Moody Gardens
Moody Gardens Corpse Flower
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| Location | Galveston, Texas, United States |
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| Coordinates | 29°16′27″N 94°51′05″W / 29.2741°N 94.8513°WCoordinates: 29°16′27″N 94°51′05″W / 29.2741°N 94.8513°W |
| Land area | 242 acres (98 ha) |
| Number of animals | 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 | www |
| Rainforest Pyramid | |
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| Type | indoor rainforest |
| Area | entire interior |
| Operated by | Moody Foundation |
| Status | open 365 days |
| Plants | trees, bushes, flowers |
| Species | 1,000 plant species plus animals |
| Collections | exotic plants, plus otters, monkeys, alligators, bats, ocelots and birds |
Moody Gardens is an educational tourist destination, with a golf course and hotel in Galveston, Texas which opened in 1986. The non-profit destination uses nature to educate and excite visitors about conservation and wildlife.
Moody Gardens features three main pyramid attractions: the Aquarium Pyramid, which is one of the largest in the region and holds many species of fish and other marine animals; the Rainforest Pyramid, which contains tropical plants, animals, 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, golf course and a convention center.
The complex attracts many local tourists from the city of Houston and its outlying suburbs. The owners 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).
This blue pyramid opened in 1999 is approximately 12 stories high. The massive pools that are contained in this pyramid contain approximately 10,000 marine animals from fish, sharks, seals and penguins. Each representing different regions of the sea: North Pacific, South Pacific, South Atlantic and Caribbean.
This clear pyramid opened in 1993 and reaches the height of 10 stories. After Hurricane Ike, a $25 million enhancement project brought nature closer to visitors. The multi-level Rainforests of the World project focuses on education, conservation and possible future breeding with new rare and endangered animals. Giant Amazon river otters, saki monkeys, ocelots, and a wide range of other animals, birds, reptiles make up more than 1,000 species of exotic species showcased the diversity of the rainforest environment.
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Wikipedia