Our Story

At the heart of our Aquarium & Wildlife Center is a simple but powerful mission:

To spark connections between our animals and every guest through immersive and educational experiences that inspire care, wonder, and lifelong learning.

But our story didn’t begin with exhibits, encounters, or ticket sales.
It began with a moment of real urgency.

A Second Chance for Our Animals 

When we acquired this facility under new ownership and management, the future of the animals was deeply uncertain. The site was facing impending closure, operations were unsustainable, and there was no clear plan in place to ensure continued, professional care.

Without immediate action, dozens of animals would have been left without a secure home, consistent care teams, or a long-term path forward.

We believed there was a better path.

Instead of allowing a very dire situation get worse, we stepped in with one goal: to save them and give them the future they deserved. A future built on high standards of welfare, professional husbandry, enrichment, and a renewed purpose—to help people learn, care, and take action for wildlife.

This transition was completed in close coordination with our regulatory partners, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, ensuring all permits, inspections, and compliance standards were met or exceeded. Their approval reflects our commitment to operating with transparency, accountability, and the highest level of professional animal care. 

Today, our organization utilizes industry leading care software to monitor the care, the environments and enrichment of our animals. They are healthy, engaged, enriched, and part of a living, breathing educational environment that impacts tens of thousands of guests every year.

Our Team: Experience That Matters

Animals don’t thrive because of buildings.  They thrive because of people.

Our leadership and animal care teams bring over 30 years of combined education and more than 50 years of hands-on professional experience in animal care, wildlife education, and conservation-based programming.

These are not seasonal hobbyists.  These are trained professionals who have dedicated their lives to animal welfare, enrichment, and ethical care.

Every feeding plan, habitat design, enrichment activity, and guest interaction is rooted in:

• Animal-first decision making
• Evidence-based husbandry practices
• Continuous training and improvement
• Respect for each species’ natural behaviors and needs

Our Animals Are Ambassadors.
They are ambassadors for their species.

Why Education Is the Real Conservation

We believe the most powerful form of conservation starts with connection.

When a child feeds stingray for the first time.
When a family meets a reptile up close.
When a guest learns how their everyday choices impact wildlife.

That moment of connection is what turns curiosity into care.
And care into action.

Our vision is not just to display animals—it’s to create lifelong advocates for the natural world.

Because protecting wildlife doesn’t happen in isolation.

It happens when people understand what’s at stake—and feel personally invested in protecting it.

From Near Loss to Living Purpose

This facility exists today because a group of people chose hope over fear, action over shutdown, and life over loss.

What was once at risk is now a place of:

• Learning
• Conservation
• Professional animal care
• And meaningful human-animal connection

Our mission is not theoretical.  It’s lived out daily by our team and our animals.

And our vision is clear:

A world where every guest leaves more informed, more inspired, and more committed to protecting the incredible animals that share our planet.

We didn’t just save a facility.
We helped save lives.

And now, together with our community, we’re building something even bigger:
A future where animals are not only protected—but truly understood!

Welcome into Layton Aquarium & Wildlife – Where guests don’t just observe wildlife – they connect with it!