Aquarium Attraction Gets Overhaul

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The National Aquarium in Baltimore announces a major overhaul for one of its main attractions.

Mary Bubala reports Wings in the Water is being transformed into a $12 million state-of-the-art exhibit that will bring us face-to-face with sharks.

At the center of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, we've watched the stingrays swim for years, along with sharks Zeke and Zoe and the beloved sea turtle named Calypso. Now they're getting a new state-of-the-art home and new friends will join them--blacktip sharks, along with a huge coral display.

Aquarium CEO John Racanelli says it's the most exciting upgrade in years.

"I'm a diver so I can't wait to get back in this exhibit when it reopens in the summer of next year. It's going to be an exciting place to both view from the windows--including all the new ways to see it--and it's going to be a pretty neat place to dive in, too," he said.

The changes mean Cooper Schaefer will be able to come face-to-face with his favorite thing in the whole world: sharks.

Down below, a new floor-to-ceiling pop-out glass window will make it feel like you're swimming with the sharks.

"That's going to be really cool but it's going to be really scary," said Emma Schaefer.

"I like their colors," Cooper Schaefer said.

Construction on the new exhibit will begin this fall. The aquarium will remain open the entire time with the new area unveiled next summer.