Officials with the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher said it hosted 484,118 visitors in 2017, a number originally underreported in a survey of the state’s most-visited attractions by Carolina Publishing and Associates. What’s more, the accurate number marks the Kure Beach attraction’s highest attendance in 41 years.

As for the recent annual survey, half of the 30 ranked destinations on the list are state-owned, including the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. The aquarium landed in 11th place on the list; fellow state-owned local attraction Fort Fisher State Historic Site took third place, with 871,676 visitors in 2017.

Meanwhile, aquarium officials expect to see even larger attendance numbers in 2018.
During January’s free-admission day, the aquarium saw more than 12,000 people come through its doors.

“Accolades, such as this ranking and being included in Vacation Idea’s 2017 roundup of Best 25 Aquariums in the U.S, as well as high TripAdvisor ratings, go a long way to provide additional exposure for our topnotch aquarium,” said Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Connie Nelson.

While the aquarium has permanent exhibits, seasonal ones like the Butterfly Bungalow and DINOSAURS! take place throughout the year. Special programs and limited engagements also draw repeat resident and non-resident visitors.