Quick Take
- The new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center opens on February 20, 2026, at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah.
- The Learning Center is 120,000 square feet and makes the Aquarium the fifth-largest such facility in the United States.
- The new Learning Center includes the Ford Expedition Asia exhibit, the Mountain America Event Center, and an Education Hub.
- The Aquarium is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
On February 20, 2026, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper, Utah, will debut its new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center. With the addition of this 120,000 square foot facility, the Aquarium will become the fifth-largest aquarium in the U.S. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Will the New Learning Center Offer?
According to Brent Andersen, Founder and CEO of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, the new center represents more than simply an expansion of the aquarium. “With this new building, we’ll be able to reach more students, inspire deeper connections to our living planet, and strengthen our impact in the community,” he says.
Visitors to the Learning Center will have an abundance of options for learning and exploration.
Ford Expedition Asia
Visitors to this exhibit will be immersed in an Asian cloud forest, filled with towering trees and ancient temple ruins. Enjoying the new habitat will be popular Aquarium residents, including Raja the Komodo dragon and Kai and Emmie, a pair of Asian small-clawed otters. Joining them for the first time will be new Aquarium arrivals, including a pair of clouded leopards, two binturong, a coconut crab, and Matschie’s tree kangaroo.
James Jensen, Director of Marketing & Creative at the Zoo, notes, “As an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility, the addition of the new cloud leopard pair makes it possible for us to participate in the AZA’s Species Survival Plan program for these animals.” Cloud leopards are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN’s Red List.
He notes that the binturong is also part of a longer-term plan for the Aquarium’s further participation in the AZA SSP program. Binturong, Arctictis binturong, are also classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Besides the lush landscapes and exotic animals waiting to be discovered, kids visiting the Ford Expedition Asia exhibit can also explore an interactive play zone. There, they can climb through the forest canopy and experience the treetops, just like the new tree kangaroo.
Mountain America Event Center
Spanning 15,000 square feet, this new meeting and events venue, including its spacious pre-function space, is designed to mirror Utah’s distinctive mountain landscape and terrain, according to Jensen. The new facility can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. The venue is intended to host everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale conferences, galas, and social events.
“The mission of the Aquarium is to ensure abundant educational opportunities, especially for children in the region. We strive to offer programs and classes that help people discover, learn, and explore more about the natural world both here in Utah and around the world,” says Jensen. “This expansive new event facility will help us financially support those goals and reinvest in the community.”
Within the new events center, guests will have an up-close view of the massive new aquarium that is home to the Aquarium’s new zebra shark. In addition, there are expansive views overlooking scenic Utah outdoor landscapes, including mountains and desert.
Event planners will have everything they need to produce unforgettable events, including state-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities, custom catering options, and more. Events can be planned to incorporate other areas of the Aquarium as well, giving guests a full 360-degree experience.
Kai and Emmie, Asian small-clawed otters, are long-time residents of the Aquarium and will reside in the new exhibit.
In addition to supporting the Aquarium’s educational priorities, revenue generated from the event center will also help provide continued world-class animal care to the Aquarium’s inhabitants.
Education Hub
With 14 state-of-the-art classrooms and advanced laboratories, the new Education Hub supports innovative programming focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The space is designed to host camps, field trips, research collaborations, and more.
It is also a multi-audience facility. While many of its visitors will be school-age learners, the Aquarium is also partnering with Utah State University and other higher education institutions across Utah.
Jensen notes that of the four fully-outfitted laboratories, one is designated for use by Utah State University students and the other for Utah Valley University students.
“These collaborations are designed to deliver hands-on research and real-world experience to marine science students throughout the state, even when they’re surrounded by desert and mountains. It makes it possible for our local universities to offer new marine science-focused coursework, including a marine biology major,” he notes.
Other Animals to See At the Aquarium
The Aquarium is home to the Penguin Research Station. There, visitors can watch Gentoo penguins swimming and diving from above- and below-water viewing areas.
This clouded leopard is one of two new arrivals that will reside in the new Ford Expedition Asia exhibit.
Visitors can also get up close to a variety of other sea life via the 40-foot underground tunnel that winds through an ocean habitat. Sharks, rays, clownfish, turtles, and jellyfish can be seen. There’s even a giant Pacific octopus that might make an appearance.
There’s a South American tropical rainforest gallery, filled with free-flying birds, exotic fish and reptiles, and arboreal porcupines. Some of the more popular animals present include electric eels, toucans, sloths, and dwarf caimans.
In honor of its home state, the Aquarium also offers a Discover Utah exhibit. There, you’ll see a variety of native fish, two working beehives, and playful North American river otters. You can also see and learn more about Utah’s desert tortoises. This unique species can survive in temperatures that exceed 140°F and survive for a year or more with no water.
Other Fun Things to Do at the Aquarium
Besides the diverse animals visitors can discover, the Aquarium also offers other unique experiences. One is the EECO Voyager, a full-motion virtual reality tour that takes guests on a voyage across colorful reefs and through lush rainforests.
The rainforest-dwelling binturong is also found at the Aquarium.
There’s also the Deep Sea Lab, where guests can explore a deep-sea submersible replica to view giant isopods, Pacific hagfish, and Japanese spider crabs.
Kids can explore Tuki’s Island, a 4,000-square-foot play area. There’s a three-level playground with slides, monkey bars, and obstacle courses, plus a separate toddler play area.
More About the Aquarium
Founded in 1999, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Situated approximately 20 miles south of Salt Lake City, the Aquarium offers a variety of experiences to visitors.
Now in its 27th year, the Aquarium has grown from its original roots as a mobile educational experience that traveled to local classrooms to become the fifth-largest aquarium in the United States. Jensen notes that throughout the Aquarium’s long history, its guiding principle has remained unchanged. “We want every visitor to leave with unforgettable memories that they cherish for a lifetime and share with family and friends,” he says.
Visitors who want to join the grand opening of the Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center can buy tickets now for the February 20, 2026, event. According to Jensen, doors to the Aquarium will open at 9:30 a.m. on Friday for anyone interested in attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will begin at 10:00 a.m.
The Aquarium and Learning Center are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Aquarium memberships are also available, offering unlimited Aquarium admission for one year, special discounts, and more.
