by Emily Coble

Merlin Entertainments Group is building a $15 million SEA LIFE aquarium in Crown Center, which is scheduled to open this April. According to the SEA LIFE press release, it will receive no tax incentives. The two story aquarium will take visitors through more than 30 displays and is expected to house more than 5,000 sea creatures such as rays, sharks, starfish and seahorses. The estimated 2-3 hour journey will exhibit a variety of creatures, ranging from the Missouri River to the Atlantic Ocean.

The SEA LIFE press release also revealed that some attractions this aquarium will have to offer include a touch pool, where visitors can feel small animals like crabs and starfish and a tropical ocean tank with a walk-through tunnel. There will also be educational talks and feeding demonstrations to allow the public to learn about sea creatures up close.

“I think [the aquarium’s] awesome, especially living in the Midwest,” STA biology teacher Sarah Skidmore said. Skidmore had taken a course on marine biology in Georgia when she was in high school, and she believes it’s hard to study the ocean hands-on in the Midwest.

“I’m excited because I like fish and I’m interested in marine life,” aspiring marine biologist Brit Maguire said. “[The aquarium] will help me see how organisms interact with one another, and I can examine the food chain. It can be valuable to those who are landlocked.”

According to the Crown Center website, the first floor of Halls department store has been relocated to accommodate SEA LIFE and the aquarium will also occupy a portion of the second floor. The third floor of Halls will remain where it is. Merlin is also building a Legoland Discovery Center next to the aquarium.

Merlin Entertainments Group is an entertainment company based in the United Kingdom. They are the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, and they own a variety of attractions including SEA LIFE and Legoland. SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium brand, and this will be their fifth location in the United States, according to their website.

According to communications manager of Crown Center Chris Ronan, the aquarium will fit in well with the family-based attractions like the Coterie Theater and Kaleidoscope.