SeaQuest (aquariums)

Last updated

SeaQuest Holdings, LLC
Seaquest
Company type Private
FoundedNovember 2015
Headquarters
Boise, Idaho
,
U.S.
Area served
United States
Key people
Vince Covino, founder and CEO [1]
Services Entertainment, aquariums, petting zoos
Revenue$5 million
Number of employees
300
Website visitseaquest.com

SeaQuest Holdings, LLC better known as just SeaQuest, is an interactive marine, exotic mammal, and bird/reptile life attraction chain. It was founded by Vince Covino and features hands-on animal interactions at shopping malls throughout the United States. [2] The company has locations in Utah, Las Vegas, New Jersey, California and Minnesota. [3] SeaQuest has attracted considerable controversy and legal issues due to concerns over its animal care standards.

Contents

History

SeaQuest was established in 2015 by Vince Covino. [4] Prior to the launch of SeaQuest, along with his brother Ammon, founded Portland Aquarium in 2012 (closed 2016), [5] the Austin Aquarium in 2013 [6] and the San Antonio Aquarium in 2014. [7]

SeaQuest opened its first location at Layton, Utah in 2016. [8] This location was followed by one in the Las Vegas area, which also opened in 2016 at The Boulevard Mall. [9] A third location opened in Fort Worth, Texas in 2017. [10]

SeaQuest provides an immersive experience for visitors by allowing guests to touch, feed, and interact with exotic birds, reptiles, mammals, and marine life through hands-on exhibits throughout the aquarium. [11] Although similar to its sister aquariums, SeaQuest locations are usually housed within shopping malls.

SeaQuest's Littleton, Colorado location opened in June 2018. [12] SeaQuest went on to open its fifth location in Folsom in September 2018. [13] [12] The company's location at the Stonecrest Mall opened in 2021 and was the first step of a redevelopment project by Stonecrest Resorts. [14]

In June 2023, the Stonecrest, Georgia location permanently closed. A new aquarium is supposed to be taking over the location. [15] In August 2023, the Trumbull, Connecticut location permanently closed after years of animal welfare violations. [16]

SeaQuest employee with an Asian water monitor. SeaQuest tegu.jpg
SeaQuest employee with an Asian water monitor.

Locations

As of 2024, SeaQuest currently has 5 locations across the United States. [3]

LocationDate Opened
Layton, Utah 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada 2016
Folsom, California 2018 [17]
Roseville, Minnesota 2018 [18]
Woodbridge, New Jersey 2019 [19]
SeaQuest employee dressed as a mermaid. SeaQuest mermaid.jpg
SeaQuest employee dressed as a mermaid.

Former locations

LocationDate OpenedDate Closed
Fort Worth, Texas 2017October 28, 2024 [20]
Littleton, Colorado 2018 [21] February 7, 2024 [22]
Lynchburg, Virginia 2019 [23] October 18, 2024 [24]
Stonecrest, Georgia 2021 [7] 2023 [25]
Trumbull, Connecticut 2019 [18] 2023 [26]

Community engagement

SeaQuest organized an event in collaboration with Layton Communities That Care to support the prevention underage drinking. [27] In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, SeaQuest's Stonecrest location also offered free COVID vaccinations. [28] [ [29] SeaQuest also organized an event for Georbrand Jackson, a 10-year-old who was injured in a drive-by shooting, in December 2021. [30] [31]

Violations and incidents

SeaQuest has been subject to boycott and protests by animal-rights advocates such as PETA [32] and actor Alec Baldwin, who blocked an aquarium from being constructed on Long Island. [33] In addition, SeaQuest has had numerous violations and incidents at its various locations. [34]

Littleton, Colorado

A kid petting a snake at SeaQuest. SeaQuest Boy with snake.jpg
A kid petting a snake at SeaQuest.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Fort Worth, Texas

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References

  1. ↑ "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium CEO talks about plans, critics". CTInsider.com. September 14, 2019.
  2. ↑ Drake, Sarah (June 6, 2013). "Portland, Boise aquarium owners bringing one to Austin". Austin Business Journal. Austin. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium & Petting Zoo | Buy Tickets Online & Save". SeaQuest USA.
  4. ↑ "Arrest is latest problem for family tied to new Utah aquarium". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Portland Aquarium to close in 2016". The Seattle Times. December 18, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ Lim, Andra. "Austin Aquarium opens as scrutiny increases". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Sears, David (October 16, 2014). "KSAT gets behind the scenes look at new SA aquarium". KSAT. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Aquarium offering 'interactive' experience coming to Layton Hills Mall". standard.net. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ "The Boulevard Welcomes SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium with Sharks, Stingrays and other Marine Animals". December 18, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Want to swim with sharks and stingrays? A look inside the new aquarium at Ridgmar". star-telegram.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Our Story". SeaQuest USA. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. 1 2 "SeaQuest to Open Newest Interactive Aquarium Near Sacramento". InPark Magazine. April 3, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Let's Go: Visit with the animals at Folsom's SeaQuest". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ Hansen, Zachary. "Developer says new aquarium at Stonecrest mall is just the beginning". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN   1539-7459 . Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ "SeaQuest Stonecrest to close for renovations and reopen under new name, management".
  16. ↑ "SeaQuest Connecticut announces closure".
  17. ↑ "Let's Go: Visit with the animals at Folsom's SeaQuest". goldcountrymedia.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Grice, Jordan (July 2, 2019). "SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium opens in Trumbull". Connecticut Post. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ "SeaQuest Aquarium Coming to Woodbridge, NJ This Fall". Mommy Poppins. May 6, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ Natalie Neysa Alund, "SeaQuest under investigation, closes Fort Worth location over animal neglect allegations," USATODAY.com, 30 October 2024.
  21. ↑ Kleiman, Joe (April 3, 2018). "SeaQuest to Open Newest Interactive Aquarium Near Sacramento". InPark Magazine. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ↑ Lavezzorio, Claire (January 29, 2024). "SeaQuest Littleton to close after years of citations, injuries to visitors and animals". Denver7 News. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ Irby, Sarah (October 2019). "SeaQuest to open October 18 in Lynchburg". wdbj7.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ "SeaQuest". October 14, 2024.
  25. ↑ "SeaQuest Stonecrest to close for renovations and reopen under new name, management". Yahoo News. June 15, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  26. ↑ Holmes-Brown, Shaniece (August 17, 2023). "Trumbull SeaQuest closing follows two more USDA inspections". CT Post. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  27. ↑ "SeaQuest Aquarium scavenger hunt to prevent underage drinking". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). March 30, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  28. ↑ Hansen, Zachary. "Stonecrest aquarium offers free admission, $100 gift cards to vaccinated visitors". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  29. ↑ "DeKalb Commissioner Cochran-Johnson, developer Vaughn Irons co-sponsors 2nd free COVID-19 vaccination event". On Common Ground News. January 27, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  30. ↑ "SeaQuest provides "magical" day to 10-year-old Stonecrest boy who was injured in drive-by shooting". On Common Ground News. December 31, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  31. ↑ "10-Year-Old Boy Who Was Shot Gets Merry Christmas At SeaQuest Stonecrest". Decatur-Avondale Estates, GA Patch. December 29, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  32. ↑ "PETA calls out Utah aquarium that was cited after several guests bitten". ABC4 Utah. March 21, 2022.
  33. 1 2 "Citation issued as SeaQuest remains under investigation". KTNV. February 25, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Inspection Report". acis.aphis.edc.usda.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  35. ↑ "CPW suspends license for SeaQuest aquarium". KMGH. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  36. ↑ "SeaQuest Criminal Trial Set After Sloth Suffers Burns (Aug. 2019)". PETA. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Aquarium worker found not guilty of animal cruelty in case of an injured sloth". The Denver Post. October 2, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  38. ↑ "SeaQuest license suspended after repeated violations". Colorado Community Media. May 15, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  39. ↑ "New SeaQuest aquarium fails 2 animal welfare inspections". FOX31 Denver. July 19, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  40. ↑ "SeaQuest stores 80 parakeets in teenager's garage; state investigating". FOX31 Denver. August 8, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  41. ↑ Fleming, Sara (September 5, 2019). "SeaQuest Littleton Employee Faces Animal-Neglect Charges". Westword. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  42. ↑ "State investigating SeaQuest, 30 injuries reported". KMGH. February 28, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  43. ↑ "SeaQuest Littleton to close following animal welfare concerns". CBS News . January 28, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Another animal death uncovered at SeaQuest". KTNV. June 28, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Capybara found safe after brief escape from Las Vegas aquarium". October 23, 2018.
  46. ↑ "SeaQuest in Hot Water Over Dangerous Public Handling of Otter". PETA. March 14, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  47. ↑ Allie Spillyards, "Former aquarium employee speaks out as federal, local agencies begin investigation amid allegations of neglect," NBCDFW.com, 22 August 2024.
  48. ↑ Natalie Neysa Alund, "SeaQuest under investigation, closes Fort Worth location over animal neglect allegations," USATODAY.com, 30 October 2024.
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