The Loveland Family Foundation had been a long time donor, and in 2011 presented a lead gift that allowed the organization to accelerate fundraising, purchase 17 acres of land and raise $27 million to build the Aquarium's permanent home in Draper, Utah.. The 136000 sqft Loveland Living Planet Aquarium opened to the public on March 24, 2014 and saw over 1.1 million visitors the first year of operation.