How Many Colorado Malls Will Be Getting a Jungle Reef

If an upcoming hands-on, interactive aquarium takes off, Colorado could see a string of them across the state, within shopping centers and malls.

This could be the next big thing when it comes to family entertainment, where we can see sharks, stingrays, birds and more, up close, and easier to access than Denver or Littleton.

Do you know of a mall or shopping center in Colorado that an experience like this would fit right in?

Just the name of it sounds exciting: "Jungle Reef." Jungle Reef opened its first location in El Paso, Texas in early 2024, and one is slated to open in Colorado Springs at Chapel Hills Mall, according to KKTV Channel 11.

What Is the New Interactive Aquarium Coming to Colorado?

Jungle Reef Touch Aquarium is an upwards of 30,000 square-foot aquarium/habitat where visitors can touch and feed the marine life and terrestrial animals as well.

The one in El Paso has a 66,000 gallon shark tank, a stingray tank (where you can get up close and touch the stingrays,) other underwater display tanks, along with otters, birds, reptiles and rabbits that you can interact with.

Will the New Aquarium in Colorado Also Have a Bowling Alley?

While the Channel 11 story makes no mention of a bowling alley, the Jungle Reef in El Paso is actually "phase two" of a big entertainment center owned by four brothers, called Monkey Rock, with bowling, an arcade, sports simulators and more.

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By the time that Jungle Reef opens in the summer of 2025 in Colorado Springs, it may indeed have a Monkey Rock, too.

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Being a family-oriented experience, you'll be able to book pizza parties, a visit with a mermaid and other activities for the kids.

What Other Malls in Colorado Might Get a Jungle Reef?

Colorado Springs is often the starting point for businesses/franchises when coming into Colorado. If Jungle Reef succeeds at Chapel Hills Mall, we could see one at malls/shopping areas all around the state.

Places Where We Might See Jungle Reef in Colorado: