Ripley's Aquarium welcoming 15 millionth visitor - WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Ripley's Aquarium welcoming 15 millionth visitor

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) -- It could be described as a high-water mark for Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach.

The sharks and the stingrays are scheduled to welcome their 15 millionth visitor around 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

The lucky visitor will receive a gift basket, a three-day vacation in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and free admission to attractions in Gatlinburg.

The aquarium opened in 1997. It's one of four Ripley's attractions in Myrtle Beach, including its Believe It or Not Museum.

Myrtle Beach is the center of South Carolina's tourism industry that pumps $15 billion a year into the state economy.