The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher closed May 26, 2026 for a $65 million renovation and expansion, the first major upgrade in more than two decades. When it reopens, projected for late 2028 or early 2029 after roughly 30 months of construction, it will be North Carolina's largest aquarium.

In the meantime, the aquarium team has opened Discovery Bay, a free mini aquarium at Independence Mall in Wilmington. This page covers both: what's being built at Fort Fisher, and what's open right now.

Discovery Bay: The Free Aquarium at Independence Mall

Discovery Bay opened July 8, 2026 in the JCPenney Wing of Independence Mall, on the Independence Boulevard side between Belk and JCPenney, across from the arcade. Admission is free.

Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM, Sunday noon to 6 PM.

The space features ambassador animal encounters, marine and freshwater habitats, environmental education programs, and a North Carolina Aquarium Society gift shop where members receive a discount. Behind the scenes, the location houses staff offices, animal holding and care areas, and life support systems, so it functions as a working aquarium outpost, not just a display.

Wilmington

Discovery Bay at Independence Mall

The Animals What You'll See at Discovery Bay

The habitats mix North Carolina natives with reef species:

  • Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, two carnivorous plants native to the Wilmington region. Pitcher plants trap insects in a digestive liquid at the bottom of their tube-shaped leaves.
  • Lined seahorses, which use prehensile tails, similar to those of lemurs and some monkeys, to grasp onto objects for support
  • Red lionfish, among the most venomous of all fishes, with coloration that varies by location, habitat, and depth
  • Scorpionfish, ambush predators whose mottled coloring blends into the reef until they swallow prey in one fast gulp
  • Bluestriped grunts, bright yellow with neon blue stripes, named for the grunting sound they make by rubbing their pharyngeal teeth together
  • Copper sweepers, nocturnal coppery-brown fish with large eyes that school inside reef caves during the day
  • Dart frogs, famous for toxic skin in the wild but completely non-poisonous in human care, since their diet at the aquarium lacks the toxic insects they eat in the wild
  • Mosquitofish, small live-bearing fish that feed on zooplankton and invertebrates at the top of the water column

The Renovation What's Being Built at Fort Fisher

The project is funded by the State Employees Credit Union Foundation and The Endowment in New Hanover County, and the timing coincides with the North Carolina Aquariums' 50th anniversary. Announced features:

  • The largest shark habitat in North Carolina. The current Cape Fear Shoals tank is 235,000 gallons and already the aquarium's centerpiece. The new habitat will be significantly larger, with exact capacity not yet announced.
  • An interactive shark and ray touch pool, a hands-on experience at a scale Fort Fisher has not had before
  • A live Pacific coral reef habitat, expanding on the current Caribbean coral display
  • A new education center supporting the aquarium's camps, field trips, teacher workshops, and community programs at larger scale
  • A sky deck, an elevated viewing area overlooking the aquarium's maritime forest setting near the coast
  • A reimagined visitor entrance

The Animals What Happens to the Animals During the Renovation

Most animals remain at Fort Fisher during construction under the care of the aquarium's animal care team. Some have been temporarily relocated to the NC Aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island.

Memberships NC Aquarium Memberships During the Closure

Membership benefits are unchanged during the closure. Members keep year-round access to the NC Aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island, walk-on access to Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, free admission to the NC Zoo in Asheboro, and discounted admission at more than 150 AZA-affiliated zoos and aquariums nationwide, plus the gift shop discount at Discovery Bay.

Programs Community Programs During the Closure

The aquarium team continues hosting beach cleanups, the Earth Day 5K, teacher workshops, in-school visits, virtual programs, story times, EcoEdventures, and nature challenges through the closure. Summer camp is not offered while the building is closed.

Other Options Other Aquariums to Visit During the Closure

  • Discovery Bay at Independence Mall, Wilmington, free, open now
  • NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, about 2.5 hours north near Morehead City
  • NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, about 4.5 hours north in the Outer Banks
  • Ripley's Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, about 1.5 hours south
  • South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, about 3 hours south

Updates Where to Follow Renovation Updates

Construction progress and reopening news post on the aquarium's Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, and through the SEAmail newsletter.