Turtle Trek
| Company type | Attraction/Exhibit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Animal Exhibit |
| Founded | April 27, 2012 |
| Fate | Retired (closed in 2020, repurposed in 2023) |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida , United States |
Area served | Visitors to SeaWorld Orlando |
| Products | Immersive animal exhibit, 3D dome film experience |
Turtle Trek was an immersive animal exhibit and 3D dome film experience located at SeaWorld Orlando, debuting on April 27, 2012. This attraction integrated live environments for rescued West Indian manatees and sea turtles alongside a groundbreaking computer-generated movie presented within the world's inaugural 360-degree 3D dome theater. Developed by Falcon's Treehouse in collaboration with PGAV Destinations, it featured cutting-edge immersive technology.
Summary
Visitors began their journey by exploring two carefully crafted natural habitats: one containing West Indian manatees and freshwater species, and another housing more than 1,500 saltwater fish along with approximately a dozen sea turtles. Many of these creatures were either rescued or born within SeaWorld’s care.
The adventure proceeded inside a domed theater—the first worldwide to present a 360-degree 3D film—utilizing 34 projectors to envelop the entire dome surface, fully immersing attendees in the life story of a sea turtle from hatchling to maturity.
Following the film, guests observed the habitats from an elevated vantage point. Nearby, an exhibit featuring juvenile American alligators was also available for viewing.
With conservation as its core mission, Turtle Trek sought to motivate visitors toward environmental stewardship. Brian Morrow, the lead designer, underscored this goal by stating, "Do a little, do a lot, but join us and do something to help the world and its animals," emphasizing the importance of individual contributions to wildlife preservation.
History
Originally opening on May 31, 1993, the exhibit was known as Manatees: The Last Generation? and later renamed Manatee Rescue. It featured a sprawling 300,000-gallon lagoon covering three and a half acres that housed manatees alongside native Florida birds, turtles, and fish. The attraction incorporated films, visual graphics, and interactive displays to educate visitors about manatees.
In November 2011, SeaWorld announced plans for Turtle Trek. By December of that year, the original exhibit closed for refurbishment; sea turtles were transferred from Turtle Point (currently Pelican Preserve), and the lagoon was segmented into two distinct habitats.
Turtle Trek reopened on April 27, 2012, situated in the Key West area (now called Sea of Shallows). This state-of-the-art attraction included original musical compositions and a fully immersive 360-degree CGI dome film. Although initially well-received, its somewhat isolated location contributed to decreasing visitor numbers over time. The attraction originally featured several staff-supervised holding rooms prior to entering the theater; however, these rooms and accompanying preshow videos were discontinued due to low attendance. This change allowed guests unrestricted movement between tanks while the film continuously played.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, health protocols led to the removal of 3D glasses and an update of the film to accommodate 2D viewing.
By late 2022, after remaining closed since 2020, Turtle Trek’s exterior was dismantled and its entrance sealed off. SeaWorld also removed it from their list of animal experiences, signaling that it had been retired.
In 2023, Turtle Trek quietly reopened under the name SeaWorld Rescue Center featuring updated interior and exterior designs. In June of that year, the former theater space was repurposed as the SeaWorld Coral Rescue Center, showcasing coral colonies along with interactive sessions led by coral biologists.
See also
- SeaWorld
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Turtle Talk with Crush, a Walt Disney World attraction