Oklahoma Aquarium

Impressive Exhibits Marred by Poor Service and Atmosphere The Tulsa Aquarium offers a diverse look at aquatic life, ranging from delicate jellyfish to sea otters and impressive shark exhibits. While the educational value of the animals is high, the overall guest experience was significantly hindered by staffing issues and facility management, though families of 4 and more seemed to enjoy it. The Highlights The undeniable centerpiece of the facility is the shark tunnel. It is a truly majestic experience to watch these creatures swim directly overhead in such close proximity. Additionally, the aquarium offers several interactive opportunities, such as starfish and jellyfish touch tanks, as well as stingray and turtle feedings (available for a small additional fee). Areas for Improvement Staff Professionalism: This was the most disappointing aspect of the visit. The majority of the staff appeared disinterested, remaining on their personal cell phones rather than engaging with guests. This made it difficult to ask questions about the exhibits or navigate the facility, creating an unwelcoming environment. Guest Etiquette & Oversight: Although the aquarium requests silence and prohibits flash photography in certain areas, these rules were not enforced. The experience was frequently interrupted by loud groups and disruptive flash photography, which took away from the "majestic" nature of the shark tunnel. Facility Ambiance: There is a pervasive and notable "fishy" odor throughout the building, particularly near the sea otter exhibit, which may be off-putting to some visitors. Value for Money: Between the $20+ admission fee, the additional costs for feedings, and the overpriced food court (no outside food is permitted), the cost-to-value ratio feels unbalanced. Final Verdict While the animal exhibits are wonderful to see once, the small scale of the facility combined with the lack of attentive service makes this a "one and done" destination for me. For those looking to spend $20+ on local entertainment, I believe the Tulsa Zoo or Main Event offers a more robust and welcoming experience for the price.

This was a very fun experience. The exhibits are well done and a couple allow for touching a couple star fish or crabs in the water, with a sanitation station right there to sanitize and clean your hands afterwards. The lighting and environment in the exhibits all look clean and kept up (along with the glass which I'm sure is a hard job with little ones and their fingers). The shark tunnel is alot of fun and felt like you could hang out in there all day watching them swimming right at you. Being the weekend before Christmas, there always a scuba diving Santa in one of the fish tanks that you could stand in front of and take pictures with. Feeding the sting rays some shrimp from a little stick was fun and worth the $5 imo. We walked through at a medium pace, looking in every exhibit (but missed all the different feeding times, etc.) and it took us a little over 1.5 hours to make our way through. You could definitely sit and observe a little longer at a few spots and easily spend over 2 hours there.

Our visit to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Tulsa was a delightful experience for the whole family! The place is well-organized and family-friendly, with plenty of exhibits to explore. The kids especially loved the shark tunnel — walking underneath massive sharks was thrilling and educational at the same time. We also enjoyed the touch tanks, where children could safely touch small sea creatures. The jellyfish and sea turtle exhibits were mesmerizing, and the staff did a great job answering questions and sharing fun facts about the animals. It’s easy to spend 2–3 hours here without feeling rushed. There’s also a nice gift shop and snack area for a quick break. The aquarium maintains a good balance between entertainment and education, making it a great stop for families visiting Tulsa. Overall, highly recommended for anyone looking for an enjoyable and educational day trip!

Do not believe the 1-3 star reviews. Those people complain about the food mostly. This aquarium is amazing. It had fish and sea creatures I had not seen or heard of. In the middle of the mid-west, this aquarium has some of the most exotic and detailed exhibits i have seen. I have been to aquariums all over the United States and this one rivals those in big cities like Chicago and L.A. It is NOT small. We were there for over 3 hours and did not see everything. Give yourself at least 4 hours or plan on going 2 days to see it all. We rushed through it as we had to get back to Memphis but when we go back to Tulsa, we will certainly return to the Jenks Aquarium. I do agree that the guy at the Dip n Dots booth was rude and seemed like we were bothering him when we asked to be served. He was more interested in eating Dip n Dots than providing good service.

This is by far one of the coolest aquariums I have ever been to. The fact that they have an interactive theme makes the experience that much better. You get to touch stingrays, shrimp, starfish, horseshoe crabs and many more animals. You dont get that experience at any other aquarium! The shark tunnel exhibit makes the experience that much more amazing. You are able to see the sharks with complete clarity as they are swimming above your head! We went on a Tuesday afternoon and we basically had the aquarium all to ourselves. Simply fantastic!