5 Years Later, Atlantic City Aquarium Reopens

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — For the first time since March of 2020, guests got to enjoy exhibits, dozens of sea creatures and more with the official reopening of the Atlantic City Aquarium on March 24, 2025.

The road to reopening has been a long and rocky one, with the pandemic, supply shortages and more pushing the opening date back repeatedly. But now, it's back, just in time for the summer.

The Atlantic City Aquarium showcases more than 100 species highlighted by Groman – a 225-pound Loggerhead Sea Turtle, plus diamondback turtles, southern and cow nose rays, sea horses, pipe fish, lionfish, horseshoe crabs and much more. New exhibits as of the reopening include the “Under the Sea” coloring area, hurricane simulator and photo booth. By early summer, the Aquarium will also open six hands-on touch tanks on the second floor with daily touch tank feeding shows.

“The Atlantic City Aquarium has always been one of our city’s most precious gems in one of most beautiful areas of Atlantic City, so the Small administration is thrilled to be able to reopen this building looking and feeling like the first-class attraction it is, our taxpayers deserve that,” said Mayor Marty Small. “From our Aquarium staff to our Public Works Department and Engineering Office to our contractors and consultants, there are many individuals that deserve credit for this reopening. Our residents and visitors can now once again enjoy the unique experience that is the Atlantic City Aquarium.”

The Atlantic City Aquarium first opened in May of 1999. The building closed in March of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that closing, grant funding was secured through the NJ Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) for much needed capital improvements. Due to the pandemic, the normal process for moving such a project forward was slower than originally anticipated. Once construction began, it became apparent that repairs were greater than expected. That, combined with the pandemic's impact on supply chains, created delays in the renovation schedule.

The Aquarium is open year-round, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission prices and additional information can be found at www.acnj.gov/pages/acaquarium. The public may also contact the Aquarium at 609-348-2880.