Texas State Aquarium Marks All-Time Record Attendance of 12,350 Dollar Day Guests

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Texas State Aquarium saw the highest single-day attendance in its history at the Dollar Day sponsored by ExxonMobil on Sunday, Oct. 15. The record attendance of 12,350 guests surpassed the previous record of 12,000 guests set on Jan. 20, 1997.

ExxonMobil sponsored Sunday’s Dollar Day as gift to Coastal Bend residents, many of who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. The ExxonMobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation have been longtime and active supporters of both the Aquarium and the local community, and decided to sponsor the Dollar Day as a way to give back to those still recovering from the storm.

“We sincerely appreciate ExxonMobil for their sponsorship and role in this historic attendance day at the Texas State Aquarium,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO. “Because of their generous support, thousands in the Coastal Bend area were able to enjoy a day of exploration and fun at the Aquarium, which for many was a welcome break from dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.”

For many guests attending ExxonMobil Dollar Day, this was their first time seeing the new sights and sounds in the 71,000-square foot, $60 million Caribbean Journey building. Caribbean Journey’s new exhibits and attractions include a jungle with flamingos, reptiles, and free-flying birds, the Tom and Cora Keeler Estate Caribbean Sea Gallery with sharks, stingrays, and coral reef fish, and the Whataburger 4-Dimension Theater. Dollar Day guests were also given up-close encounters with many of the Aquarium’s animal residents and were able to tour the Gulf of Mexico building and outdoor exhibits featuring dolphins, eagles, stingrays, sharks, and hundreds of other species.

Even with the tremendous attendance at Sunday’s Dollar Day, Aquarium staff report all operations ran smoothly, and guests said they had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed Caribbean Journey.

Dollar Days, where admission is provided for only $1 per person, are offered several times a year thanks to local businesses who join with the Aquarium to sponsor them. Texas State Aquarium Dollar Days provide the opportunity for everyone in the area to experience the Aquarium’s exhibits and other attractions.

The Aquarium will host four more Dollar Days in the next few months with H-E-B Dollar Day on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017; Whataburger Dollar Day on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017; NavyArmy Dollar Day on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018; and H-E-B Dollar Day, in Feb. 2018.

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