Electric Eel (roller coaster)
| Company type | Attraction |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
| Products | Steel launched roller coaster |
| Parent | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment |
Electric Eel is a steel launched coaster located at SeaWorld San Diego in California. Since its debut in 2018, it held the record as the park’s tallest and fastest roller coaster until the arrival of Emperor in 2022. The attraction incorporates a subtle theme inspired by the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and includes an informative exhibit adjacent to the queue area, aimed at enriching guests' understanding of marine biology.
History
On January 3, 2017, SeaWorld San Diego revealed its intention to introduce the Electric Eel coaster for the summer 2018 season. Created by Premier Rides, a company based in Maryland, this launched roller coaster formed part of the park’s most significant expansion since its original opening in 1964, alongside three additional new rides. Positioned on the eastern side of the park near the Journey to Atlantis water coaster, Electric Eel was designed to reach a height of 150 feet. To comply with local transparency regulations for structures exceeding 60 feet, lighter color schemes were applied to the upper sections.
Construction commenced later in 2017, involving the installation of more than 200 support columns extending as deep as 40 feet underground to anchor an 11,000-square-foot foundation slab, which was completed by November. Vertical assembly was finalized by January 17, 2018, coinciding with a media event that showcased the ride’s trains. Testing began early that year, with SeaWorld initially scheduling the opening for May 12 but advancing it to May 10 due to faster-than-expected progress. The Electric Eel officially welcomed guests on May 10, 2018.
Queue
The queue meanders through an environment themed to resemble an ocean floor near the Ocean Explorer area. It features minimal use of handrails and shading structures and is adorned with educational panels about electric eels throughout the path. An original soundtrack composed by Rick McKee plays within the queue zone.
Layout
From the station, riders are propelled forward into a partial twist before rolling backward through the station and being accelerated in reverse into another twist. After returning once more to the station, they are launched forward for a third time to achieve a maximum speed of . The train climbs to , enters a slow heartline roll, then navigates a full non-inverting loop before coming to a stop. The entire ride lasts approximately 50 seconds and features an energetic musical score by Rick McKee at the boarding platform.
Statistics
Electric Eel rises to a height of , stretches over , and attains a top velocity of . It operates with one train consisting of three cars; each car accommodates six riders arranged in three rows of two seats, allowing for eighteen riders per cycle. Under optimal conditions, its hourly throughput is rated at 720 guests. The attraction occupies an area of 1.2 acres, with its station covering 1,130 square feet.
Model
This coaster is a Sky Rocket II model manufactured by Premier Rides. It represents one of three such installations owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and is their second to be constructed. The other two are Tempesto (2015) at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Tigris (2019) at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The Sky Rocket II design was initially introduced with Superman: Ultimate Flight (2012) at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. SeaWorld’s versions utilize extended trains that boost capacity by roughly 50%.
Contractors
The primary companies responsible for the design and construction of Electric Eel are as follows:
- Ride Manufacturer: Premier Rides
- General Contractor: Rudolph and Sletten Inc.
- Subcontractor: Cemrock Landscapes Inc.
- Principal Design Firm/Architect: PGAV Destinations
- Structural Engineering: EDM Inc.
- Geotechnical Engineering: Hayward Baker
- MEP Engineering: EXP Inc.
- Engineering Consultants: Christian Wheeler Engineering
- Composer of Original Score: Rick McKee