The Texas State Aquarium has opened Ocean Odyssey, a multi-level indoor children’s discovery center that borrows its spirit from a Corpus Christi playground that closed decades ago.
The space opened Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10 a.m., in time for Memorial Day weekend. It has climbable play structures, toddler-friendly areas and interactive elements, and it runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Octopus Garden, rebuilt for a new generation
Ocean Odyssey takes its cue in part from the Octopus Garden, the playground that Corpus Christi families grew up with in the 1990s.
“If you grew up climbing through the Octopus Garden, you know how special that experience was,” said Jesse Gilbert, president and CEO of the Texas State Aquarium. “Ocean Odyssey brings that same spirit of adventure and imagination to a new generation while connecting children and families to our mission of wildlife rescue and conservation.”
More presentations, and a splash park
The aquarium also added daily animal presentations for the summer season, and reopened the H-E-B Splash Park. It says it is following City of Corpus Christi water conservation guidelines and has already cut water use across the campus.
The Texas State Aquarium is the official aquarium of the state of Texas and the largest in it, caring for more than 4,000 animals. USA TODAY recently ranked it the fifth best aquarium in North America.
