Aquarium will build outside city limits

After two-and-a-half years of discussions and searching, St Augustine Aquarium LLC has purchased a 5-acre site to build an aquarium — but, it won’t be on Riberia Pointe, or even within the St Augustine city limits.

Owners Shawn and Kathy Hiester made the announcement this morning of their December 5th purchase of a 5-Acre wooded site located at 2045 SR-16 in St Johns County, east of the I-95 and SR-16 interchange, that will become the home for an aquarium, snorkel adventure and zip-line project.

“We love the location because it is close to I-95 and the busy St. Augustine Outlet Center yet retains its natural feel with lots of beautiful trees,” said Kathy Hiester.

The Hiesters say the attraction will be constructed in two phases.

Phase I consists of an 80,000-gallon outdoor Snorkel Adventure along with a Zip Line and Adventure Course. Phase II will add an additional 180,000 gallons and 40,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space; housing an assortment of Florida marine species.

“St. Johns County is excited to have a new multi-purpose interactive aquarium project be built that our residents and visitors alike will enjoy,” Melissa Glasgow, Economic Development Director for St. Johns County, said. “This project will be a welcome addition to the attractions industry base and help create new jobs and attract new tourism dollars to the County.”

To highlight St. Augustine’s rich maritime heritage, a recreated 17th century shipwreck will be featured in the main exhibit alongside sand tiger, bonnethead, and blacknose sharks as well as rays, eels and a host of reef fish.

The Aquarium project is a privately funded public aquarium, according to the Hiesters; who, with their team, have been working on this project for two and a half years. Now that the land has been secured, design and construction will move along quickly, they say. Plans are for Phase I to break ground in early 2015 and to open to the public during Spring 2015. The balance of the project is expected to open Summer 2016.

This is the first aquarium project for the Ponte Vedra Beach residents; however, they have great expectations for its success. Shawn Hiester, an avid scuba diver, told reporters in his announcement that he knows that once people have the chance to experience the magic of the undersea world, they will understand how critically important it is for all of us to protect it.