Tennessee: Aquarium under shadow

Tennessee Aquarium officials said they’re not concerned a major expansion at the Georgia Aquarium to open in two years will reduce tourist traffic here, but the local attraction is rolling out new exhibits.

“To be honest with you, that’s a little too far out in the future for us to be speculating on what it may do for our attendance,” said Thom Benson, spokesman for the Tennessee Aquarium.

Officials at the Georgia Aquarium said construction on the $115 million project is expected to begin in August. It is slated to open in 2010.

“We are expanding to include dolphins,” said Michaelanne Dye, spokeswoman for the Georgia Aquarium. Ms. Dye referred to the project as a “dolphin lagoon.”

Mr. Benson said there are several new exhibits on tap for the aquarium here that should keep visitors coming.

“Right now we are focused on launching Dolphins and Whales and launching our new boat this summer,” he said.

The River Gorge Explorer is a high-speed catamaran that can take up to 70 passengers on 90-minute excursions into the Tennessee River Gorge.

“We are very excited because it was put on a container ship the other day and we are hoping we can begin operation by mid-June,” Mr. Benson said.

The Tennessee Aquarium, in conjunction with the IMAX theater, recently opened “Dolphins and Whales 3D — Tribes of the Ocean,” a documentary featuring the West Indian manatee and a number of dolphin and whale species.

Jean-Michael Cousteau, son of legendary underwater explorer Jaques Cousteau, served as ambassador and special advisor to the film. He was in Chattanooga last week for its opening.

Mr. Benson said he hopes the attractions will keep people coming to see the fish in Chattanooga.

“We are very excited about those two things,” Mr. Benson said. “Hopefully they will keep folks coming this summer when gas prices are high. Maybe between now and 2010 they will go back down.”