Moody Gardens
 The Aquarium Pyramid |
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| Location |  Galveston, Texas |
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| Land area | 242 acres (98 ha) |
| Number of species | over 9,000 |
| Annual visitors | 2 million per year (open 365 days) |
| Memberships | Association of Zoos and Aquariums |
| Owner | City of Galveston, run by Moody Foundation |
| Website | moodygardens.com |
Moody Gardens is a tourist complex, with zoo, gardens, beach, waterslides, paddlewheeler, cinemas and hotel in Galveston, Texas. It is owned by the City of Galveston but funded, operated, and supported by the multi-billion-dollar Moody Foundation, through a complex agreement.
Moody Gardens features three main pyramid attractions: the Aquarium Pyramid, which is one of the largest in the world and holds many species of fish and other sealife; the Rainforest Pyramid, which contains tropical animals and plants, birds, butterflies, reptiles and a variety of other rainforest animals including free-roaming monkeys and two-toed sloths; and the Discovery Pyramid, which focuses on science-oriented exhibits and activities.
Another major attraction is Palm Beach, a landscaped white sand beach with freshwater lagoons, a lazy river, tower slides, and splash pad play area for children. Moody Gardens also has a RideFilm Theater with motion-based pod seating, the MG 3D Theater features the largest screen in the state of Texas, 4D Special FX Theater, paddlewheel cruise boat, a hotel and a convention center.
The complex attracts many local tourists from the city of Houston and its outlying suburbs. The owners of Moody Gardens commissioned a landscape design from Geoffrey Jellicoe. It is described in Gardens of the Mind: the Genius of Geoffrey Jellicoe by Michael Spens (Antique Collectors Club, 1992).
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[edit] Aquarium Pyramid
This pyramid is colored blue, and approximates 12 stories high. The massive pools that are contained in this pyramid contain approximately 8,000 species, from fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, and plants. The species represent North Pacific, South Pacific, South Atlantic and Caribbean regions.
[edit] Rainforest Pyramid
| Rainforest Pyramid | |
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 Moody Gardens' Rainforest Pyramid |
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| Type | indoor rainforest |
| Size | entire interior |
| Number of plants | trees, bushes, flowers |
| Number of species | 1,000 plant species plus animals |
| Collections | exotic plants, plus otters, monkeys, alligators, bats, ocelots and birds |
| Operated by | Moody Foundation |
| Annual visitors | 2 million per year |
| Status | open 365 days |
This pyramid reaches the height of 10 stories, and is colored white with clear glass. The rainforests of Asia, Africa and the Americas are featured through the popular bat caves, crashing waterfalls and Mayan Ruins. The warm, humid interior simulates the climate of rainforests on warm days.
An $25 million enhancement project was completed in the Rainforest Pyramid in May 2012. The multi-level Rainforests of the World project focuses on education, conservation and possible future breeding with new rare and endangered animals as it also features some animals previously found at this exhibit. Giant Amazon River Otters, Saki Monkeys, Chinese Alligators, Cotton Top Tamarins, Egyptian Fruit and Vampire Bats, an African Palm Civet Blue Duiker, Ocelot and a wide range of other animals, birds, reptiles and over 1,000 species of exotic plants showcase the diversity of the rainforest environment.
[edit] Discovery Pyramid
The Discovery Pyramid features traveling exhibits and the ride film (motion simulator). The huge deep pink colored pyramid will feature the Bodies Revealed Exhibition from February through early September 2012.
Moody Gardens Golf Course In 2007 the Moody Foundation signed an agreement with the City of Galveston to completely rebuild the city's municipal golf course. The course reopened in June 2008 under the moniker Moody Gardens Golf Course. The $17 million comprehensive renovation, included the addition of new turf grass, green complexes, elevations, irrigation, drainage, cart paths, greens and a full clubhouse renovation.[1]
The new course was designed by Jacobsen Hardy Golf Course Design and was constructed to keep historical features of the course while improving certain holes and course flow. The par 72 course measures 6,900 yards from the back tees, with 5 sets of tees to accommodate all playing abilities.[1]
[edit] Festival of Lights
Each November and December Moody Gardens hosts the Festival of Lights. A mile long trail features over 100 lighted themed to holiday music with live entertainment and an outdoor ice rink. Additional attractions include holiday films at the MG3D Theater, 4D Special FX Theater and Ridefilm Theater. A holiday buffet is featured in the Garden Restaurant and the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat offers evening cruises.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Moody Gardens |
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