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Aquatica San Antonio

From Alfawiki
Aquatica
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryWater parks
FoundedMarch 1, 2008; 18 years ago (2008-03-01)
FounderSeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
Headquarters
United States
Area served
United States (Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas)
OwnerUnited Parks & Resorts

Aquatica is a water park chain managed and owned by United Parks & Resorts, with venues located in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.

History

On July 15, 2005, SeaWorld Orlando revealed plans for a "natural" themed water park, introducing the now-famous Dolphin Plunge slides (currently known as Reef Plunge). SeaWorld officially announced the creation of Aquatica on March 5, 2007, with an estimated investment of approximately US$50 million. Construction progressed through 2007 into early 2008, and preview events took place in February. The park officially opened its doors on March 1, 2008, followed by a grand opening ceremony on April 4. During its inaugural year, Aquatica welcomed close to 950,000 visitors, ranking as the fourth most frequented water park in the United States and eighth globally. The park achieved its attendance target within just six months.

In early 2011, SeaWorld San Antonio disclosed intentions to develop a multi-day resort destination that would include a water park component. On May 24, 2011, SeaWorld introduced plans for Aquatica San Antonio, describing it as "a whimsical waterpark featuring close-up animal interactions, thrilling rides, and tranquil sandy beaches." This new facility replaced Lost Lagoon, which ceased operations during Labor Day weekend of 2011. Construction commenced in October 2011 with new additions such as the Wahalla Wave slide. Aquatica San Antonio officially opened on May 19, 2012.

Cedar Fair sold its San Diego water park known as Soak City to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment on November 20, 2012. Originally launched in 1997 under the name White Water Canyon, the park included sixteen slides and a wave pool. Cedar Fair purchased it for $11.5 million in December 1999 and rebranded it as Knott's Soak City U.S.A. with a beach theme in May 2000. After acquisition by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the facility underwent transformation into Aquatica San Diego, reopening on June 1, 2013.

All Aquatica locations temporarily closed in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed full operations by June 2021.

Aquatica San Diego closed permanently after its final season on September 12, 2021; it was subsequently rethemed and reopened as Sesame Place San Diego in March 2022.

Aquatica Orlando

Opened on March 1, 2008, Aquatica Orlando is situated in Orlando, Florida and serves as a sister attraction to SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove. The park’s theme draws inspiration from the southern Pacific region with mascots representing animals from Australia and New Zealand such as Roa the kiwi and Kata the kookaburra. It offers a variety of attractions catering to all age groups, some of which incorporate live animal habitats. Guests can enjoy two wave pools sharing a white sandy beach equipped with lounge chairs and umbrellas.

Body/matt slides
  • Reef Plunge – formerly called Dolphin Plunge, these two enclosed slides by WhiteWater pass through a pool inhabited by Commerson's dolphins. In 2022, the ride was enhanced with translucent elements and additional marine life visuals.
  • Ihu's Breakaway Falls – featuring three drop slides plus one speed slide standing approximately 80 feet tall with an 80-degree descent; this attraction was introduced by ProSlide in 2014.
  • Taumata Racer – an eight-lane racing slide manufactured by WhiteWater West using mats; it debuted in 2008.
Tube slides
  • Whanau Way – consists of four double-raft slides from WhiteWater West accommodating one or two riders.
  • Tassie's Underwater Twist – two funnel-style Super Bowl slides accessible via Loggerhead Lane; originally opened as Tassie Twisters in 2008 and redesigned in 2024.
  • Riptide Race – a tall dueling tube slide featuring two competitive lanes; its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but launched in 2021 near Banana Beach Cookout.
  • Omaka Rocka – single-rider tube slides that descend into tornado funnel sections; opened late in 2011.
Multi-person family raft slides (round rafts)
  • Walhalla Wave (2017) – an enclosed raft slide designed for groups of two to four riders featuring dark tunnel segments.
  • Ray Rush – a WhiteWater West raft slide incorporating a master blaster uphill section, an Aquasphere chamber, and a Manta halfpipe; it opened in spring of 2018.
  • KareKare Curl (2019) – a Proslide TornadoWAVE 60 wall slide requiring two riders; debuted during summer of 2019.
Lazy rivers
  • Roa's Rapids – an energetic lazy river with geysers and zones that increase flow speed.
  • Loggerhead Lane – traditional lazy river route passing through exhibits housing cichlids and dolphins.
Wave pools
  • Cutback Cove – deeper wave pool reaching depths of up to 6.5 feet; narrower than Big Surf Shores and capable of generating larger waves at times.
  • Big Surf Shores – broader wave pool often partially closed during less busy seasons.
Children's areas
  • Turi's Kid Cove – revamped from Kata’s Kookaburra Cove in 2023, this area includes interactive water play features and the Tamariki Twirl slide.
  • Walkabout Waters – WhiteWater West Giant Rainfortress playground with various slides and dumping buckets; opened in 2008.

Former Attractions

  • HooRoo Run – family raft slide closed in 2017 and subsequently replaced by Ray Rush.
  • Kata's Kookaburra Cove – children’s play zone shuttered in 2022 and succeeded by Turi's Kid Cove.

Aquatica San Antonio

Situated in San Antonio, Texas, Aquatica San Antonio debuted on May 19, 2012, as a complementary water park to SeaWorld San Antonio. It features a wide range of attractions catering to visitors of all ages, including a distinctive ride that travels beneath an animal enclosure.

Current Attractions

  • Stingray Falls – A family-friendly raft ride with twists and an underwater cave showcasing stingrays and tropical fish; constructed as a ProSlide "MAMMOTH" slide.
  • Walhalla Wave – A Proslide Technology TornadoWAVE attraction.
  • HooRoo Run – Taking its name from an Australian farewell expression.
  • Taumata Racer
  • Kiwi Curl
  • Tonga Twister – Added in 2020, this is a WhiteWater West body slide.
  • Cutback Cove Slides
  • Walkabout Waters – A WhiteWater West Giant Rainfortress play structure.
  • Ke-Re Reef
  • Zippity Zappity
  • Whanau Way
  • Loggerhead Lane
  • Big Surf Shores
  • Ihu's Breakaway Falls – Introduced in 2019, these Proslide Technology drop pod slides are the tallest of their kind in Texas.
  • Riptide Race – Launched in 2022, this slide is the world’s tallest “dueling racer,” featuring Proslide's Dueling Pipeline design.

Former Attractions

  • Roa’s Aviary – Established in 2014 within Loggerhead Lane; this 34,000-square-foot aviary housed various bird species. After 2018, birds were removed and the area was transformed into private cabanas.
  • Woohoo Falls – Part of Lost Lagoon since 1993; it was removed post-2019 to make room for Tonga Twister.

Aquatica San Diego

In November 2012, Cedar Fair transferred ownership of Knott's Soak City San Diego in Chula Vista, California to SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. The facility was rebranded and reopened as Aquatica San Diego on June 1, 2013.

Although initially slated for 2021, the park underwent rebranding in 2022 to become Sesame Place San Diego, a family-oriented Sesame Street-themed destination. This new park offers roller coasters, carousels, live performances, parades, and opportunities to interact with characters. It retained many existing water attractions designed for younger guests. Aquatica San Diego concluded operations after its final season on September 12, 2021.

See also

External links

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