Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/512139
10 Hartford Business Journal • May 18, 2015 www.HartfordBusiness.com To view the full list, please visit HartfordBusiness.com THE LIST Largest tourist attractions in Connecticut (Ranked by estimated 2014 attendance) Rank Company 2014 attendance Employees/ volunteers Description Top executive(s) Year founded 1 Foxwoods Resort Casino 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Mashantucket, CT 06338 800-369-9663; www.foxwoods.com 8,400,000 (1) 5,301 Hospitality, entertainment, gaming, retail, dining, golf, spa, hotel Felix D. Rappaport Karen O'Connell 1992 2 Mohegan Sun 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, CT 06382 888-MOHEGAN; mohegansun.com 7,300,000 (2) 6,900 (1) Entertainment, gaming, dining, shopping, hotel, spa and meetings/ conventions Ray Pineault (3) 1996 3 Riverfront Recapture 50 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06016 860-713-3131; www.riverfront.org 897,000 91 (4) 1,932 Variety of events and recreational activities Joseph R. Marfuggi (5) 1981 4 Mystic Aquarium 55 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-5955; www.mysticaquarium.org 675,776 224 220 New England's year-round hands-on aquarium Stephen M. Coan 1973 5 Elizabeth Park Conservancy 1561 Asylum Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117 860-231-9443; www.elizabethparkct.org 500,000 (1) 5 (6) 1,000 Grounds include the oldest municipal rose garden, recreational areas, facilities and more Christine M. Doty Park 1897, Conservancy 1977 6 The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk 10 N. Water St. Norwalk, CT 06854 203-852-0700; www.maritimeaquarium.org 435,899 80 288 Exhibits sharks, seals, sea turtles, jellyfish, river otters and other animals native to Long Island Sound and its watershed; study cruises, educational programs and IMAX movie theater Brian Davis 1988 7 Connecticut Science Center 250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06103 860-724-3623; www.ctsciencecenter.org 347,576 79 4 Science-based museum, educational and tourism venue Matt J. Fleury 2009 8 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo 1875 Noble Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-394-6565; www.beardsleyzoo.org 280,000 42 200 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species; South American rainforest with aviary, prairie dog exhibit, farmyard; hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, café, picnic grove, indoor carousel Gregg Dancho 1922 9 Mystic Seaport 75 Greenmanville Ave. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-0711; www.mysticseaport.org 250,000 350 600 Maritime museum featuring historic tall ships, a working preservation shipyard, a re-created seafaring village, exhibits and more Stephen C. White 1929 10 Quassy Amusement & Waterpark 2132 Middlebury Rd. Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913; www.quassy.com 225,000 N/A Family amusement and waterpark on Lake Quassapaug with more than two-dozen rides and attractions George Frantzis II 1908 11 Yale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06510 203-432-0600; artgallery.yale.edu 204,214 132 32 Oldest college art museum in America, and the third oldest in the world; holds more than 200,000 objects Jock Reynolds 1832 12 Bushnell Park (7) PO Box 230778 Hartford, CT 06123 860-232-6710; www.bushnellpark.org 200,000 N/A Weekly tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, and several other monuments in a 38 acre park, including the Corning Fountain, Spirit of Victory and the Horace Wells monument Mary Zeman 1854 13 Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Valley Railroad Co.) 1 Railroad Ave. Essex, CT 06426 860-767-0103; www.essexsteamtrain.com 190,000 125 25 A narrated steam train and riverboat excursion with Circus Train, North Pole Express and The Essex Clipper Dinner Train Robert Bell 1971 14 Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre 95 S. Turnpike Rd. Wallingford, CT 06492 203-269-8721; http://specialevents.livenation.com 180,841 N/A Year-round concert venue and event space for graduations, weddings, parties, proms, galas, meetings and more Natalie Krohn 1954 15 Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History 170 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06511 203-432-5050; www.peabody.yale.edu 160,000 70 230 Jurassic-age dinosaur skeletons from the Peabody's paleontology collections, Rudolph Zallinger's mural "The Age of Reptiles"; exhibits on ancient Egypt, early man, CT geology, CT birds, minerals and meteorites David Skelly 1866 16 Goodspeed Opera House 6 Main St. East Haddam, CT 06423 860-873-8668; www.goodspeed.org 120,000 70 75 Musicals featuring Broadway's actors, directors, and designers with nearby restaurants, shops and galleries Michael Gennaro 1963 17 The New Children's Museum 950 Trout Brook Dr. West Hartford, CT 06119 860-231-2824; www.thechildrensmuseumct.org 105,282 38 142 Science, nature, and creative learning center; planetarium, wildlife sanctuary, and a wide array of innovative, hands-on exhibits and educational programs Michael Werle 1927 18 New Britain Museum of American Art 56 Lexington St. New Britain, CT 06052 860-229-0257; www.nbmaa.org 96,880 37 425 Three centuries of the nation's artistic output on view in nine galleries; upwards of 25 special exhibitions per year; new wing opens Oct. 2015 Douglas K.S. Hyland 1903 19 Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park 161 Brownstone Ave. Portland, CT 06480 866-860-0208; brownstonepark.com 90,000 150 0 Outdoor adventure sports park, all abilities/ages; rock climbing, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, cliff jumping, scuba diving, "Survivor-style" competitions, zip lines, swimming, floats, trails; groups, lessons, rentals Sean Hayes 2009 20 Discovery Museum and Planetarium 4450 Park Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-372-3521; www.discoverymuseum.org 85,000 20 40 Hands-on children's museum, planetarium, simulated space missions; school, homeschool and scout groups, scout badges, demos, children's workshops, summer programs, library and school outreach throughout CT Stephen H. Baumann 1958 21 Yale Center for British Art (8) 1080 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06520 877-274-8278; www.britishart.yale.edu 83,591 133 69 (9) Largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside the United Kingdom Amy Meyers 1966 (founded); 1977 (open to the public) 22 Hartford Stage Co. 60 Church St. Hartford, CT 06103 860-527-5151; www.hartfordstage.org 80,307 76 Tony award-winning theater producing six main stage productions and A Christmas Carol Michael Stotts Darko Tresnjak 1964 23 Infinity Music Hall and Bistro 32 Front St Hartford, CT 06103 860-560-7757; www.infinityhall.com 75,000 N/A Live music hall, restaurant and special events venue Dan Hincks 2007 24 Mark Twain House & Museum 351 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 860-247-0998; www.marktwainhouse.org 72,000 N/A National Landmark Home for 17 years; National Geographic's top 10 historic houses Cindy Lovell 1929 25 Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center 110 Pequot Tr. Mashantucket, CT 06338 800-411-9671; www.pequotmuseum.org 68,000 33 8 Largest, most comprehensive Native American museum in the nation; a journey through time, covering eastern woodlands natural history, history and today's American Indian cultures Jason R. Mancini 1998 26 Florence Griswold Museum 96 Lyme St. Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-5542; www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org 64,282 19 250 Galleries for changing exhibitions, education center, landscape center, extensive gardens, and a restored artist's studio Jeffrey Andersen 1941 Source: Individual institutions, Connecticut Office of Tourism. Notes: N/A = not available or not applicable. Historic Ship Nautilus and Lake Compounce did not respond to survey. (1) Figure is approximate. (2) Average daily attendance is 20,000. (3) On March 30, 2015, replaced Robert Soper in role of president of resort, who was promoted to president of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. (4) Represents 14 full-time and 77 seasonal employees. (5) Michael Zaleski will succeed Marfuggi upon his retirement Jun. 15, 2015. (6) Employees are part-time. (7) Run by the Bushnell Park Foundation. (8) Venue is temporarily closed to the public for an interior building conservation project; will reopen Spring 2016. (9) Includes 18 information services volunteers, 29 docent volunteers, and 22 volunteer student guides. —Compiled by Roger Magnus and Heide Martin. Largest tourist attractions in Connecticut (Ranked by estimated 2014 attendance) Rank Company 2014 attendance Employees/ volunteers Description Top executive(s) Year founded 1 Foxwoods Resort Casino 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Mashantucket, CT 06338 800-369-9663; www.foxwoods.com 8,400,000 (1) 5,301 Hospitality, entertainment, gaming, retail, dining, golf, spa, hotel Felix D. Rappaport Karen O'Connell 1992 2 Mohegan Sun 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, CT 06382 888-MOHEGAN; mohegansun.com 7,300,000 (2) 6,900 (1) Entertainment, gaming, dining, shopping, hotel, spa and meetings/ conventions Ray Pineault (3) 1996 3 Riverfront Recapture 50 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06016 860-713-3131; www.riverfront.org 897,000 91 (4) 1,932 Variety of events and recreational activities Joseph R. Marfuggi (5) 1981 4 Mystic Aquarium 55 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-5955; www.mysticaquarium.org 675,776 224 220 New England's year-round hands-on aquarium Stephen M. Coan 1973 5 Elizabeth Park Conservancy 1561 Asylum Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117 860-231-9443; www.elizabethparkct.org 500,000 (1) 5 (6) 1,000 Grounds include the oldest municipal rose garden, recreational areas, facilities and more Christine M. Doty Park 1897, Conservancy 1977 6 The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk 10 N. Water St. Norwalk, CT 06854 203-852-0700; www.maritimeaquarium.org 435,899 80 288 Exhibits sharks, seals, sea turtles, jellyfish, river otters and other animals native to Long Island Sound and its watershed; study cruises, educational programs and IMAX movie theater Brian Davis 1988 7 Connecticut Science Center 250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06103 860-724-3623; www.ctsciencecenter.org 347,576 79 4 Science-based museum, educational and tourism venue Matt J. Fleury 2009 8 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo 1875 Noble Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-394-6565; www.beardsleyzoo.org 280,000 42 200 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species; South American rainforest with aviary, prairie dog exhibit, farmyard; hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, café, picnic grove, indoor carousel Gregg Dancho 1922 9 Mystic Seaport 75 Greenmanville Ave. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-0711; www.mysticseaport.org 250,000 350 600 Maritime museum featuring historic tall ships, a working preservation shipyard, a re-created seafaring village, exhibits and more Stephen C. White 1929 10 Quassy Amusement & Waterpark 2132 Middlebury Rd. Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913; www.quassy.com 225,000 N/A Family amusement and waterpark on Lake Quassapaug with more than two-dozen rides and attractions George Frantzis II 1908 11 Yale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06510 203-432-0600; artgallery.yale.edu 204,214 132 32 Oldest college art museum in America, and the third oldest in the world; holds more than 200,000 objects Jock Reynolds 1832 12 Bushnell Park (7) PO Box 230778 Hartford, CT 06123 860-232-6710; www.bushnellpark.org 200,000 N/A Weekly tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, and several other monuments in a 38 acre park, including the Corning Fountain, Spirit of Victory and the Horace Wells monument Mary Zeman 1854 13 Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Valley Railroad Co.) 1 Railroad Ave. Essex, CT 06426 860-767-0103; www.essexsteamtrain.com 190,000 125 25 A narrated steam train and riverboat excursion with Circus Train, North Pole Express and The Essex Clipper Dinner Train Robert Bell 1971 14 Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre 95 S. Turnpike Rd. Wallingford, CT 06492 203-269-8721; http://specialevents.livenation.com 180,841 N/A Year-round concert venue and event space for graduations, weddings, parties, proms, galas, meetings and more Natalie Krohn 1954 15 Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History 170 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06511 203-432-5050; www.peabody.yale.edu 160,000 70 230 Jurassic-age dinosaur skeletons from the Peabody's paleontology collections, Rudolph Zallinger's mural "The Age of Reptiles"; exhibits on ancient Egypt, early man, CT geology, CT birds, minerals and meteorites David Skelly 1866 16 Goodspeed Opera House 6 Main St. East Haddam, CT 06423 860-873-8668; www.goodspeed.org 120,000 70 75 Musicals featuring Broadway's actors, directors, and designers with nearby restaurants, shops and galleries Michael Gennaro 1963 17 The New Children's Museum 950 Trout Brook Dr. West Hartford, CT 06119 860-231-2824; www.thechildrensmuseumct.org 105,282 38 142 Science, nature, and creative learning center; planetarium, wildlife sanctuary, and a wide array of innovative, hands-on exhibits and educational programs Michael Werle 1927 18 New Britain Museum of American Art 56 Lexington St. New Britain, CT 06052 860-229-0257; www.nbmaa.org 96,880 37 425 Three centuries of the nation's artistic output on view in nine galleries; upwards of 25 special exhibitions per year; new wing opens Oct. 2015 Douglas K.S. Hyland 1903 19 Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park 161 Brownstone Ave. Portland, CT 06480 866-860-0208; brownstonepark.com 90,000 150 0 Outdoor adventure sports park, all abilities/ages; rock climbing, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, cliff jumping, scuba diving, "Survivor-style" competitions, zip lines, swimming, floats, trails; groups, lessons, rentals Sean Hayes 2009 20 Discovery Museum and Planetarium 4450 Park Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-372-3521; www.discoverymuseum.org 85,000 20 40 Hands-on children's museum, planetarium, simulated space missions; school, homeschool and scout groups, scout badges, demos, children's workshops, summer programs, library and school outreach throughout CT Stephen H. Baumann 1958 21 Yale Center for British Art (8) 1080 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06520 877-274-8278; www.britishart.yale.edu 83,591 133 69 (9) Largest and most comprehensive collection of British art outside the United Kingdom Amy Meyers 1966 (founded); 1977 (open to the public) 22 Hartford Stage Co. 60 Church St. Hartford, CT 06103 860-527-5151; www.hartfordstage.org 80,307 76 Tony award-winning theater producing six main stage productions and A Christmas Carol Michael Stotts Darko Tresnjak 1964 23 Infinity Music Hall and Bistro 32 Front St Hartford, CT 06103 860-560-7757; www.infinityhall.com 75,000 N/A Live music hall, restaurant and special events venue Dan Hincks 2007 24 Mark Twain House & Museum 351 Farmington Ave. Hartford, CT 06105 860-247-0998; www.marktwainhouse.org 72,000 N/A National Landmark Home for 17 years; National Geographic's top 10 historic houses Cindy Lovell 1929 25 Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center 110 Pequot Tr. Mashantucket, CT 06338 800-411-9671; www.pequotmuseum.org 68,000 33 8 Largest, most comprehensive Native American museum in the nation; a journey through time, covering eastern woodlands natural history, history and today's American Indian cultures Jason R. Mancini 1998 26 Florence Griswold Museum 96 Lyme St. Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-5542; www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org 64,282 19 250 Galleries for changing exhibitions, education center, landscape center, extensive gardens, and a restored artist's studio Jeffrey Andersen 1941 Source: Individual institutions, Connecticut Office of Tourism. Notes: N/A = not available or not applicable. Historic Ship Nautilus and Lake Compounce did not respond to survey. (1) Figure is approximate. (2) Average daily attendance is 20,000. (3) On March 30, 2015, replaced Robert Soper in role of president of resort, who was promoted to president of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. (4) Represents 14 full-time and 77 seasonal employees. (5) Michael Zaleski will succeed Marfuggi upon his retirement Jun. 15, 2015. (6) Employees are part-time. (7) Run by the Bushnell Park Foundation. (8) Venue is temporarily closed to the public for an interior building conservation project; will reopen Spring 2016. (9) Includes 18 information services volunteers, 29 docent volunteers, and 22 volunteer student guides. —Compiled by Roger Magnus and Heide Martin. Seaport, which, along with other attractions in the region, is trying to expand the tourism season beyond warm-weather months. And leveraging history is a big part of trying to develop a sustainable, 12-month operation. McFadden said the seaport tries to be an extension to history lessons taught in schools and it will run educational exhibits year round to draw in visitors. This fall, for example, the seaport is host- ing an exhibit entitled, "Ships, Clocks and Stars," which is bringing in navigation arti- facts from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England. It is a major exhibit that will carry the seaport into 2016, when it resumes full-year operations after a brief hiatus this past winter. In June, Mystic Seaport will be featuring an exhibit called "Voyaging in the Wake of the Whalers," that will showcase the history of whaling in America. The 4,400 square-foot display is designed to go hand-in-hand with the 70 or so vessels in the water this time of year, McFadden said. Visitors can also watch a 1908 steamer on dry dock being restored. The Seaport handles about 250,000 visi- tors each year. It is especially popular with tourists from England, France and Germany in the offsea- son, McFadden said. n Mystic Seaport