Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/989153
10 Hartford Business Journal • June 4, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com THE LIST Most visited tourist attractions in Connecticut Ranked by estimated 2017 attendance FOCUS Most visited tourist attractions in Connecticut (Ranked by estimated 2017 attendance) Rank Attraction 2017 attendance Employees/ Volunteers (1) Description Top executive(s) Year founded 1 Foxwoods Resort Casino 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Mashantucket, CT 06338 800-369-9663; www.foxwoods.com 11,816,196 5,500 0 Hospitality, entertainment, gaming, retail, dining, golf, spa and hotel Felix D. Rappaport 1992 2 Mohegan Sun 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. Uncasville, CT 06382 888-MOHEGAN; www.mohegansun.com 9,000,000 7,150 0 Entertainment, gaming, dining, shopping, hotel, spa, meetings and conventions Ray Pineault 1996 3 Mystic Aquarium 55 Coogan Blvd. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-5955; www.mysticaquarium.org 700,821 370 684 Underwater worlds and creatures including beluga whales, penguins and more; interactive experiences, exhibits and animal adventures Stephen M. Coan 1973 4 Riverfront Recapture 50 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06016 860-713-3131; www.riverfront.org 617,000 99 1,835 Variety of events and recreational activities Michael Zaleski 1981 5 The Lyman Farm Inc. d/b/a Lyman Orchards 32 Reeds Gap Road Middlefield, CT 06455 860-349-1793; www.lymanorchards.com 600,000 50,250 0 1,100 scenic acres in central Connecticut with Pick Your Own Orchards, bakery, cafe, cheese and more; beginner and championship public golf on 45 holes John Lyman III Stephen L Ciskowski 1741 6 The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk 10 N. Water St. Norwalk, CT 06854 203-852-0700; www.maritimeaquarium.org 506,236 119 347 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 Bushnell Park (2) P.O. Box 230778 Hartford, CT 06123 860-232-6710; www.bushnellpark.org 500,000 1 50 Weekly tours of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch and monthly tours of the park, monuments and statues; newly renovated carousel is open year-round Mary Zeman 1854 7 Elizabeth Park Conservancy 1561 Asylum Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117 860-231-9443; www.elizabethparkct.org 500,000 7 1,000 The oldest municipal rose garden, tulips, annuals, perennials, iris, dahlias, herbs, medicinals, rock garden, hosta garden, duck ponds, recreational and picnic areas, running trails, playground, cafe Christine M. Doty Park 1897, Conservancy 1977 9 The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts 166 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06106 860-987-5900; www.bushnell.org 316,000 100 570 Two performance halls and multiple public event spaces, more than 450 events annually, Broadway tours, symphonies, family entertainment, concerts, local arts and community events David Fay 1929 10 Mystic Seaport 75 Greenmanville Ave. Mystic, CT 06355 860-572-0711; www.mysticseaport.org 300,000 300 600 Maritime museum featuring historic vessels, a working preservation shipyard, recreated seafaring village, exhibits, galleries and more Stephen C. White 1929 11 Connecticut Science Center 250 Columbus Blvd. Hartford, CT 06103 860-724-3623; www.ctsciencecenter.org 295,843 86 101 Science-based museum, educational and tourism venue Matt J. Fleury 2009 12 Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo 1875 Noble Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06610 203-394-6565; www.beardsleyzoo.org 280,000 37 (3) 127 (4) Three-hundred animals representing primarily North and South American species; South American rain forest with aviary, prairie dog exhibit, farmyard; hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer, cafe, picnic grove, indoor carousel Gregg Dancho 1922 13 Yale University Art Gallery 1111 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06510 203-432-0600; artgallery.yale.edu 232,185 149 0 (5) Oldest college art museum in America, and the third oldest in the world; holds more than 200,000 objects Jock Reynolds 1832 14 Quassy Amusement & Waterpark 2132 Middlebury Road Middlebury, CT 06762 203-758-2913; www.quassy.com 230,000 350 0 Family amusement and waterpark on Lake Quassapaug with more than two dozen rides and attractions George Frantzis II 1908 15 Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Valley Railroad Co.) 1 Railroad Ave. Essex, CT 06426 860-767-0103; www.essexsteamtrain.com 183,649 N/A Narrated steam-train and riverboat excursions, meals on the Essex Clipper Lunch & Dinner Trains, sunset cruises, music cruises and fall foliage trains; Christmas North Pole Express and Santa Special Train Kevin Dodd 1971 16 Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre 95 S. Turnpike Road Wallingford, CT 06492 203-269-8721; specialevents.livenation.com 180,000 35 0 Year-round concert venue and event space for graduations, weddings, parties, proms, galas, meetings and more Jim Koplik 1954 17 Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum 1 Crystal Lake Road Groton, CT 06349 860-694-3174; www.ussnautilus.org 133,763 7 35 U.S. Navy's official submarine museum with tours of the Nautilus, the first nuclear-powered submarine along with exhibits ranging from the Revolutionary War era to present day Bradley M. Boyd 1964 18 Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History 170 Whitney Ave. New Haven, CT 06511 203-432-5050; peabody.yale.edu 125,000 64 (6) 123 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 19 The Goodspeed 6 Main St. East Haddam, CT 06423 860-873-8668; www.goodspeed.org 120,000 N/A Produces award-winning musicals featuring Broadway actors, directors and designers; surrounded by top-notch restaurants, shops and galleries; first theatre in the nation to be honored with two Tony awards Michael Gennaro 1963 20 Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park (7) 161 Brownstone Ave. Portland, CT 06480 866-860-0208; brownstonepark.com 100,000 (8) 225 0 Outdoor adventure sports park for all abilities and ages; rock climbing, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, cliff jumping, scuba diving, "Survivor-style" competitions, zip lines, swimming, floats, trails; groups, lessons and rentals Sean Hayes 2009 20 The Children's Museum 950 Trout Brook Drive West Hartford, CT 06119 860-231-2824; www.thechildrensmuseumct.org 100,000 (8) 46 45 A multidisciplinary learning center featuring a planetarium, wildlife sanctuary, preschool, hands-on educational exhibits, public programs, on-site and outreach educational programs, and a second site, Roaring Brook Nature Center Michael Werle 1927 22 Yale Center for British Art 1080 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06520 203-432-2800; www.britishart.yale.edu 97,166 133 69 Public art museum and research institute that houses the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom Amy Meyers 1966 (opened to the public in 1977) 23 Hartford Stage Co. 50 Church St. Hartford, CT 06103 860-527-5151; www.hartfordstage.org 87,271 74 298 Tony award-winning theater producing six main-stage productions and "A Christmas Carol" Michael Stotts Darko Tresnjak 1964 24 Discovery Museum and Planetarium 4450 Park Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06604 203-372-3521; www.discoverymuseum.org 85,000 21 63 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 statewide Bill Finch 1958 25 Florence Griswold Museum 96 Lyme St. Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-5542; www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org 80,000 20 225 Galleries for changing exhibitions, education center, landscape center, extensive gardens, and a restored artist's studio Rebekah Beaulieu 1941 26 Bushnell Park Carousel 1 Jewell St. Hartford, CT 06103 860-585-5411; www.thecarouselmuseum.org 70,000 7 0 Century-old carousel in the shadow of skyscrapers and a giant Turkey Oak, 24-sided pavilion houses 48 hand-carved wooden horses and two lovers' chariots that swirl around a booming Wurlitzer band organ Louise L. DeMars 1914