Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead is changing its name to Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center, the aquarium announced yesterday, the 11th anniversary of its opening on East Main Street.
The aquarium will open up its new Long Island Exhibition Center and 70,000-square-foot, 100-room Hyatt Place East End on July 1, followed by a new ballroom and marina later this summer, the company said in the press release. The 28,000-square-foot “Sea Star Grand Ballroom” will accommodate up to 450 guests.
“Since opening its doors and tanks in 2000, the aquarium has hosted nearly 5 million visitors and has been thrilling visitors with a wide range of indoor and outdoor exhibits that bring undersea wonders to life,” the L.I. Aquarium said in a press release.
This latest $24 million expansion project has been five years in design development – working with the town, the state, and the county to make sure that the best project possible would come to Riverhead’s downtown area, the aquarium said in the release.
“Where else on a Long Island Main Street, do you see an internationally recognized hotel,” asked aquarium co-owner Joe Petrocelli. “There is also no indoor exotic butterfly and bird exhibit anywhere in this region that is open year-round,” he said, referring to the first exhibit at the exhibition center.
Co-owner Jim Bissett said Atlantis was originally conceived as a tourist attraction that would help revitalize downtown Riverhead. “Now, with the openings of Long Island Exhibition Center, the Hyatt Place East End hotel, and the additions, we hope to inspire visitors to stay – and stay longer,” Bissett said. “We have to thank all of our supporters for helping to make this happen,” he said.
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