SeaWorld San Antonio
| Industry | Amusement park, Oceanarium |
|---|---|
| Founded | May 27, 1988 in San Antonio, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich |
| Headquarters | San Antonio , United States |
Area served | North America |
| Products | Marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park attractions and shows |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
SeaWorld San Antonio is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park situated in San Antonio, Texas. It stands as the largest facility within the three-park SeaWorld network, under the ownership and management of United Parks & Resorts. Recognized as North America's biggest marine-life themed park and among the world's largest, it prioritizes conservation efforts, educational initiatives, and animal rehabilitation. The park holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is affiliated with the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
History
Initially launched as Sea World of Texas, the park was established by Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich (currently known as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) with an investment of $170 million. It opened its gates on May 27, 1988, drawing 75,000 guests on opening day. Within its inaugural year, attendance reached 3.3 million visitors, positioning it among Texas's premier attractions. At its debut, it was marketed as "the largest educational, marine-life theme park in the world."
On November 26, 1988, Kayla ("Baby Shamu") became the first orca born at this location; she later was housed at SeaWorld Orlando until her passing in 2019.
In 1989, facing financial challenges and a hostile takeover bid, Harcourt sold SeaWorld along with Boardwalk and Baseball parks to Anheuser-Busch. Following this acquisition, several less frequented attractions were discontinued while the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales were introduced to the park. Plans for an additional adjacent Boardwalk and Baseball park were eventually scrapped.
After Anheuser-Busch merged with InBev in 2008, the SeaWorld parks were acquired by the Blackstone Group in 2009. Blackstone subsequently transferred ownership to China’s Zhonghong Group in 2017.
In March 2016, SeaWorld Entertainment declared that the existing generation of orcas would be the final ones at its parks. Presently, SeaWorld San Antonio is home to four orcas; traditional orca performances are being phased out in favor of more naturalistic Orca Encounters, with the new Orca Encounter debuting on February 22, 2020.
In 2024, SeaWorld San Antonio unveiled Catapult Falls, noted as the world’s first launched flume ride. Later that year, plans were announced to rebrand its Sesame Street Bay of Play area into SeaWorld Rescue Jr., following a similar concept introduced at SeaWorld San Diego. The revamped SeaWorld Rescue Jr. section opened on March 8, 2025, featuring both new and reimagined attractions including Beach Rescue Racers, Ocean Quest Express, Tide Pool Tumble, Seabird Swing, and Ocean Rescue Carousel.
Roller coasters and rides
%}Live performances and animal showcases
| # | Name | Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beach Rescue Racer | 2025 | A roller coaster stretching 1,300 ft featuring vehicles designed as beach jeeps to emulate animal rescue missions. |
| 2 | Ocean Quest Express | 2025 | A train ride incorporating an interactive "I Spy" game aimed at children. |
| 3 | Seabird Swing | 2025 | Wave Swinger ride themed around SeaWorld Rescue Jr. |
| 4 | Catapult Falls | 2024 | The world's inaugural launched flume coaster created by Intamin. |
| 5 | Texas Stingray | 2020 | GCI wooden coaster recognized as Texas's tallest, longest, and fastest. |
| 6 | Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster | 2017 | Intamin double-launch coaster themed after SeaWorld’s animal rescue team. |
| 7 | The Great White | 1997 | Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster; Texas’s first of its type reaching speeds up to 50 mph with a lift height of 108.2 ft. |
| 8 | Steel Eel | 1999 | Steel coaster by Chance Morgan standing 150 ft tall with a length of 3,700 ft and top speed of 65 mph; capacity is approximately 1,200 riders per hour. |
| 9 | Journey to Atlantis | 2007 | Hybrid roller coaster combined with a shoot-the-chute ride by Mack Rides; first such attraction in North America. |
| 10 | Tidal Surge | 2022 | The largest S&S Screamin' Swing worldwide. |
| 11 | Riptide Rescue | 2019 | A Huss Airboat spinning flat ride featuring three arms themed around animal rescue. |
| 12 | Sea Swinger | 2019 | Zamperla Midi Discovery spinning pendulum flat ride. |
| 13 | Ocean Rescue Carousel (Formerly Grover's Round-Up) | 2011 (2025) | Carousel attraction themed to align with SeaWorld Rescue. |
| 14 | Tide Pool Tumble (Formerly Abby Cadabby's Rockin’ Wave) | 2011 (2025) | Zamperla Rockin' Tug ride themed around coastal marine life. |
| 15 | Big Bird's Spinning Reef (formerly Pete's Spinwheel) | 1992 (2011) | min Ferris wheel inspired by coral reefs and Sesame Street’s Big Bird. |
| 16 | Elmo's Dolphin Dive (formerly Jump’n Jungle) | 1992 (2011) | min kiddie drop tower themed after dolphins and Elmo from Sesame Street. |
| 17 | Rio Loco | 1993 | min River rapids water ride. |
| # | Venue | Established | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Orca Stadium (previously Shamu Theater) | 2020 (originally 1988) | This facility houses the park's quartet of orcas and first opened in 1988. Since February 2020, it has presented the educational program Orca Encounter. Before this, it was known for theatrical orca productions such as One Ocean and hosted seasonal events like Shamu's Celebration: Light Up The Night. |
| 16 | Beluga Stadium | 1988 | Dedicated to beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins, this stadium offers educational shows including Ocean Discovery: Dolphins and Beluga Whales, succeeding earlier acts that featured macaws and acrobatic performers. |
| 17 | Sea Lion Stadium | 1988 | Home to "Clyde and Seamore," California sea lions starring in the Sea Lion & Otter Spotlight presentation, which also incorporates Asian small-clawed otters. |
| 18 | Bayside Stadium | 1988 | This venue hosts water skiing stunt demonstrations on the central lagoon and serves as the main viewing site for seasonal fireworks displays. |
| 19 | Nautilus Amphitheater | 1988 | An outdoor setting used for seasonal animal shows, the principal musical event during the Howl-O-Scream festival called Monster Stomp on Ripper Row, as well as the Christmas production O Wondrous Night. |
| 20 | Sea Star Theatre | 2003 | Initially launched as a 4-D theater, it was transformed in 2013 into a traditional theater hosting animal rescue-themed performances like Pets Ahoy until financial cutbacks in 2020. Following the pandemic, it presented Sesame Street shows and premiered the glow-in-the-dark puppet musical John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean in 2023. |
Orcas
The orcas at SeaWorld reside within the geodesic dome of the Shamu Theater. Most were born at SeaWorld itself, except for Kyuquot, who originated from the former Sealand of the Pacific in Canada. The current lineup consists of matriarch Takara (female), along with Sakari (female), Tuar (male), and Kyuquot (male).
Beluga whales
SeaWorld San Antonio runs one of the nation’s leading beluga breeding initiatives, with approximately half of its belugas born onsite and several others bred at different locations originally linked to this program. The park is also home to Tyonek, a rescued Cook Inlet beluga who cannot be released due to age and survival difficulties. Tyonek formed a notable companionship with Betty, a Pacific white-sided dolphin, highlighting the park’s diverse marine mammal residents. As of 2024, there are ten belugas housed at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Dolphins
The facility cares for sixteen bottlenose dolphins distributed between two areas: Discovery Point, where eleven dolphins participate in interactive programs and public exhibitions, and Zoological Support, a behind-the-scenes area dedicated to breeding, medical care, and rescue efforts. Among these, three bottlenose dolphins at Zoological Support are rescued individuals deemed non-releasable by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Additionally, SeaWorld San Antonio is one of only two U.S. institutions that maintain seven Pacific white-sided dolphins at Beluga Stadium.
Sea Lions, Seals, and Otters
Within the park, visitors can observe a large group of California sea lions and harbor seals in an outdoor habitat that offers paid feeding sessions. Distinctively, this venue includes an exhibit featuring Asian small-clawed otters and African spot-necked otters, setting it apart from other parks where freshwater otters are typically only seen during performances.
Sea Turtles
Debuting in May 2019, the latest exhibit presents rescued loggerhead and green sea turtles cohabiting with various marine fish species. This display utilizes a natural biofiltration approach by incorporating a nearby salt marsh where bacteria associated with plant roots break down animal waste.
Penguins
The penguin population at SeaWorld San Antonio comprises roughly 250 birds representing four species: king, gentoo, chinstrap, and southern rockhopper penguins. The habitat is designed to simulate the conditions of the Falkland Islands, mirroring the native environment of these Antarctic birds.
Aquatica San Antonio
Aquatica San Antonio is a ticketed water park that replaced the Lost Lagoon area of SeaWorld San Antonio, which operated from 1993 until its closure on September 5, 2011. Drawing inspiration from Aquatica Orlando and promoted as "Texas' Best Waterpark," this new attraction opened during Memorial Day weekend in May 2012, enhancing SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's presence in Texas.
Attendance
| Year | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2,600,000 |
| 2011 | 2,600,000 |
| 2012 | 2,678,000 |
| 2013 | Not listed |
| 2014 | Not listed |
| 2015 | Not listed |