The Virginia Aquarium, the third most visited attraction in Virginia, needs millions to extend its life by a decade, and officials are pushing for more investment.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The third most visited attraction in Virginia is nearing 40 years old and needs millions of dollars in repairs to extend its useful life by about a decade, Virginia Beach City Council members heard on Tuesday.
However, the Virginia Aquarium is not just an attraction, officials emphasized, and they believe it deserves more investment not only from philanthropists but also from the state government.
“We often say the aquarium is our aquarium, because it truly belongs to the people of Virginia Beach,” said Dan Peterson, chair of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation. “It represents Virginia Beach’s commitment as a premier coastal city to protect the ocean and its inhabitants and to educate both our citizens and the millions of visitors who come here to learn about the importance of our environment. That mission is not only educational and conservation-focused, it’s also deeply economic.”
The city of Virginia Beach owns and operates the aquarium facility, while the Virginia Aquarium Foundation owns the animals and exhibits. The aquarium has operated at a deficit in recent years, although officials said Tuesday it’s not as bad as previously reported. Consultant Canopy Strategic Partners found an operational deficit of about $1.6 million per year.
In addition to operating costs, the building needs significant upgrades both inside and outside. One study found interior repair costs are estimated at $8 million, of which the city of Virginia Beach would be responsible for about $3.2 million and the Aquarium Foundation $4.8 million, as a result of the legal agreement they have on cost sharing.
Exterior repair costs are estimated at $1.6 million by another study. The city would be responsible for all of that cost.
However, the repairs would only extend the useful life of the facility and its exhibits by about 8 to 10 years. Planning for a long-term replacement should begin now, officials said. To that end, design funding of about $7 million to $12 million could be requested as early as fiscal year 2026-2027. Full construction of the facility is estimated at between $78 million to $120 million.
As for operating costs, two lobbying firms have been engaged to pursue additional funding from the state, particularly to support the aquarium’s stranding program, which responds to strandings of all marine mammals and sea turtles on the entire Virginia coastline, 365 days a year.
“It’s important to remember that we are responsible for every marine mammal or sea turtle that strands on Virginia’s coastline,” said Buffy Barefoot, treasurer of the Virginia Aquarium Foundation. “Last year alone, we responded to over 400 animals. This is highly specialized, resource-intensive work that few communities can manage.”
The aquarium is 39 years old and features over 5,000 animals across more than 250 species of mammals, fish, birds and reptiles. It welcomed 620,000 visitors in fiscal year 2024 and is the third most visited attraction in Virginia, after Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion.
