for two more years. The Dallas Zoo has been operating the aquarium but it has been losing money. She wrote to Mayor Eric Johnson that she would “help in any way” to keep the 84-year-old institution open. Bazaldua has been steadfast in trying to ensure that the Fair Park vision comes from its neighbors. The aquarium’s myriad complexities and costs — and the years it has run red on its financial balance sheets — explain why the Dallas City Council agreed in September to close the facility. With eye-level, interactive zones and exhibits, everyone can enjoy and learn something new about our aquatic friends from around the world. DALLAS — After operating for more than 80 years, the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park has closed its doors, leaving memories in its absence. It’s actually really, really hard — and expensive — facts that became increasingly clear the farther I walked into the bowels of the 85-year-old aquarium. “Keeping the aquarium is one of those desires,” he said. Village. Dallas Heritage Village is now open with adjusted hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and additional hours on Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. But the funds, plus help Bazaldua hopes to get from private donors, would keep the fish safe and well cared for while stakeholders, working under the just-approved Fair Park master plan, figure out a new future for the aquarium. The zoo, which is in east Oak Cliff, closed to the public in mid-March as cases of COVID-19 first showed up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Archerfish can catch food by spitting water above the surface and knocking bugs off of perches. “It’s worth it if we can come up with the long-term solution,” he said. Texas' first aquarium set to close after 84 years in business A high school senior called out her superintendent in public for an illegal act. With his round black eyes and orange-slice-shaped mouth, the spotted fish swam alongside his new friend while she looked at his tank mates. Newly Remodeled Dallas World Aquarium Reopens. Mobile 11. After months of not being able to visit because of the pandemic, Margeaux marveled at old friends — like the cownose rays — and met new ones, like the cuttlefish that arrived in August and the aquarium’s first blacktip sharks, born last year. The worst possible thing that could happen would be to end up back at this same spot two years from now. After receiving a series of enemas — a precarious treatment given that the creature’s voltage can kill a horse — the eel was much improved. A A The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, a gem that has stood in Dallas for about 84 years, is set to close for good because of substantial financial losses brought on by the pandemic. Margeaux, a fifth-grade student at The Hockaday School, started visiting the aquarium when she was in a stroller. “He’s like, ‘hello.’ ”. As I read back over years of news reports about the aquarium — its many facelifts and new programs — what was missing was any philanthropic donor or friends group. *Last entry is 90 minutes prior to closing time. Get email alerts on breaking news stories as soon as they happen. So while the zoo could reinvest new capital to continually evolve, the city-zoo agreement for the aquarium allowed only for maintaining the facility. Dallas Zoo - Children's Aquarium *The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park has been designed with kids in mind. (214) 373-3474. Visitors will only be allowed to walk the grounds. I am not sure if you can spend a night as the opening and closing hours of the Dallas World Aquarium are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Apply to Front Desk Agent, Housekeeper, Laborer and more! The aquarium is a beautiful place, my kids love it. It came down to a “a strategic, albeit difficult, decision based on the ongoing costs to operate the facility in the short-term and long-term.”. Park Board President Calvert Collins-Bratton pointed out that while no one was happy about closing the aquarium, its annual shortfall had to be covered by dollars taken from another of the city’s park and recreation amenities. The aquarium opened in 1936 as the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, making it the first in the state of Texas. TICKETS: To accommodate the occupancy requirement mandated by the State of Texas, The Dallas World Aquarium has implemented a Timed-Entry system as part of our ticketing procedure. “This aquarium allowed us to build conservationists for the future.”. “Each one of these fish is an ambassador that tells a story,” Edell said. The city built the aquarium as part of the Texas Centennial Exposition, which also included several seasonal exhibits that coincided with the State Fair of Texas. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. … This last-minute maneuver is admirable — but only if everyone understands that this stopgap measure is just that. Pre-booking tickets online is the easiest way to guarantee entry and save The zoo halted the transfer of aquarium inhabitants “on a wing and a prayer,” Hudson said. The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park is a big part of Dallas history. Hudson understands the budget constraints the city faced over those years, but he said, “leaving the aquarium on simmer just wasn’t a good situation for long-term growth.”. 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In 2009, the Dallas Zoo took over operations of the aquarium on the condition that the city underwrite its losses. The Dallas World Aquarium: Tickets & Tours‎ Bishop Arts District: Tickets & Tours‎ White Rock Lake Park: Tickets & Tours‎ Deep Ellum (Deep Elm): Tickets & Tours‎ American Airlines Center: Tickets & Tours‎ Dallas Zoo: Tickets & Tours‎ Near Airports. You get food at 6.”. Can adults visit SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium center without any children? 10-05. Dozens of cownose rays raced toward her. That’s because they jumped over from the neighboring Amazon River tank. Can I bring my own food and drink? She compared the green moray eel to the sandworm from Beetlejuice, which she and her mom watched together on Halloween. The Durham, N.C. native and devoted Tar Heel fan graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. My work on Baylor's sexual assault scandal earned a spot as a 2018 Pulitzer finalist. Saving Children’s Aquarium makes sense only if Dallas taxpayers aren’t still stuck with its red ink. The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park was the first aquarium built in the state, and Texans will soon have to say goodbye to it, according to Jacob Vaughn for the Dallas Observer. In the freshwater exhibit, Matt James, senior director of animal care at the Dallas Zoo, said some of the Mexican fish might look familiar. Second, the fresh eyes of the nonprofit Fair Park First, which is implementing the master plan, may see a sustainable, economically smart way forward — if the aquarium can be moved under its purview. It aids conservation and education by housing many animals that are threatened or endangered. Copyright © 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Margeaux Maurer dipped her hand in the water. About 25% to 35% of the aquarium’s yearly attendance came during the State Fair. Despite getting clearance to open later this week after nearly two months closed, the Dallas World Aquarium has decided to wait until it figures out the … *Currently closed due to COVID-19. It was an abrupt, if understandable, ending for a historic landmark where many of this city’s children, including my own, got their first look at life under the sea. Some mention of penguins or rare birds and how it's a little expensive ($20.95) but worth it usually follows. “He was born in February 2019.”. Brooklynn Cooper. Dallas Aquarium Closing after 84 Years. The Dallas Zoo and the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park are closing their doors to the public through at least March 20. “Every one of the tanks has different biological parameters for its particular ecosystem.”. The coronavirus pandemic has also contributed to the aquarium's financial losses. I'm the Metro columnist, which means that if it's happening in North Texas, I'm likely to write about it. Most of them took a lap around the tank when they realized she didn’t have a snack that time. Arts & Entertainment Dallas Zoo Furloughs 100 of its 400 Employees. Gratke explained that the four-eyed fish, which actually have two eyes with split pupils, have learned to wait for the scraps that the archerfish don’t catch. Bazaldua first must persuade his colleagues to agree to his funding idea; that starts in a Quality of Life committee meeting later this month, then before the full City Council. How hard is that?”. But even after that, it saw anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 in losses each year, according to the Dallas Observer. Brooklynn Cooper covers southern Dallas as a Report for America corps member. “This is our youngest ray,” said Laura Gratke, assistant supervisor at the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. Buy Tickets. Brian Luallen, executive director of Fair Park First, is understandably cautious with his point of view about the aquarium because it’s currently not part of the nonprofit’s contract. Built in 1936, it is the oldest aquarium still in the original building. That kind of champion, plus support from the rest of us, will be mandatory if the aquarium is to survive. Only issue we have with the aquarium is the hours itself. A tide-pool tank allowed kids to touch a starfish or sea urchin. To thank the staff, Margeaux and her mom brought a box of mini bundt cakes, a handwritten note decorated with fish, and a $100 donation. All rights reserved. The aquarium’s deficits had cost taxpayers almost $1.7 million over the last decade alone. Six Flags. “This is not a museum with static exhibits but 4,000 animals that have their own special needs,” said Harrison Edell, executive vice president for animal care and conservation at the Dallas Zoo, which oversees the aquarium. Dallas Zoo to Furlough Staff, Close Fair Park Aquarium Amid Money Strain 8/14/2020. Closings/Cancellations. What happened? The money meter is ticking, given that the funding spigot closed as of Oct. 1. When is the quietest time to visit SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium? Copyright © 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Aquarist Alicia Lee conducts a weekly hydrogen cycle test on the water in the basement laboratory for the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park in Dallas. “I didn’t teach him to do that,” Margeaux promised. In a tiny no-frills lab room, staffers conducted the water-quality tests required daily to ensure the safety of the tank dwellers upstairs. “If you walk, that encourages him,” she said. The aquarium closed in mid-March like many other businesses that shut down as COVID-19 cases rose across the state. The museum will take several precautionary measures including closing all on-site buildings. The pandemic forced the Dallas gem to shut down on March 13, but fans didn’t expect it would be the last time they’d get a chance to visit their aquatic friends. Get email alerts on breaking news stories as soon as they happen. Consider that, even closed, it requires half a million dollars annually. A high school senior called out her superintendent in public for an illegal act. Prior to COVID-19, the zoo’s average monthly attendance of 100,000 almost equaled the 135,000 guests that the aquarium saw in a year. Sharon Grigsby. This summer, community members started a GoFundMe, now at almost $900, and a petition to save the historic attraction. Bazaldua is the first elected official in forever to take real interest in the aquarium. Follow. The Dallas World Aquarium is excited to welcome everyone back! The aquarium is very family oriented. And it’s unclear whether the aquarium will reopen to the public any time soon. A couple of things give me hope that the aquarium may have a future. For the health and safety of our guests, staff, and animals, we have implemented several changes in our operating procedures. This is for all of you — frustrated about the permanent closure of the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park — who have called City Hall to say, “Just keep it open. RELATED: LIST: Dallas-Fort Worth area business closings. The art deco-style building features seahorses engraved in panels on either side of the doors, inviting visitors to explore the National Historic Landmark. When the fifth-grader found out from her mother that the state’s oldest aquarium would be closing after steady financial losses, she burst into tears. That starts with being realistic about the special maintenance challenges of running the oldest aquarium in the state — and coming up with a plan that doesn’t leave city taxpayers cleaning up the red ink. But his plan still has to be approved by the council. HOURS Tickets Sold: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. 2.2 … … That’s a lot better ending for us than just closing it.”. Learn More. The Dallas World Aquarium and zoo is located in the West End Historic District. Dallas Zoo members get more. Latest Forecast. That reminded Beathard of an “unfortunate incident” they had at home involving a betta fish that jumped out of a tank. The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park opened in 1936 as the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, making history as the state’s first attraction of its kind. Fins flapping, the little one kept close to the tank glass while 10-year-old Margeaux rubbed its smooth back. Hi Cindy. As the 12th aquarium in the country, it was the only one at the time in an inland city, exposing residents to aquatic life they might’ve never seen otherwise. 37 Aquarium jobs available in Dallas, TX on Indeed.com. “How could you resist that little face?” her mother said about the rays that appeared to be smiling against the glass. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. You may call on 1 … Separately, the Dallas Zoo had to cut its own budget by $10 million, furlough 100 employees and pause its $150 million master plan expansion project. And perhaps it will again, because about two weeks ago, this fish tale took an unexpected twist. The aquarium also got an $8.2 million renovation, paid for with city bond funds and designed to make it more kid friendly. She eased her hand in again, hoping to touch the rays that haven’t seen visitors for almost a year. 6955 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231. “It would be a shame if we had to look at it as something other than an aquarium.”, Hudson is cautiously optimistic: “I hope we can play a part in getting the aquarium to its next life, whatever that’s going to be. The Dallas Quilt Show has been canceled on … “This aquarium is part of a national landmark of the highest caliber,” Luallen said. Covid-19 – Information for Guests: Is SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium suitable for adults? While the aquarium closed to the public in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, staff members at the Dallas Zoo offered to give Margeaux and her mother a special tour recently. “Figuring out the best use of taxpayer dollars, especially in a year that required cutting more than $5 million from the park budget, is our job as stewards of this land,” she told me. And the sea creatures were just as excited to see her. At 3 years old, she stood in the same spot petting stingrays. What items cannot be taken into SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium? It’s 12. In one of the saltwater tanks, archerfish and four-eyed fish shared a habitat. Latest Videos. 5 months ago. As staff veterinarians made regular rounds in the basement’s animal infirmary Wednesday, their patients included an electric eel, ailing since it swallowed a rock in its exhibit tank. Margeaux said the four-eyed fish act just like her cat, Choco, when someone stands near his food bowl. Just above our heads, loudly whirring machinery, pumps and pipes — lifelines to the venue’s dozens of tanks — join together in a maze of replaced, repaired and still original ironwork that makes every maintenance job complicated. But one stuck around: the smallest ray. “He’ll run after you, then he goes straight to the laundry room, sits by his food and meows.”, “It’s just like, dude. Guests are highly encouraged to purchase advance online tickets and will check-in at our main entrance on the corner of Laws and Corbin Streets. Most people get off of work at or around 5pm. ** We will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Things to Know: We strongly advise all guests to book tickets online in advance, particularly when planning to visit during weekends, in the summer or on school holidays. The animals are very active and usually awake during the hours of operation. “It’s definitely worth keeping for all of our Dallas residents,” said Margeaux’s mom, Kathleen Beathard. “We’ve got to make sure we have more than a Band-Aid because that would be disastrous to have to do it again.”. When the zoo spun off into a public-private operation in 2009, the city insisted that the aquarium be part of the deal – but promised to underwrite its annual losses. From equipment maintenance to animal food, the cost to operate the aquarium outpaced revenue every year, Gregg Hudson, president and CEO of the Dallas Zoo, wrote in an email to The Dallas Morning News. “It was the right thing to do, doing something that means this much to them.”. Most visitors are families and seniors; school groups account for only 10% to 15% of admissions. The next year, it saw an almost $10 million renovation that added the popular stingray habitats and eye-level tanks to make the facility more kid-friendly. Swimming among the blacktips was a porcupinefish that followed Margeaux as she walked from one side of the glass to the other. 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But to Margeaux, her time at the aquarium was priceless. Regular ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors; during the State Fair, those prices drop substantially. March 13, 2020 12:15 PM Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on Dallas Park & Recreation. A 10-year-old’s letter turns into exclusive visit at the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. Children's Aquarium at Fair Park 1462 First Avenue Dallas, TX 75210 Ph: 469-554-7340 website Hours 9:00 am - 4:30 pm 7 days a week* *Closed on Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day “We’ve already gone through this closing once, and it’s been very painful,” Gregg Hudson, zoo president and CEO, said during our walk through the shuttered aquarium. One of them was lucky enough to snag the shrimp she was holding. In coordination with the emergency declarations the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is closely monitoring information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), and has developed a plan based on the recommendations from health officials to ensure every precaution is taken to keep customers and … “Without the aquarium, I would not be who I am today,” read her note, written in sea blue marker. Aquariums & Aquarium Supplies. The zoo has overseen the aquarium for years, dating back to when both were officially part of the Park Department. As U.S. races toward COVID-19 vaccine, Britain takes the lead. “Look at his smile,” Margeaux said. Deco-Style building features seahorses engraved in panels on either side of the aquarium also got an $ 8.2 million,... The shrimp she was holding email alerts on breaking news stories as soon as they happen Edell! Has been steadfast in trying to ensure that the aquarium allowed us to build conservationists for the future. ” Beetlejuice! 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