Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse
Ripley’s Aquarium at Myrtle Beach welcomed it’s newest and one of the most exciting additions in recent years back in 2020 with their introduction of the now beloved Penguin colony! This 5,500 sq ft expansion is the largest that Ripley’s Aquarium has had in its over 20 year history! This expansion includes a new Ocean Wonders gallery with eight new thanks all housing awesome new species of fish from all over the world. It also includes a floor to ceiling viewing glass more than 50 feet long and a 360 degree crawl tunnel for guests to waddle through just like the penguins! Also built were two new state of the art classrooms for programs and school groups, which allows guests to get up close and personal with the penguins as well as a penguin nursery which houses and cares for baby penguins.
The most recent addition to the Penguin family is Pyler, a female African penguin chick that hatched in August off 2021 and made her debut to aquarium guests this past April 25th for International Penguin Day! Her older brother, Egerton was born in 2020 and with the addition of little Pyler the aquarium comes closer to their ‘three chicks in three years goal’ as a part of the Assosication of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan working to help endangered species around the globe!
African Penguins (Spheniscus Demersus)
Dressed for a night out on the town, the stars of Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse are African penguins! African penguins are the only species of penguin found on the continent of Africa and prefer warmer water temperatures to their Antarctic counterparts, making them perfect residents of Myrtle Beach! African penguins are one of the most endangered species of penguins in the world with their numbers having declined by 60 percent in the last 28 years. These penguins have unique black stripes and spots that serve as their identifiers, similar to a human fingerprint. Similar to finger prints, each penguin has their own distinct personality, and you can check them out on the live penguin cams on the Ripley’s Aquarium website!
Penguin Encounter
Want an even more personal experience with the penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium? Now you can have it with the Penguin Encounter at Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse! This exciting addition to your original aquarium tickets comes loaded with many exciting activities to enhance your experience with the African penguins. So whats included? With this package, you’ll learn from an aquarium staff expert during this 30 minute encounter as well as being able to touch a penguin and interact directly with them! The Penguin Encounter costs $69.99 (admission not included) and there are 10 people maximum allowed in the experience. Participants must be at least four years old and all children ages eight and under must be accompanied by an adult.
VIP Penguin Experience
Want an even greater personal encounter with the penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium? Then you’ve got to try the VIP Penguin Experience! This experience is similar to the Penguin Encounter is an even greater time for guests! Again participants will be able to learn from their aquarium staff expert in one of the new state of the art classrooms newly built with the renovations, you’ll be able to interact with the penguins directly and even pet them! The best added feature in the VIP Penguin Experience is the Penguin Painting Experience! Guests will be able to collaborate with a penguin to create an 8 x 10” penguin painting masterpiece that they then get to take home with them to remember the experience for years to come! The VIP Penguin Experience is $89.99 per person with ten people maximum allowed at a time and children ages eight and under must be accompanied by an adult. Experience your encounter with these incredible penguins soon!