SeaWorld San Diego facts for kids
| Previously known as SeaWorld of California and SeaWorld Adventure Park |
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| Location | 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, California, United States |
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| Coordinates | 32°45′57″N 117°13′38″W / 32.765751°N 117.227275°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | March 21, 1964 |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
| Operated by | United Parks & Resorts |
| General manager | Jim Lake |
| Theme | Ocean Adventure and Exploration |
| Slogan | Real. Amazing. |
| Operating season | Year Round |
| Attendance | 3.5 million (2022) |
| Area | 189 acres (76 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 16 |
| Roller coasters | 5 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | SeaWorld San Diego |
SeaWorld San Diego is a super fun theme park located in Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California. It's a special place where you can see amazing marine mammals, explore huge aquariums, and even learn about helping injured sea animals.
This park is owned and run by United Parks & Resorts. SeaWorld San Diego is also part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Right next door, the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute studies marine biology and teaches people about ocean life.
Contents
Discovering SeaWorld San Diego's Past
SeaWorld was started in 1964 by four friends: Milton Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott, and George Millay. They all went to UCLA and first wanted to build an underwater restaurant with a marine animal show.
How SeaWorld San Diego Began
When the underwater restaurant idea didn't work out, they decided to build a park instead. SeaWorld San Diego first opened its doors on March 21, 1964. It started with just a few dolphins, sea lions, six attractions, and covered 22 acres.
The park was a big hit! More than 400,000 people visited in the first year.
Changes in Ownership Over Time
SeaWorld became a public company in 1968. Other SeaWorld parks opened in Ohio (1970), Orlando (1973), and San Antonio (1988). Different companies owned the parks over the years. In 2009, Blackstone Group bought SeaWorld San Diego and the other parks.
Exciting Attractions at SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego has many cool shows and thrilling rides for everyone to enjoy.
Amazing Animal Shows
The park's shows change with the seasons, but here are some popular ones:
- Orca Encounter: This show teaches you about killer whales. You'll learn about their lives, how their bodies work, and how they adapt to the ocean. It focuses on showing off the animals themselves.
- Dolphin Adventures: Learn all about the whale and dolphin family in this exciting show.
- Sea Lion and Otter Spotlight: This fun and educational show features clever California sea lions and playful Asian small-clawed otters.
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Orca Encounter
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Orca Encounter
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Sea Lions Live
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Sea Lions Live
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Dolphin Adventures
Thrilling Rides and Adventures
Get ready for some excitement on these rides!
Soaring High on Bayside Skyride
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The Bayside Skyride is a gondola ride that opened in 1967. You'll travel high above Mission Bay, getting amazing views of the park and the water.
Exploring Ocean Explorer for Kids
Ocean Explorer opened on May 27, 2017, and is perfect for younger adventurers. It has three fun rides:
- Octarock: A swinging ride.
- Sea Dragon Drop: A smaller drop tower.
- Tentacle Twirl: A jellyfish-themed wave swing ride.
Riptide Rescue's Exciting Adventure
Riptide Rescue is a ride with 12 gondolas shaped like rescue boats. It's a fun adventure where you feel like you're on a rescue mission!
Playing at Rescue Jr.
Rescue Jr. is an interactive play area for kids. It opened in 2008 as Sesame Street's Bay of Play and was updated in April 2023. Now, it's all about sea rescue and ocean animals. It has three rides:
- Tidepool Twist: A spinning teacup ride.
- Rescue Riders: A ride similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
- Rescue Rafter: A tug boat-themed raft ride.
Shipwreck Rapids: A Wild Water Ride
Shipwreck Rapids is a river rapids ride that makes you feel like you're on a shipwrecked island. Get ready to get wet!
Skytower: Views from Above
The Skytower is a tall tower, 320-foot (98 m) high, built in 1968. It slowly spins as it rises, giving you a six-minute, 150 feet per minute (46 m/min) view of SeaWorld and San Diego.
Tentacle Twirl: Jellyfish Swings
Tentacle Twirl opened on May 31, 2017. It's a fun swing ride with a cool jellyfish theme.
Awesome Roller Coasters
Get ready for some serious speed and drops!
Arctic Rescue: A Snowmobile Adventure
Arctic Rescue is a launched roller coaster that opened on June 2, 2023. This family-friendly coaster has an arctic theme. It's the fastest and longest straddle roller coaster on the west coast! It replaced the Wild Arctic simulator ride. Arctic Rescue has three launches, reaching 40 miles per hour (64 km/h), and its special seating makes you feel like you're riding a snowmobile.
Electric Eel: A High-Speed Thrill
Opened on May 10, 2018, Electric Eel is a super fast coaster. It stands 150 feet (46 m) tall and reaches speeds of up to 62 miles per hour (100 km/h)!
Journey to Atlantis: A Watery Drop
Journey to Atlantis is a water coaster built in 2004. It's 95 feet (29 m) tall and hits a top speed of 42 miles per hour (68 km/h). Prepare for a splash!
Emperor: California's Tallest Dive Coaster
Emperor is a huge Dive Coaster. It's the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster in California, standing 153 feet (47 m) high. It has a 90-degree drop and reaches speeds over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). This exciting ride opened on March 12, 2022.
Manta: Fly Like a Ray
Manta opened on May 26, 2012. It's a launched roller coaster with two launches that reach up to 43 miles per hour (69 km/h). The ride is also next to an aquarium where you can see and even touch bat rays, white sturgeons, and shovelnose guitarfish.
Tidal Twister: A Unique Ride's History
Tidal Twister opened on May 24, 2019. It reached a top speed of 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). This ride was closed down in late 2023 and removed a few months later.
Amazing Animal Exhibits
SeaWorld San Diego is home to many incredible marine animals.
Orcas: The Park's Main Stars
The park's main attraction is its collection of orcas, also known as killer whales. Eight of them live in a huge 7,000,000-gallon pool at SeaWorld San Diego. The name Shamu was first used for an orca brought to the park in 1965. Now, "Shamu" is the name of a costume character you might see at the park entrance. SeaWorld San Diego stopped its theatrical orca shows in January 2017. Instead, they now have Orca Encounter, an educational presentation that teaches you about an orca's life.
Wild Arctic: Cold Water Wonders
SeaWorld's Wild Arctic exhibit is home to animals that live in cold waters. Here you can see beluga whales, walruses, Polar bears, Harbor seals, and southern sea otters.
Seals & Sea Lions: Playful Pinnipeds
You can find many California sea lions at SeaWorld San Diego. They are very playful!
Aquariums: Underwater Worlds
SeaWorld San Diego has 19 different aquariums. They are filled with various types of aquatic animals from both fresh and saltwater.
Ocean Explorer Aquarium: Deep Sea Creatures
This aquarium is home to cool marine animals like Moray eels, octopuses, and giant Japanese spider crabs.
Ray Aquarium: Graceful Gliders
In this aquarium, you can see many different kinds of rays and other fish swimming gracefully.
Explorer's Reef: Touch and Learn
Explorer's Reef opened on March 21, 2014. It's a special area with four different touch pools. Here, you can gently interact with various fish, including 400 brownbanded bamboo sharks and white-spotted bamboo sharks. You can also see over 4,000 cleaner fishes and horseshoe crabs.
Dolphins: Smart Swimmers
SeaWorld San Diego has three types of dolphins. These include common dolphin hybrids, Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and Pacific and Atlantic short-finned pilot whales.
SeaWorld San Diego's Sister Park
SeaWorld Entertainment bought a water park in late 2012. In 2013, it opened as Aquatica San Diego. This park is about 23 mi (37 km) southeast of SeaWorld San Diego. It has 26 slides!
From Aquatica to Sesame Place San Diego
On October 21, 2019, SeaWorld Entertainment announced that Aquatica San Diego would become Sesame Place San Diego. This was the first Sesame Place theme park on the West Coast. Aquatica San Diego closed in September 2021. It then reopened as Sesame Place San Diego on March 26, 2022, keeping its fun water park rides.
Images for kids
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Orca Encounter
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Orca Encounter
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Sea Lions Live
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Sea Lions Live
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Dolphin Adventures
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Up close with the dolphins.
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Sea Lion being fed by a guest.
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At the 18th annual Kids First Fair.
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SeaWorld Rescue Team members working with the U.S. Navy evacuating an injured sea turtle.
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Beluga whale in the Wild Arctic exhibit.
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Dolphins jumping at a show.
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American flamingo in one of the ponds.
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Fireworks at night.
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See also
In Spanish: SeaWorld San Diego para niños
- SeaWorld
- Aquarium
- Water park
- Amusement park
