Ripley's Aquarium

kmf507

New member
Good morning guys (and any gals),
I'm visiting the Gatlinburg area and was wondering if any reefers had feedback on the Ripley Aquarium. Is it worth the money? I figured fellow reefers are better reviewers than Trip Advisor!

Thanks,
Keith
 
I'm not a big fan... To be fair, I went after they had been open for 6 or so months, but I've seen fish stores with more variety and healthier fish... The one larger aquarium with the tunnel through it was ok... But IMO not worth the money or fighting the traffic...
 
Yes, definitely worth the money. Honestly, best of the three major public aquarium I've seen - yes, better than Atlanta, IMHO. Great diversity, nice planted set ups and lots of neat freshwater in addition to marine. Very clean looking displays too. Oh, but they don't have incarcerated beluga whales, if you're into that sort of thing.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15402386#post15402386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by macclellan
Yes, definitely worth the money. Honestly, best of the three major public aquarium I've seen - yes, better than Atlanta, IMHO.

Really??? Perhaps I need to give them another shot then... It has been at least 8 or so years since I've been... I like the Chatty Aquarium, you been there???
 
Oh, lol. You ninja'd me. I didn't see your post above. :)

I went a year or two ago... I guess a lot can change in 6-7 years!

I haven't been to the chatty aquarium yet. Maybe I'll work that in to the trip to the swap. I'll see if I can get Steph to go.
 
I have been to both and had the behind the scenes special prividges tour. Amazing aquariums and amazing maintance. Ripleys is #1 for a reason. It is worth the price of admission and is better than Chatty and even Atlanta. Atlanta is nice, but the design is not. I would rank them Ripleys, Atlanta, Chatt and the #2 and #3 are a toss up in my book. I must admit that the reef section at Ripleys is ............. hobby worth, but nice none the less. I mean that I have scene that size tanks in hobbists homes, and with that amount of reef life (corals, fish, crustaceans, etc) That is my 3 cents worth.


Randy, you gotta go back. I wish you all could go behind the scenes.
 
You think Atlanta is better than Chattanooga??? Your opinion just went out the window for me... ;)
 
I went a coulple of years ago, and it was the best I've seen so far. But I only have the aquarium of america in Lousianna to compare it to. But ripleys was well worth the ticket.
 
It is worth it. I had season's passes the last few years. My sons loved the place.

Ripley's finally figured out how to keep the coral in their one coral tank alive these last couple of years.

It is not as educational as the Chattanooga aquarium, which I think is better on the freshwater side. But I like the big saltwater lagoon better at the Ripley's aquarium. That, and the floor-to-ceiling "tang" tank.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15404662#post15404662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by planejane
It's def. worth a visit. "Locals" can get in 1/2 price.

Really? :confused:

BTW, I'm a bigger fan of Chatt just due to their diversity, and because I like freshwater stuff. I've been to quite a few aquariums and it's still one of my fav's.
 
We are all very lucky to have three awesome aquariums in our area...they all offer some unique features that distinguishes them from each other. Couldn't really pick a favorite, they are all worth the experience!
dave
 
is it worth the money no, is it worth the experience maybe. Either way I don't like gatlinburg so I won't go the aquarium again either. up to you.
 
There is a Newport Aquarium on the other side of the river from Cincy. My favorites are:

Chattanooga (hands down)
Ripley's of Gatlinburg
Atlanta
Ripley's of Myrtle Beach
Newport Aquarium

the Columbus Zoo is suppose to have a nice aquarium, gonna visit there in a couple of weeks.
 
i like ripleys much better than chatt. we went to chatt. a couple weeks after seeing the ripleys one and i didn't think it compared at all. especially if you like saltwater. i though chatt was very limited and boring. it seemed like it was just one big tank and you got to see at different levels. i haven't seen atlanta yet, but i like ripleys better than baltimore too...tho its been years since i've seen that one.
 
just called ripleys and confirmed 1/2 off for "locals" discount unfortunately they only consider sevier county folks locals knox county folks are full price
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15450523#post15450523 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by helix149
just called ripleys and confirmed 1/2 off for "locals" discount unfortunately they only consider sevier county folks locals knox county folks are full price
that stinks can some one from sevierville buy all our tickets
 
Back
Top