What Austin Aquarium does

Austin Aquarium is a privately held, single-location family entertainment center operating from a 24,000 square foot facility at 13530 N. Hwy 183 in Austin, Texas since 2014 (DBA SeaToBelieve). The venue hosts approximately 8,000 animals across 35+ exhibits spanning sharks, stingrays, sea jellies, octopuses, tropical and cold water fish, reptiles, amphibians, parakeet and dove aviaries, lemurs, kinkajous, sloths, and a capybara. Its core differentiator is hands-on interaction — feeding sharks, stingrays, crocodiles, and tropical animals, and being one of only two U.S. facilities where patrons can pet lemurs. Operations run seven days per week, 10am–8pm.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model combining transactional and recurring streams. One-time and unit-priced revenue comes from daily admission tickets, group bookings ($1 off for 10+), field trips (regular schools $11.95, Title 1 schools $9.95, church groups $9.95), birthday parties, Sleep With Sharks overnight experiences ($350 base for 10), private event rentals (30–590 guests), Animal Outreach mobile visits ($300/hour), and a token-based micro-currency for animal-feeding interactions. Recurring revenue is generated through an annual pass subscription at $49.95 with auto-renewal. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the company website, walk-up admissions, and dedicated corporate sponsorship channel. The company is operated in conjunction with San Antonio Aquarium as an affiliated business, with combined visitorship exceeding 600,000 annually.

The technology stack is minimal — a WordPress-based e-commerce website handles ticketing and bookings; no mobile app, API, or proprietary software platform exists. Go-to-market emphasizes top-of-funnel organic social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter), earned media (BLT Blog Top Ten Southern Aquariums, 2016), email newsletters, and printable seasonal coupons. The company employs 11–50 staff and has not raised venture or private equity capital. Customer segments span families with children (primary), educational institutions, church/faith-based groups, corporate event renters, and private celebration hosts.

Name

Austin Aquarium

Legal name

Austin Aquarium

Website

https://austinaquarium.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Austin Aquarium is a privately held, single-location family entertainment center in Austin, Texas, operating a 24,000 sq ft interactive aquarium with 8,000+ animals across 35+ exhibits, serving families, school groups, corporate event clients, and private celebration hosts through tickets, annual passes, and event programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Entertainment / Aquarium Attraction

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Family entertainment center
• Interactive aquarium exhibits
• Marine life encounters
• Educational field trips
• Private event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Daily admission tickets for individual visitors and families. Weekend and weekday pricing with peak and off-peak rates.
2. Annual Passes: Annual membership subscriptions at $49.95/year with auto-renewal, providing free daily admission, 2 free day tickets, 50% off guest admission, and 10% off gift shop purchases.
3. Token System: Token-based currency system for feeding and interaction experiences. Available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 tokens.
4. Birthday Party Packages: Reserved birthday party experiences with educator-led tours, party tables, and optional food concessions.
5. Private Event Rentals: Full aquarium venue rental for events hosting 30-590 guests, including corporate events, weddings, and family gatherings in their 24,000 square foot facility.
6. Sleep With Sharks Program: Overnight aquarium experiences at $350 for 10 people plus $35 per additional person, including private tour, breakfast, and next-day admission.
7. Animal Outreach: Off-site animal visits starting at $300/hour for schools, community events, and private parties, bringing animals and educators to client locations.
8. Group Tickets: Discounted group bookings for 10+ people at $1 off per ticket, plus military, senior, and college discounts.
9. Field Trip Programs: Educational field trips for school groups with tiered pricing: regular students at $6.95-$11.95, Title 1 schools at $4.95-$9.95, with chaperone pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Austin Aquarium operates a 24,000 square foot interactive aquarium and family entertainment venue in Austin, Texas, housing over 8,000 animals across 35+ exhibits including sharks, stingrays, lemurs, reptiles, birds, and tropical fish. Its core offering is daily admission tickets and annual passes that grant access to hands-on animal encounters and interactive exhibits, supplemented by add-on experiences such as birthday parties, field trips, sleepovers, private event rentals, and mobile animal outreach visits.

Product overview

Austin Aquarium operates as a single interactive aquarium venue featuring over 30 exhibits with more than 2,500 animal species across a 24,000 square foot facility. The core offering is general admission tickets and annual passes providing access to marine life, rainforest, and desert exhibits with hands-on animal interactions. Add-on experiences include birthday parties, field trips, private events, overnight Sleep With Sharks programs, Animal Outreach mobile visits, Mermaids performances, Morning Rounds tours, and church group bookings. The aquarium also offers a token-based currency system and food concessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Austin Aquarium General Admission (Daily Tickets) Daily admission tickets providing access to the 24,000 sq ft facility featuring interactive exhibits with sharks, stingrays, lemurs, reptiles, birds, tropical and cold water fish, and a rainforest exhibit. Available for individuals, families, and walk-up visitors.
• Annual Pass Membership Year-long auto-renewing membership at $49.95/year providing free daily admission, two free admit-one day tickets, 50% off guest admission, 10% off gift shop purchases, and discount specials on events.
• Birthday Parties Private birthday party packages including aquarium tour, reserved seating, educator assistance, and optional food concessions such as pizza, popcorn, and soda.
• Field Trips and Educational Programs Age-specific educational programs for Pre-K through college students led by educators, biologists, and aquarists, with hands-on activities, invertebrate experiences, and tiered pricing for regular schools, Title 1 schools, homeschool groups, and church groups.
• Private Events After-hours facility rentals for groups of 30 to 590 guests, including corporate events, weddings, rehearsal dinners, reunions, and themed events in the 24,000 sq ft aquarium venue.
• Sleep With Sharks Overnight camping experience within the aquarium featuring private tours, breakfast, and free next-day admission for up to 10 people at $350 plus $35 per additional person.
• Animal Outreach Program Mobile animal encounters bringing reptiles, birds, mammals, and marine life to schools, community events, and private parties at $300 per hour plus travel fees beyond 8 miles or 15 minutes from the facility.
• Group Tickets Discounted admission for groups of 10 or more, offering $1 off per ticket when booked together, with military, senior, and college discounts also applicable.
• Church Group Admissions Discounted group admissions at $9.95 per person for church congregations and faith-based community groups with an educational focus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 600,000 combined annual visitors to Austin and San Antonio locations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• San Antonio AquariumcoreOthersAffiliated aquarium operation under combined management with Austin Aquarium. Combined visitorship exceeds 600,000+ annually across both locations. Joint corporate sponsorship and partnership opportunities available for brands targeting family consumers in both Austin and San Antonio markets.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: Mid-size regional aquarium on the U.S. East Coast focused on family visits, school field trips, and community programming; comparable in scale and educational mission to Austin Aquarium but operating in a different geography.

Others

• Shedd Aquarium: Major Chicago aquarium and cultural institution; not a direct competitor but a relevant benchmark for conservation messaging, accreditation standards, and educational programming depth.

Direct peers

• Newport Aquarium: Mid-sized interactive U.S. aquarium specializing in hands-on animal encounters and family-focused exhibits; comparable in scale, exhibit count, and experiential positioning to Austin Aquarium.
• Downtown Aquarium (Houston): Landry's-operated Texas aquarium with hands-on exhibits, dining, and private event rental capabilities, mirroring Austin Aquarium's mix of family entertainment and event venue revenue.
• San Antonio Aquarium: Sister/affiliated aquarium operating under combined management with Austin Aquarium, offering a near-identical interactive, family-focused concept in the adjacent San Antonio market; the most directly comparable peer by model, scale, and operating structure.
• Dallas World Aquarium: Texas-based interactive aquarium featuring hands-on wildlife exhibits, marine life, and rainforest experiences in a comparable indoor family entertainment format; competes for similar Texas family tourism dollars.

Broad incumbents

• Texas State Aquarium: Larger, established Texas aquarium in Corpus Christi operating educational exhibits, conservation programs, and family attractions; competes for Texas family tourism spend with broader scope and brand recognition.
• SeaWorld San Antonio: Major Texas theme park operator with extensive aquatic exhibits and animal encounters; overlaps with Austin Aquarium on family marine-life entertainment but operates at far larger scale.
• SEA LIFE: Merlin Entertainments chain of mid-sized aquariums offering interactive exhibits and family-focused experiences globally; relevant for benchmarking operations, ticketing models, and educational programming.
• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest U.S. aquariums; serves as a reference point for animal welfare standards, exhibit curation, and event hosting at premium scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AustinAquarium
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy-Sl454Ohk9N8x8CtfPweg
• Facebookfacebook.com/AustinAquarium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/austin-aquarium
• Instagraminstagram.com/austinaquarium/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Austin Aquarium