Rocky Coast Debuts
On May 25, the Oregon Coast Aquarium unveiled its newly renovated Rocky Coast gallery to the public. Formerly known as Rocky Shores, the gallery is a fan-favorite Aquarium feature. The main attraction is its touch pool, where visitors enjoy volunteer-led, hands-on encounters with sea stars, urchins, anemones, and other intertidal species.
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The touch pool was completely overhauled during the renovation, with accessibility at the forefront of its improvements. The pool’s wide outer ledge was reduced to a thin lip, so visitors of varying abilities can reach in with ease. Rockwork peeks through the water’s surface before sloping down, and windows inset along the sides let guests see, and feel, tidepool animals at different depths. Most notably, the pool is now doubled in size, allowing more visitors to get in touch with the Oregon coast.
Octo Upgrade
The gallery also includes a novel habitat dedicated to the iconic giant Pacific octopus. The habitat’s current occupant is a large female GPO named Bunsen, who weighs an impressive 45lbs.
“Worth the Wait”
Alongside these additions, Rocky Coast boasts an expanded footprint, educational signage in English and Spanish, and aesthetic updates. Behind-the-scenes, new life support systems maintain the gallery’s expanded and upgraded tanks.
“Rocky Coast opens following years of planning and preparation,” said OCAq President and CEO Carrie Lewis. “It was worth the wait. Rocky Coast is absolutely stunning, and we are so excited to share it with our guests.”
The gallery’s debut takes place just two days after the Aquarium’s 32nd anniversary, and three weeks after its remodeled Sandy Coast gallery reopened. The final stretch of gallery construction—including the creation of an entirely new sea jelly gallery–is slated for completion in fall 2024.
These improvements are made possible thanks to contributions from major donors, including the State of Oregon, Al Gleason, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, John & Nancy Dennis Family, Jim Pattison/Roth’s Fresh Markets, Clark Foundation, Travel Oregon, Hillman Family Foundations, Marta & Ken Thrasher, Christine & David Vernier, Miller Family Holdings, and Aquarium Volunteers.
Access to the Aquarium’s Rocky Coast gallery is included with general admission; learn more and buy tickets at aquarium.org.
