SeaWorld San Diego#Dolphin Point

{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2024}}

SeaWorld was founded in 1964 by Milton Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott and George Millay. The four graduates of UCLA originally set out to build an underwater restaurant and marine life show. When the underwater restaurant concept was deemed unfeasible, they scrapped those plans and decided to build a park instead, and SeaWorld San Diego was opened on March 21, 1964. With a few dolphins, sea lions, six attractions and 22 acres (89,000 m²), the park proved to be a success and more than 400,000 guests visited in the first 12 months.

SeaWorld was privately held before going public in 1968. The second SeaWorld location, SeaWorld Ohio, opened in 1970, followed by SeaWorld Orlando in 1973, and SeaWorld San Antonio in 1988. The partnership later sold SeaWorld Ohio to Six Flags in January 2001. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich owned the parks between 1976 and 1989, when Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. purchased them. After InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch, it sold SeaWorld San Diego and the rest of the company's theme parks to the Blackstone Group in December 2009.

Shows operate with seasonal changes and include:

• Orca Encounter: a live show highlighting the park's killer whales and various aspects of their lives, biology, and adaptations. Post-2015, the show focuses less on physical entertainment with the trainers and more on showcasing the animals themselves.
• Dolphin Adventures (previously named "Dolphin Days"): explaining the whale and dolphin family.
• Sea Lion and Otter Spotlight (previously named "Sea Lions Live"): a new educational presentation featuring California sea lions and Asian small-clawed otters.

Orca Encounter SanDiego Seaworld 1.jpg|Orca Encounter

Orca Encounter SanDiego Seaworld 2.jpg|Orca Encounter

Sea Lions Live SanDiego Seaworld 1.jpg|Sea Lions Live

Sea Lions Live SanDiego Seaworld 2.jpg|Sea Lions Live

Dolphin Days SanDiego Seaworld.jpg|Dolphin Adventures

File:Mission Bay, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (6).jpg

The Bayside Skyride is a gondola ride that first opened in 1967. The ride travels along a stretch of wire over Mission Bay.{{Cite web |title=Bayside Skyride at SeaWorld San Diego Reviews & Info |url=https://www.themeparktourist.com/guides/seaworld-san-diego/bayside-skyride |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=www.themeparktourist.com |language=en}}

Ocean Explorer, designed for children, launched on May 27, 2017. It comprises three attractions: Octarock, a swinging experience, Sea Dragon Drop, a scaled-down drop tower, and Tentacle Twirl, a wave swing ride with a jellyfish theme.

The realm originally featured Submarine Quest, an outdoor people mover-like ride with indoor segments, themed around deep sea exploration. The attraction would receive negative reviews due to lackluster theming. Due to this, it quietly closed indefinitely in 2019. SeaWorld staff initially indicated that Submarine Quest had been temporarily closed for maintenance, but by May 2019, references to the ride had been removed from SeaWorld's maps and website.{{cite web|last=Weisberg|first=Lori|title=Why did SeaWorld mysteriously close submarine ride less than a year after it opened?|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sd-fi-seaworld-submarine-closed-20180531-story.html|access-date=2021-05-16|website=orlandosentinel.com}}{{cite web|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=SeaWorld San Diego answers critics with a slow and boring new Orca Encounter show|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-tr-seaworld-orca-encounter-ocean-explorer-20170601-story.html|access-date=2021-05-16|website=Baltimore Sun}}{{cite web|date=2017-06-03|title=Test Drive: SeaWorld makeover opens with an orca splash and kid-friendly kicks|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/things-to-do/sd-me-test-seaworld-20170601-story.html|access-date=2021-05-16|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US}} When the park re-opened on April 13, 2021, demolition of the ride track and show buildings began, leaving the animal enclosures intact.{{cite web | url=https://www.micechat.com/294722-seaworld-san-diego-update-electric-ocean-illuminates-the-night/ | title=SeaWorld San Diego Update: Electric Ocean Illuminates the Night | date=July 2021 }}

Riptide Rescue is a Huss Airboat ride, featuring 12 gondolas themed as rescue boats.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-01 |title=Riptide Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego Reviews & Info |url=https://www.themeparktourist.com/guides/seaworld-san-diego/riptide-rescue |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=www.themeparktourist.com |language=en}}

Rescue Jr. is an interactive children's play area, which originally opened in 2008 as Sesame Street's Bay of Play and closed in April 2023.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023|reason=The claim "in April 2023" requires a source.}} The re-themed area focuses on Sea Rescue and aquatic sea-life. It includes three rides: Tidepool Twist, a spinning teacup attraction; Rescue Riders, an attraction in the style of Dumbo the Flying Elephant; and Rescue Rafter, a raft themed Tug Boat ride.{{cite web|title=Rescue Jr All-New Play Area | url=https://seaworld.com/san-diego/rescue-jr/ | website=SeaWorld| access-date=May 10, 2023}}

{{Main|Shipwreck Rapids}}

Shipwreck Rapids is an Intamin river rapids ride themed as a shipwreck on a deserted island.

File:SeaWorld San Diego Aerial.jpg

Skytower is a {{convert|320|ft|m|adj=on}} gyro tower that was built in 1968 by Sansei Yusoki.{{cite journal|journal=Inside Track|title=Tower Power|last=Slade|first=Gary|location=Newark, Delaware|date=May 1994|page=13|issue=89|issn=1052-1607}} The ride gives passengers a six-minute view of SeaWorld and San Diego via rising at a rate of {{convert|150|ft/min}} while spinning slowly (1.02 rpm).

Tentacle Twirl, opened on May 31, 2017, is a Wave Swinger built by German manufacturer Zierer.{{cite web |title=Tentacle Twirl |url=https://www.themeparkarchive.com/parks/seaworld-san-diego/tentacle-twirl |website=themeparkarchive.com}}{{cite web| title=Tentacle Twirl| url=https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Tentacle_Twirl| website=Coasterpedia}}

Arctic Rescue is a Intamin launched coaster that opened on June 2, 2023. This family coaster features arctic theming, as well as the fastest and longest straddle roller coaster on the west coast of the United States. This new attraction replaced the Wild Arctic simulator ride, which closed on January 11, 2020. Arctic Rescue has 3 launches, reaching a high speed of {{convert|40|mph|km/h}}, and has a track length of {{convert|2800|ft|m}}, and its straddle seating imitates the feeling of riding a snowmobile.{{cite web| title=Arctic Rescue| url=https://rcdb.com/20275.htm| website=RCDB| access-date=May 12, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Arctic Rescue - Now Open! | url=https://seaworld.com/san-diego/rides/arctic-rescue/ | website=SeaWorld| access-date=May 11, 2023}}

{{Main|Electric Eel (roller coaster)}}

File:SeaWorld San Diego Electric Eel Roller Coaster.jpg

Opened on May 10, 2018, Electric Eel is a Sky Rocket II model by Premier Rides. Electric Eel stands at {{convert|150|ft|m}} tall, with a track length of {{convert|853|ft|m}} and speeds of up to {{convert|62|mph|km/h}}.

{{Main|Journey to Atlantis}}

Journey to Atlantis is a Mack Rides water coaster that was built in 2004. The ride stands at a height of {{convert|95|ft|m}} and hits a max speed of {{convert|42|mph|km/h}}.

{{Main|Emperor (roller coaster)}}

Emperor is a Dive Coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. With a height of 153 ft, Emperor is the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in California. The ride contains {{convert|2411|ft|m}} of track, an Immelmann loop that stands at a height of {{convert|143|ft|m}} and has a 90 degree drop that reaches speeds of over {{convert|60|mph|km/h}}. The ride opened on March 12, 2022.{{cite web| title=Emperor| url=https://rcdb.com/17030.htm| website=RCDB| access-date=October 11, 2021}}

{{Main|Manta (SeaWorld San Diego)}}

File:Manta roller coaster at Sea World San Diego.jpg

On May 26, 2012, SeaWorld San Diego opened a new mega-attraction called Manta, a Mack launched roller coaster featuring two launches LSM of up to {{Convert|43|mph|km/h}} accompanied by a bat ray aquarium and shallow touch pool for touching bat rays, white sturgeons, and shovelnose guitarfish. The two-minute, {{convert|2800|ft|m|adj=on}} long ride stands at a height of {{convert|30|ft|m}} and features a drop of {{convert|54|ft|m}}.{{cite news |url=http://www.bhcourier.com/article/Local_News/Local_News/Sea_World_San_Diego_To_Open_New_Roller_Coaster_Next_Year/74569 |title=Sea World San Diego To Open New Roller Coaster Next Year |newspaper=The Beverly Hills Courier |access-date=February 10, 2011 |date=February 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707231702/http://www.bhcourier.com/article/Local_News/Local_News/Sea_World_San_Diego_To_Open_New_Roller_Coaster_Next_Year/74569 |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Brady |title=SeaWorld San Diego to add Manta coaster in 2012 |url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-seaworld-san-diego-manta-coaster-02201109,1,5096450.story |access-date=February 10, 2011 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 9, 2011}}

Tidal Twister, opened on May 24, 2019, was a Skywarp Horizon model by Skyline Attractions. The ride reached a top speed of {{convert|30|mph|km/h}}, with a height of {{convert|22|ft|m}} and a track length of {{convert|320|ft|m}}.{{cite web| title=Tidal Twister| url=https://seaworld.com/san-diego/rides/tidal-twister/| website=SeaWorld| access-date=January 4, 2021}}{{cite web| title=Tidal Twister| url=https://rcdb.com/16772.htm| access-date=January 4, 2021}} In late 2023, the ride was shut down and removed a few months later.{{Cite web |title=Tidal Twister - SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, California, United States) |url=https://rcdb.com/16772.htm |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=rcdb.com}}{{Cite web |last=James |first=Chloe |date=2023-07-20 |title=Roller Coaster "Tore Itself Apart," SeaWorld Allegedly Closes It for Good |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2023/07/after-the-ride-tore-itself-apart-seaworld-allegedly-closes-tidal-twister-cj1/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Inside the Magic |language=en-US}}

{{Clear}}

File:Shamu with trainer.jpg performing "The Shamu Adventure"]]

File:SeaWorld San Diego5.jpg

SeaWorld's main attraction is its collection of orcas, eight of which are housed in SeaWorld San Diego in a 7,000,000+ gallon pool. Shamu was the name of the first orca brought to SeaWorld San Diego in 1965. Shamu is now used as the character name for the costume character at the park entrance. SeaWorld San Diego ended their theatrical orca shows in San Diego in January 2017. San Diego was the first of the three SeaWorld parks to premiere Orca Encounter an educational presentation that gives insight into various aspects of an orca's life.{{cite news| last1=Weisberg| first1=Lori| title=SeaWorld bids farewell Sunday to Shamu show| url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-me-shamu-show-20170106-story.html| access-date=January 13, 2018| newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune| date=January 6, 2017}}

SeaWorld's Wild Arctic is home to various species of cold water animals, including beluga whales, walruses, Polar bears, Harbor seals, and southern sea otters.

File:SeaWorld San Diego "Sea Lion & Otter Amphitheater" Exhibit.jpg

SeaWorld San Diego houses California sea lions.

SeaWorld San Diego has 19 fresh and saltwater aquariums, each housing different types of aquatic animals.

This aquarium is home to marine animals including Moray eels, octopuses, and Japanese spider crabs.

This aquarium contains rays and fishes.

Opened on March 21, 2014, Explorer's Reef is an attraction that contains animal attractions and structures.{{cite web| url=http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/attractions/exhibits/explorers-reef/| title=Explorer's Reef| website=SeaWorld| access-date=June 4, 2016}} Featuring four different touch pools, Explorer's Reef gives guests the opportunity to interact with a variety of fishes, including 400 brownbanded bamboo sharks and white-spotted bamboo sharks, and more than 4,000 cleaner fishes and horseshoe crabs.

There are three species of dolphins at SeaWorld San Diego: common dolphin hybrid, Atlantic, and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and Pacific and Atlantic short-finned pilot whales.

{{Main|Sesame Place San Diego}}

SeaWorld Entertainment purchased one of the Cedar Fair-owned "Knott's Soak City" water parks in late 2012. In 2013, the water park was opened as Aquatica San Diego.{{cite news |last=Grieco |first=Sarah |title=SeaWorld Acquires Knott's Soak City|url=http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SeaWorld-Acquires-Knotts-Soak-City-180250491.html |access-date=November 21, 2012 |newspaper=KNSD News |date=November 21, 2012}}{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Jason |title=SeaWorld buys California water park, plans 3rd Aquatica|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-11-20/travel/os-seaworld-third-aquatica-20121120_1_commerson-seaworld-san-antonio-water-park |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131074357/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-11-20/travel/os-seaworld-third-aquatica-20121120_1_commerson-seaworld-san-antonio-water-park |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 20, 2012}} The park is located approximately {{convert|23|mi|km|abbr=on}} southeast of its sister SeaWorld park, in Chula Vista, California. The park features 26 slides. On October 21, 2019, SeaWorld Entertainment announced that Aquatica San Diego would be converted into Sesame Place San Diego, the first Sesame Place theme park on the West Coast. Aquatica San Diego closed its final season in September 2021, and was re-opened as Sesame Place San Diego on March 26, 2022. The new park retained the water park attractions from Aquatica San Diego.{{cite news |title=SeaWorld plans a new Sesame Place theme park in Chula Vista |last=Freeman |first=Mike |date=October 21, 2019 |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/story/2019-10-21/seaworld-plans-a-new-sesame-place-theme-park-in-san-diego |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=January 4, 2021}}

Sea World San Diego (25773517555).jpg|Up close with the dolphins.

USMC-01841.jpg|Sea Lion being fed by a guest.

A Sea World assistant presents Charlie the alligator to an audience during the 18th annual Kids First Fair at the Paige Field House 130427-M-IQ377-023.jpg|At the 18th annual Kids First Fair.

Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - Sailors evacuate an injured sea turtle.jpg|SeaWorld Rescue Team members working with the U.S. Navy evacuating an injured sea turtle.

Wild Arctic - SeaWorld San Diego (3).jpg|Beluga whale in the Wild Arctic exhibit.

SeaWorld San Diego13.jpg|Dolphins jumping at a show.

Sjl20210605-seaworld-0011-flamingo-w.jpg|American flamingo in one of the ponds.

Wild Arctic Flight Simulator Motion Ride.jpg|Wild Arctic Flight Simulator Motion Ride

Fireworks at Seaworld San Diego.jpg|Fireworks at night.

SeaWorld San Diego was a filming location for the films The Big Mouth (1967){{Cite web |last=Sklar |first=Debbie L. |date=2025-04-04 |title='Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' and 9 other off-the-wall movies filmed in San Diego |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/04/04/attack-of-the-killer-tomatoes-and-9-other-off-the-wall-movies-filmed-in-san-diego/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405081551/https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/04/04/attack-of-the-killer-tomatoes-and-9-other-off-the-wall-movies-filmed-in-san-diego/ |archive-date=2025-04-05 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Times of San Diego |language=en-US}} and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013).{{Cite web |last=Grieco |first=Sarah |date=2013-05-24 |title='Anchorman 2' Filming in San Diego |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/anchorman-2-filming-in-san-diego-friday-seaworld/2058893/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=NBC 7 San Diego |language=en-US}}

{{Portal|Animals|California}}

• SeaWorld

• Incidents at SeaWorld parks
• Aquarium
• Water park
• Amusement park

{{Reflist |colwidth=33em|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=438 |title=Sesame Street Bay of Play |website=SeaWorld |access-date=March 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227082642/http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=438 |archive-date=February 27, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}

{{cite web

|url=http://www.buschgardens.org/education-programs/swc/history/history.htm

|title=SeaWorld Timeline

|website=Busch Gardens

|access-date=March 20, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928015047/https://www.buschgardens.org/education-programs/swc/history/history.htm

|archive-date=September 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{ZooOrg|aza|zoos|access-date=March 20, 2011}}

}}

{{Commons category|SeaWorld San Diego}}

• {{Official website|https://seaworld.com/san-diego/}}
• {{RCDB|5320}}

{{SeaWorld San Diego}}

{{Zoos of California}}

{{SeaWorldParks}}

{{Amusement Parks & Theme Parks of California}}

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Category:Event venues established in 1964

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Category:Zoos in California

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Category:Zoos established in 1964

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