9/25/23, 4:34 PM Blue Zoo aquarium is coming to Jordan Creek: what to know https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/retail/2023/09/25/blue-zoo-aquarium-is-coming-to-jordan-creek-west-des-moines-iowa-what-to-know/7091... 1/3 RETAIL What to know about the Blue Zoo aquarium coming to the Villages at Jordan Creek Published 6:03 a.m. CT Sept. 25, 2023 Updated 10:10 a.m. CT Sept. 25, 2023 Aquariums have surged in popularity, opening in the cities across the U.S. over the last few decades. Now, the Des Moines metro is about to get one. Here is what to know about the Blue Zoo aquarium coming to West Des Moines' Villages at Jordan Creek Town Center this winter. What is Blue Zoo? Blue Zoo is a small, for-profit aquarium chain that opened it first location in Spokane, Washington, in 2019. Founder Wes Haws said he got the idea for Blue Zoo as he whiled away the days watching a fish tank while recovering from an axe attack he suffered during an African house building project in 2010, according to the Blue Zoo website. It says the goal of the company is to educate people and teach children about the importance of marine conservation. "Learning about different species of fish and creating coral reefs occupied both his time and his mind during the long weeks of rehabilitation," the Blue Zoo website says of Haws. "Today Wes strives to pass his appreciation for aquatic life on to others." Where are Blue Zoo aquariums located? In addition to Spokane, there are Blue Zoo locations in Oklahoma City; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Rogers, Arkansas. The company also is planning a location in Boise, Idaho. Philip Joens Des Moines Register 9/25/23, 4:34 PM Blue Zoo aquarium is coming to Jordan Creek: what to know https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/retail/2023/09/25/blue-zoo-aquarium-is-coming-to-jordan-creek-west-des-moines-iowa-what-to-know/7091... 2/3 On its website, Blue Zoo has indicated it would like to build locations in Indiana, Montana and Nevada, as well. Where will Blue Zoo be located in West Des Moines? Blue Zoo is under construction in a spacious storefront formerly occupied by Glowgolf near Buffalo Wild Wings in the Village at Jordan Creek. Brookfield Properties, owner of Jordan Creek Town Center, owns the shopping plaza across North Mario Parkway from and to the south of the mall. Old Navy, Best Buy, Petco, Kids Empire and Bob's Discount Furniture are among the other tenants. How big will Blue Zoo be? Blue Zoo has not indicated how big its West Des Moines location will be. On its website, Blue Zoo says its locations will cover from 17,000 to 23,000 square feet. That's about double the size of the average modern shopping center store. What exhibits does Blue Zoo have? Blue Zoo caters to children and families with interactive exhibits where they can touch fish and stingrays. Children also can interact with actresses portraying mermaids who dive into tanks or with costumed pirates. There also are fish and animal feedings and, in Oklahoma City, a 30,000-gallon shark tank. Some locations have parakeets and reptiles, as well. Tokens can be purchased to feed stingrays, birds and reptiles. A visit takes about one to two hours, and day passes are available, according to the Blue Zoo Website. When will it open? Randy Tennison, Jordan Creek Town Center general manager, said Blue Zoo plans to open in January, but could possibly open before Christmas. The company is hurrying construction to try and capture some of the holiday crowd, Tennison said. "They're making good progress right now," he said. 9/25/23, 4:34 PM Blue Zoo aquarium is coming to Jordan Creek: what to know https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/retail/2023/09/25/blue-zoo-aquarium-is-coming-to-jordan-creek-west-des-moines-iowa-what-to-know/7091... 3/3 How much will admission cost? In Des Moines, day passes for adults and teens age 13 and older will costs $19.95, tickets for children will be $16.95 and military members can buy discounted tickets for $17.95, according to the Blue Zoo website. People in groups of 12 or more will cost $13.95 per person, according to the website. All animal exhibits are accessible with day pass admission. Are there other aquariums in Iowa? Des Moines' Blank Park Zoo has a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium in its Discovery Center. It also has penguin and sea lion exhibits. Iowa's largest is the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque. Philip Joens covers retail, real estate and RAGBRAI for the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at 515-284-8184, pjoens@registermedia.com or on Twitter @Philip_Joens.