Bowen Aquarium, Melbourne, FL (2026)

04/14/2026

We are excited to announce an official groundbreaking date of December 2, 2026!

Last year marked a tremendous amount of progress, and we'd like to loop you in on what we’ve been up to during this time. We’ve officially completed Bowen Aquarium’s design. From a stunningly immersive dune entryway to a working seagrass nursery along the Banana River shoreline, we’ve leveraged the natural beauty and benefits of Florida’s natural landscape and crafted a personal, accessible and meaningful experience. We’ve also solidified our list of species that we will be welcoming to the Aquarium in just a few short years. Bull sharks, river otters, Atlantic stingrays, American alligators and more will soon be swimming through our Aquarium as ambassadors for their species.

As we prepare for groundbreaking this year, we are continuing to move forward with important aspects of the project. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop on our progress. We thank you for your support as we get closer to the biggest milestone yet in this campaign.

03/27/2026

Have you seen the renderings of our Locks exhibit? 🐟

The Locks building will be an immersive conservation and education hub connecting Port Canaveral, the Indian River Lagoon and the vital work of protecting Florida’s waterways and wildlife.

Outside, a shaded, soft-surface play area will invite guests to bring the Port to life. Large-scale models of cargo ships, cruise liners, space capsules and recreational vessels will move across an oversized interactive map of Port Canaveral, showing how commerce, recreation and conservation intersect.

Inside, a dramatic 23-foot by 12-foot acrylic viewing window will reveal a re-created lock system filled with native sportfish like snook, jack and redfish. Overhead, suspended manatee forms will reinforce the importance of conservation and responsible boating.

Two interactive water tables will allow guests to guide vessels and wildlife through flowing channels, offering a hands-on look at lock mechanics, navigation and habitat connectivity. Nearby alcoves will spotlight Florida marine favorites: jellyfish, seahorses and octopuses, creating moments of discovery throughout the space.

Designed to encourage longer visits and return trips, The Locks will also feature a coffee shop, restrooms, a nursing room and flexible gathering space.

By blending hands-on learning, striking visuals and compelling storytelling, The Locks will inspire guests to see their role in protecting Florida’s waterways and stand as a visible testament to environmental leadership and innovation.

03/17/2026

Did you know we’ve identified many of the species that we will be welcoming to the Aquarium when we open? 🐟

One of those soon-to-be aquatic ambassadors will be American cownose rays! These majestic creatures can quickly be identified by the notable rounded lobe with an indentation in the center on the front of their body, inspiring their namesake. They have long, pointed fins with a wingspan reaching up to three feet.

Cownose rays are native to the Indian River Lagoon and live in shallow bays and estuaries across both eastern and western Atlantic coast. Like other ray species, they use their plate-like teeth to crush their shelled prey, often enjoying clams and oysters for their meals.

These rays are classified as Near Threatened, according to the IUCN Red List. Human-driven threats like bycatch from commercial fisheries and climate change are affecting their populations.

We cannot wait to welcome these aquatic ambassadors into our care and help them grow a healthy population to help safeguard their native counterparts. They will be one of three stingray species at our Aquarium.

Follow along to learn about other marine life you may spot when we open our doors. 👀

03/12/2026

Ever wonder what our Aquarium's future immersive entryway exhibit will include? Here, visitors will encounter three unforgettable “first fish” moments that mark the beginning of their underwater adventure:

🐟The Columnar Schooling Tank: A towering, floor-to-ceiling column filled with shimmering schools of sardines, moving in synchronized waves of silver and light, a breathtaking display of unity and life beneath the surface.

🌿The Sargassum Pop-Up Tank: A playful, immersive, photo-friendly exhibit celebrating the quirky creatures that make their home among floating sargassum seaweed. This golden sea habitat is both whimsical and vital, reminding us how even the smallest ecosystems sustain life.

🪸The Reef Tank: Vibrant and full of color, this tank features tropical reef species now found in our local waters, an inspiring reflection of change, adaptation, and the delicate balance of our marine world.

Each design decision in this space connects to our East Coast Zoological Foundation's mission: to help wildlife and people thrive. It’s more than an entryway, it’s the first invitation to care, to learn and to act.

03/03/2026

Happy World Wildlife Day! 🦈

From rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles to contributing to healthy population growth in human care for endangered local species to educating our community on how to coexist with our wild Florida landscapes, we can’t wait to continue our Foundation and sister campus’ legacy of being on the frontlines of wildlife conservation.

Thank you for continuing to support us as we continue our journey toward our new Aquarium. Head to BowenAquarium.org to learn how to help us reach our goals faster.

02/23/2026

Did you know that East Coast Zoological Foundation's (ECZF) future Scaife Family Sea Turtle Complex at Bowen Aquarium will be public-facing? 🐢🩺

Designed as both a naturalistic habitat and a working medical facility, this space will offer an unprecedented look into the full care cycle of Florida’s beloved sea turtles. The experience begins outdoors, where guests will step into a coastal-inspired environment that mirrors the turtles’ natural world. Here, the sea turtle exhibit will bring visitors eye-to-eye with these remarkable animals as they recover and regain their strength.

Indoors lies the heart of the Complex, the rehabilitation hub. This space, typically hidden from public view, will be a powerful window into the work of our animal care and veterinary teams. Underwater viewing windows reveal the turtles’ movement and progress beneath the surface, while a veterinary observation wall will allow guests to watch the careful assessments, treatments and procedures that will prepare these animals for release.

To make the experience accessible and meaningful for families, the space will include children’s play areas that invite imaginative exploration and spark early passion for marine conservation. Every design choice encourages curiosity, empathy and understanding, helping young guests see themselves as part of the solution.

For those seeking an even deeper connection, the Complex will offer VIP sea turtle encounters, a special opportunity for booked guests to engage more intimately with the animals and their stories. These encounters raise both awareness and critical support for our rescue and rehabilitation work.

By the time guests move on from the Complex, they will have seen not just turtles, but also hope, healing and the expert care that makes recovery possible.

02/19/2026

We are spotlighting one of our very special founders, Don Deis. ⭐

Don has worked for 45 years in the environmental science field as a consulting marine ecologist to industry and government. During his career, he worked on many of the large restoration programs in Florida and around the U.S., including in the Everglades, Mississippi River Delta, Missouri River and during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He also worked on several projects in the Indian River Lagoon system. He retired from being Vice President and Principal Scientist at AtkinsRealis, an international science and engineering company, and has been working with East Coast Zoological Foundation and others on seagrass projects within the Indian River Lagoon. He is currently the chairperson of the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan, making Bowen Aquarium's future restoration efforts extra special to him.

If you're interested in sharing your reasons for becoming a founder, please DM us. We'd love to honor your gifts by sharing your story across our Aquarium's communication platforms.

02/10/2026

Bowen Aquarium will be built against one of the most picturesque shorelines in our region: the Banana River. 🍌 The view from our pier will have sweeping water views alive with movement and sound. Wading birds gathering at the offshore rookery, fish rippling beneath the surface and the quiet work of restoration will be visible all around.

Along the shoreline, a working seagrass nursery will reflect the heart of this place, not just to observe the lagoon, but to actively care for it. From here, guests may continue into the next major exhibit building or follow a network of boardwalks that extend out over the water, offering an immersive experience above the lagoon itself.

Along these boardwalks, three hands-on conservation encounter zones invite meaningful connection with the living systems that sustain the Banana River. Live oyster, clam, mangrove and seagrass habitats will be presented as a humane, low-stress alternative to traditional touch tanks, allowing for close interaction while prioritizing animal wellbeing and ecological integrity. These encounters highlight how even the smallest organisms play a vital role in protecting water quality and supporting wildlife throughout the lagoon.

A large, covered gathering deck will overlook the river, providing space for reflection, learning and shared experience. Designed to accommodate more than 50 guests, the deck will display real-time lagoon water quality data. This is a powerful reminder that this ecosystem is living, changing and deeply connected to the choices we make every day.

02/06/2026

We are spotlighting one of our very special founders, Vince Lamb. Vince has been an East Coast Zoological Foundation board member since the very beginning of the Our Legacy Campaign. He was thrilled to become not only a leading voice in the process, but also one of the first devoted Aquarium Founders. Vince has lived alongside the Indian River Lagoon for decades, and the restoration of this important biodiverse waterbody is personal. 🐟

"I have personally witnessed the water quality decline spanning the last fifty years," said Vince. "I have witnessed how aquariums have greatly assisted with the efforts to protect and restore their nearby water bodies."

Vince is excited not only for Bowen Aquarium's immersive exhibits and wildlife residents, but also the role the Dr. Duane De Freese Coastal Conservation Hub will play in educating the public about the Lagoon and the opportunities to lead applied science and contribute to the restoration effort.

"I cannot express my excitement at being involved in this amazing project," said Vince.

If you're interested in sharing your reasons for becoming a founder, please DM us! We'd love to honor your gifts by sharing your story across our Aquarium's communication platforms.

01/28/2026

Ever wonder what the stunning dune entryway at Bowen Aquarium will look like? Wonder no more! 🌾

Before you even step through the doors of the new Aquarium, you’ll already be immersed in Florida’s coastal story. Guests will begin their journey by passing through naturalistic yet stylized barrier beach dunes. Planted with beach grasses and sea grapes and supplemented with sculpted faux vegetation, these dunes create a living landscape that beautifies the approach while buffering the entrance from the parking lot. Three pathways wind between the dunes, inviting guests to step into the story of Florida’s coast before they even reach ticketing.

Within the dunes, discovery awaits. Guests will encounter a loggerhead sea turtle nest diorama, complete with turtle tracks and a cut-away view of eggs beneath the sand, as well as small beach mice burrows tucked into the landscape. Tactile animal models, from black skimmers and least terns to ghost crabs and beach mice, highlight the creatures that dwell, feed and nest in these fragile environments. Overhead, soundscapes capture the raucous calls of least terns while models suspended from a shade canopy soar above, bringing the coastal scene to life. Along the sand, black skimmers and terns rest in view, reinforcing the sense of a living shoreline.

For many visitors unfamiliar with the wonder of our coastline, dunes may seem like empty stretches of sand. Here, they’ll discover that dunes are fragile, complex habitats critical to both wildlife and coastal communities. This entry experience introduces the Aquarium’s guiding messages and sets the tone for everything that follows.

Bowen Aquarium

04/14/2026

03/27/2026

03/17/2026

03/12/2026

03/03/2026

02/23/2026

02/19/2026

02/10/2026

02/06/2026

01/28/2026

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