St. Augustine Aquarium breaks ground at site off S.R. 16

There were times when Shawn and Kathy Hiester wondered if they would ever see their dream of opening an aquarium in St. Augustine actually happen.

They were dealt a harsh blow last year when neighbors in Riberia Point said they didn't want the attraction there.

Instead of folding, the Hiesters kept looking forward, and doing that got them to where they were Monday, celebrating the ground-breaking of the St. Augustine Aquarium, Snorkel Adventure and Zip Line off State Road 16.

"There have been a few days where it was like 'Hmm, are we sure we want to do this?'" Shawn Hiester said.

A couple of years later, the Hiesters were smiling and posing for photos with shovels in hand.

Although work actually started a few weeks ago, Monday was a chance to show media and investors that the attraction is really in the works.

"We are grateful to be transitioning from the conceptual to the actual," Hiester said. "Nothing could be more exciting for us at this point."

Right now, there isn't much to see. But the land has been cleared and is ready for the materials that will make up the first phase of the project.

Phase I consists of an 80,000-gallon outdoor snorkel adventure along with a zip line and adventure course. These attractions are expected to open this summer.

Phase II will include an additional 180,000 gallons and 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor exhibit space housing a variety of Florida marine species.

The attraction will include a re-created 17th century shipwreck in the main exhibit alongside sand, tiger, bonnethead and blacknose sharks, as well as rays, eels and a host of reef fish. The shipwreck will be based on a ship that sank off the coast of St. Augustine.

Also planned will be shark cage encounters that will give guests the chance to dive with sharks in the main habitat. There will be an interactive stingray experience that provides people the opportunity to touch and feed cownose rays. In all, 70 species and more than 1,000 fish will be on display at the aquarium.

Hiester said the reason for doing two phases was because of the demand for the project. He said that he's had so much positive feedback that he wanted to have something to offer visitors without making them wait for the full complex. Phase II is scheduled to be finished in the third quarter of 2016.

Monday's event included community leaders from the Chamber of Commerce and county government, including St. Johns County Commissioner Jeb Smith. Also in attendance was partner Mat Roy, the CEO of Marine Conservation Partners.

"Kathy and Shawn are the real heroes here," Roy said. "They've spent two and a half years tirelessly to make this happen. I love to see the progress. We're going to create something that's kind of cool and special."

Smith said the county is lucky to have the Hiesters' investment here.

"It's a blessing to see a dream come true," Smith said. "Their reward will extend beyond their personal gain. Their reward will be shared by a plethora of folks.

"I'm confident many smiles and memories will be made on this site."

For the Hiesters, that's already happened.

"It is a dream come true," Hiester said. "This is one of those life moments that Kathy and I will never forget."