A big new attraction is coming to the First Coast.
WOKV has confirmed a deal has been reached to build a new St. Augustine Aquarium, Snorkel Adventure and Zip Line project off I-95 and State Road 16. The County confirms the privately funded project has purchased a 5 acre site.
Shawn and Kathy Hiester are the owners of the aquarium and have secured private funding to build the new attraction.
"We are excited to finally have our site purchased. We've been ready to build and get going for several months, so it's making a dream come true," said Kathy Hiester.
The first phase of the project is expected to open by Spring 2015. It includes an 80,000 gallon outdoor “Snorkel Adventure” and zip line and adventure course. It will also feature a variety of other interactive exhibits of marine life.
"You don't have to snorkel, you can come and view the fish in that exhibit. The zip line will be in addition to that, as well."
The second phase will include 180,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor exhibit space over 40,000 square feet and will open Summer 2016.
The main exhibit will feature a recreated 17th century shipwreck with carious sharks, eels, rays and reef fish. Guests will be able to able to dive with sharks and interact with stingrays. About 70 species and more than one thousand fish will be on display overall.
The space will also be multi-use with a restaurant on site that can also cater special events.
Hiester says she and her husband have been interested in marine life since they were both in college, but they never entered the field. She tells WOKV her husband is an avid scuba diver but she's never been a fan. However, through discussion about marine life they both decided they wanted to build something to advocate the importance of marine life.
"I can't tell you how excited we are to bring this to fruition."
In terms of an economic impact in tourism and jobs, she estimates somewhere between 35 and 40 jobs will be created.
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