Syracuse Aquarium Opens Soon After Cost Tops $100M

Syracuse-area families can expect the Harborview Aquarium to open in weeks, with costs now above $100 million.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Aquariums

Modern waterfront aquarium building with curved glass facade reflecting calm water, bare trees along the shore, and a crated acrylic panel beside the entrance. — Onondaga County's Harborview Aquarium is set to open in weeks, with construction costs climbing from $85 million to more than $100 million. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Onondaga County's Crouse Health Harborview Aquarium is set to open to the public in the next few weeks, after construction costs rose from an estimated $85 million to more than $100 million. The aquarium sits at Syracuse's Inner Harbor and includes freshwater and saltwater exhibits, touch tanks, and a general admission price of $25 per ticket.

Why it matters

For Syracuse-area households, the project's cost overrun and funding shift signal how public money is being committed to a major attraction that families may visit and that the county will have to support over time. The opening delay, caused by a 60,000-pound acrylic panel that arrived from Italy, shows how large specialty components can push back a public timeline even late in construction.

The aquarium's freshwater exhibits include bluegill, pumpkinseed, large and smallmouth bass, and longnose gar, and the saltwater tank will feature sharks and octopus. Thousands of fish are in the tanks, and the project's cost rose from an estimated $85 million to more than $100 million.

The players

Crouse Health Harborview Aquarium

A new public aquarium in Syracuse's Inner Harbor with freshwater and saltwater exhibits and touch tanks.

Onondaga County

The county government operating and funding the aquarium project, which is shifting money from the sale of the county's film hub to cover costs.

Ryan McMahon

Onondaga County Executive who moved money from the sale of the county's film hub to fund the aquarium and said the opening is now weeks away.

The details

A 60,000-pound acrylic panel from Italy was installed in the aquarium after its arrival delayed the opening. County Executive Ryan McMahon shifted money from the sale of the county's film hub to cover the remaining project costs. Construction is still underway, and no major setbacks have been reported since the panel was installed. The aquarium also includes touch tanks for stingrays and fish that eat dead skin.

The original cost estimate of $85 million was set before the project's cost rose.
The 60,000-pound acrylic panel arrived from Italy, delaying the opening.
The aquarium is expected to open in the next few weeks from November 2, 2026.

The Home Front

The project's cost increase from $85 million to more than $100 million places this aquarium among public capital projects where budgets expanded after initial estimates. For Syracuse-area households, the county's use of proceeds from the film hub sale to close the funding gap reflects how local governments are sometimes reallocating one-time asset sales to finish projects.

If you plan to visit, general admission is $25 per ticket, and the aquarium has already sold 3,000 memberships, so check the official opening schedule before you go. Families interested in touch tanks and freshwater exhibits can plan a visit once the doors open, and planning ahead for weekend crowds is wise.

The takeaway

Large public attractions can run over budget and open late, so it helps to watch official county updates before planning a visit or a membership purchase. If you are considering a membership, compare the cost against how often your household expects to visit.