Could Ocean State Be Home to World’s Largest Aquarium?
Thursday, May 06, 2010
If it wasn't the best idea, it certainly was the biggest.
Yesterday, Republican candidate Victor Moffitt made a splash at a gubernatorial forum with his plan to build the world’s biggest aquarium in Rhode Island.
While some gubernatorial campaigns scoffed at the idea, Moffitt said he was serious.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe pointed to the eight-million gallon Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, which, since opening three and a half years ago, has drawn 10 million visitors and pumped $1.5 billion into the local economy, according to Moffitt. He is hoping an aquarium will do the same for the Ocean State.
“I want it to be the biggest,” Moffitt told GoLocalProv. “I don’t want to be second fiddle.”
Moffitt is eyeing the Quonset property in North Kingstown as a possible site for the aquarium. He is also mulling Narragansett, Charlestown, and Newport. And he has in mind more than just the world’s biggest aquarium. He also envisions hotels, restaurants, tourist shops, and a scenic boardwalk springing up around the aquarium.
Moffitt isn’t waiting for the outcome of the gubernatorial election to pursue what he says is more than just a dream. He said he is already forming a nonprofit organization to oversee the development and is reaching out to potential corporate sponsors.
“If I lose the primary in September, the aquarium doesn’t die,” Moffitt said.
