NC Aquarium Turns Pandemic Cleaning Into Cash During Closure

NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina aquarium closed to the public for months due to the statewide mandates is turning pandemic cleaning — and coins left behind by visitors — into cash to help pay its expenses.

The chore is not exactly like looking for loose change under the couch cushions. The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has drained its three-story tall Smokey Mountain waterfall fountain and collected all the change tossed in by visitors who made coin sacrifices in exchange for wishes and prayers.

According to aquarium officials, the wishes really add up.

"About 100 gallons of coins were cleaned and sorted and will go toward the general care of the aquarium and animals during this time," the aquarium said, via its Facebook page. "Can you guess how much money was in the waterfall? Put your guesses in the comments and we'll post the answer next week!"

Last week, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that the state would remain under the modified Phase 2 executive order for another five weeks, meaning businesses such as gyms, bars, movie theaters and museums will not reopen in the state until Sept. 11 at the earliest.

The aquarium is located at 1 Roosevelt Boulevard in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina.