SeaWorld San Antonio is a 250-acre (100 ha) marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, located in the Westover Hills District of San Antonio, Texas on the city’s west side. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, and the world's largest marine-life theme park. The other SeaWorld parks are located in San Diego, California, Orlando, Florida, and one will soon be located in Abu Dhabi, UAE under separate ownership. It is a member of the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
History
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The park, initially called Sea World of Texas, was developed by Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich (now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Built for $170 million, it opened on May 27, 1988 and welcomed 75,000 people during the grand opening. It had 3.3 million visitors in its first 12 months of operation, placing it among the Top 10 attractions in Texas. At the time of its debut, it was billed as "the largest educational, marine-life theme park in the world."
In 1989, Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich (heavy in debt and fighting a hostile takeover) sold its SeaWorld and Boardwalk and Baseball theme parks to Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Plans to build a second Boardwalk and Baseball park adjacent to Sea World San Antonio were immediately abandoned.
On November 26, 1988, Kayla (stage named "Baby Shamu") was the first killer whale born at the park. She now resides at SeaWorld Orlando.
Under Anheuser-Busch ownership, the park closed less popular attractions such as the Texas Walk, the U.S. Map Plaza, and the Garden of Flags and added its popular Budweiser Clydesdales to the park.
In 2008, Anheuser-Busch merged with InBev; soon after, the newly merged company sold the SeaWorld parks to Blackstone Group.
In March 2016, SeaWorld Entertainment announced that the current generation of killer whales at it parks would be the last. SeaWorld San Antonio currently houses 5 killer whales. It was also announced that the theatrical killer whale shows would be phased out and replaced with more naturalistic Orca Encounters. SeaWorld San Antonio's Orca Encounter is expected to open sometime in 2019.
Attractions
Roller coasters and thrill rides
Shows
- One Ocean (Shamu Theater): The current Shamu show featuring the park's killer whales and their trainers. It will be replaced by the new Orca Encounter which is expected to open in 2019.
- "Killer Whales: Up Close": a more educational show on killer whales that focuses on husbandry, training and simple killer whale science.
- Clyde and Seamore's Sea Lion High (Sea Lion Stadium): Opened May 2015, this comical show features California sea lions Clyde and Seamore, students of Sea Lion High, who try to pass their classes before the final bell on the last day of school in order to graduate. It also features walrus Principal Maximillian Worthington (The walrus is currently on a breeding loan so it's not in the show.) and otter O.P. Otter.
- "Sea Lions at Play": an educational presentation at Sea Lion Stadium.
- Ocean Discovery: Dolphins & Beluga Whales (Beluga Stadium): an educational presentation featuring Pacific white-sided dolphins, beluga whales, macaws, and their trainers.
- Pets Ahoy! (Sea Star Theater): A comical show featuring the talents of dogs, cats, birds, rats, pot-bellied pigs, and other animals. All of the trained cats and dogs in the show are rescue animals from shelters in the San Antonio area.
Exhibits
- Animal Connection Conservation Center
- Dolphin Lagoon: The naturalistic centerpiece of Discovery Point now allows guests to experience dolphins in two whole new ways, by reserving an up-close signature Dolphin Swim experience, and by observing them above and below the surface along the pool wall or through an expansive underwater viewing area.
- Penguin Encounter: Visitors step into the Antarctic wilderness on a moving walkway and view over 200 penguins in a variety of species. There are additional exhibits where one can read about the penguins and view other aquatic birds including Puffins.
- Pacific Point Preserve: A west-coastal themed habitat featuring Seals, sea lions, and otters. A feeder booth is available and fish for feeding seals and sea lions can be purchased during select times throughout the day. Hawaiian Monk Seals used to be housed here until they were transferred to the Minnesota Zoo in 2015.
- Explorer's Reef: A large aquarium that houses animals including sting rays, a naturalistic coral reef, tropical fish, and a variety of sharks.
- Alligator Alley: American alligators lounging around Ski Lake.
- Flamingo Pond: Visitors can stop by and see flamingos by Shamu Theater.
Sesame Street Bay of Play
Formerly Shamu's Happy Harbor, the Sesame Street Bay of Play is an interactive children's play area based on the long-running television series Sesame Street.
Rides:
- Grover's Roundup (carousel)
- Abby Cadabby's Rocking Wave (rocking unit)
- Big Bird's Spinning Reef (mini Ferris wheel)
- Elmo's Dolphin Dive (mini drop unit)
Activities:
- Splish 'n' Splash (water play area)
- Little Bird's Splash (small children's water play area)
- Tot's Ahoy (small children's playground)
- Net Climb
- Playground
Venues
- Boardwalk Games & Events Center: A game center combined with the exit of the Great White that features midway games and a video arcade.
- Sea Star Theater: An indoor theater that normally features the comical pet show, "Pets Ahoy!"
- Steel Eel Events Pavilion: an open-air events venue located next to the Steel Eel's queue line.
- Nautilus Amphitheater: a covered amphitheater that features seasonal shows.
- Bayside Stadium: a large lakeside outdoor stadium along the park's lake that hosts lumberjack stunt shows, fireworks displays, and formerly, ski stunt shows.
- Ports of Call: an outdoor picnic events area.
Animal inventory
Killer whales
SeaWorld's main attraction is its killer whales, which are housed in the 7-million-gallon habitats that are known as Shamu Theater. Shamu was the name of the one brought to SeaWorld San Diego in the 1960s. It is now used as a stage name for adult killer whales in performances at SeaWorld parks. They all have real names.
The killer whales at the park are Kamea (F), Kyuquot (M), Sakari (F), Takara (F) and Tuar (M) as of July 2017.
A female orca, Unna, died on December 21, 2015.
On April 19, 2017 Takara gave birth to her fifth calf and the last one born to the company. The calf, which was female and named Kyara. Kyara, died on July 24 due to suspected pneumonia, one of the most common causes of death in whales and dolphins both in the wild and under human care.
Dolphins
There are several species of dolphins at the park: Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic/Pacific bottlenose hybrids, and Pacific white-sided dolphins.
The 23 bottlenose dolphins are either residing in the Animal Care pools or at the new Discovery Point facility. The Animal Care pools were a part of the temporary Dolphin Walk attraction, a tour that took guests to the back area of the park to view the dolphins and other species of animals that the SeaWorld-Busch Gardens Conservation Fund cares for whilst Discovery Point was being constructed. The park's Pacific white-sided dolphins reside at Beluga Stadium and are part of shows there.
- Animal Care:
Females: Punta, Notchfin, Nacha, Yoyo, Mattie, Nikki, Sadie, Alice, Brie, Koko, Haven, Nala and Yuri. [as of August 17, 2017]
Males: Gilly, Ansley and Zip. [as of August 17, 2017]
- Discovery Point:
Females: Ripley, Neelee, Capri, Blyss. [as of August 17, 2017]
Males: Fathom, Brady and Cisco. [as of August 17, 2017]
Bottlenose dolphins are often transferred between Discovery Point and Animal Care.
Of these 23 dolphins, 6 are males and 17 are females. Two (females Notchfin and Punta) were captured, four (males Gilly and Zip and females Mattie and Alice) were rescued, and the other 17 were born in captivity.
There are 17 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and 6 Atlantic/Pacific hybrids.
The six hybrids are all females named Koko, Nacha, Nala, Neelee, Nikki, and Sadie.
Koko: mother is Yoyo (Atlantic) and father is Kai (Pacific)
Nacha: mother is Notchfin (Atlantic) and father is Jethro (Pacific)
Nala: mother is Nikki (¼ Atlantic, ¾ Pacific) and father is Razzle (Atlantic)
Neelee: mother is Nacha (½ Atlantic, ½ Pacific) and father is Hacksaw (Atlantic)
Nikki: mother is Nacha (½ Atlantic, ½ Pacific) and father is Kai (Pacific)
Sadie: mother is Puka (Atlantic) and father is Kai (Pacific)
You may hear trainers refer to Koko, Nikki, and Sadie as “one of the Kai babiesâ€
Beluga Stadium: Pacific white-sided dolphins: Avalon (F), Betty (F), Bolt (M), Catalina (F), and Hailey (F) [as of May 25, 2017]
On February 5, 2016, Dart (M), a Pacific white-sided dolphin, died. His cause of death is unknown.
Beluga whales
The Beluga whales at the park are Crissy (F), Imaq (M), Kenai (M), Luna (F), Martha (F), Natasha (F), Oliver (M), Samson (M), and Innik (M) {as of September 2017}
The beluga whales regularly participate in Ocean Discovery presentations and Discovery Point Beluga Swims.
On April 17, 2011, Imaq, an adult male beluga from the Vancouver Aquarium, arrived at the park on a breeding loan. This is the third of three beluga whales on a breeding loan from the Vancouver Aquarium to the park: Nanuq, Allua, and Imaq.
In 2009, Nico, Maris, and Natasha from the Georgia Aquarium were moved to the park temporarily to keep them away from the worst of the noise during construction at the aquarium. Nico died on October 31, 2009. A preliminary necropsy was unable to determine if his death was caused by the move or by something else. On March 3, 2010, Maris and a new male, Beethoven, were returned to the Georgia Aquarium while Natasha was paired with a potential mate and remained at the park.
On July 9, 2013, Luna gave birth to a male calf, sired by Imaq. On July 26, 2013, Crissy gave birth to a female calf, also sired by Imaq. She was named Stella, but on November 13, 2015, she died. On June 20, 2015, Martha gave birth to a female calf.
Martha gave birth prematurely to a female calf on June 20, 2015. She has since died.
Luna gave birth on August 11, 2016 to a male calf. He was named Kenai.
Crissy gave birth on September 17, 2017 to a male calf. He was named Innik.
California Sea Lions
Sea Lion Stadium/Sea Lion Shallows:Leon (M), Lokey (M), Ranger (M), Moose (M), Han (M), Salsa (M), 2 others
Pacific Point Preserve:
Harbor Seals
Pacific Point Preserve:
Asian Small-Clawed Otters
Sea Lion Stadium: Saki (F),
Pacific Point Preserve: Otis (M), Juliet (F)
Discovery Point
Discovery Point includes a lagoon of bottlenose dolphins.
Discovery Point officially opened to the public on May 21, 2016.
Aquatica
Aquatica is a water park that was formerly a section of the park under the name, Lost Lagoon, which opened in 1993 and closed on September 5, 2011 to be replaced by Aquatica San Antonio, a separate gated water park based on the original Aquatica Orlando that opened on March 1, 2008. Some water attractions like The Sidewinders tower (with 4 tube slides and 2 large bowl slides) were rethemed, painted and renamed Tassie's Twister. The splash attack play structure stayed but it was renovated with new theming, new slides, new interactive elements, new landscaping, and a new zero-entry pool that is named Walkabout Waters. The activity pool stayed but was also renovated with new theming, new interactive elements, new pool updates, new landscaping, new beach lounge chairs, inviting waterfalls and a renaming. Those four existing water attractions were kept during the retheming. The new park opened on Memorial Day weekend May 2012.
Separate ticket gates for each park were added at the beginning of 2016. Before they were added, Aquatica's entrance was located inside of SeaWorld, thus obligating Aquatica guests to pay for SeaWorld admission in order to enter Aquatica unlike the other Aquatica parks in Orlando and Chula Vista, California which are separate from SeaWorld. The separate gates now give guests the opportunity to visit each park individually just as their other counterparts do.
Annual events
Wild Days
An event that features special shows and presentations by conservationists including Jack Hanna accompanied by many animals, some endangered.
Run for the Fund
An annual fun run event around the park that benefits the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.
Seven Seas Food Festival
Guests are invited to set sail on a culinary voyage during the annual Seven Seas Food Festival.
Electric Ocean - NEW for 2018
Electric Ocean will be a summer night event at the park that offers extended park hours, nightly shows, and fireworks.
Bier Fest
Debuting in September 2018, Bier Fest will be an Oktoberfest-themed beer festival featuring over 100 beers from around the world. It will also feature German food and live music.
SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular
SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular is an annual children's Halloween event that takes place at all three SeaWorld parks on October weekends. Activities and attractions include trick-or-treating, photo opportunities, a hay maze, and a kiddie train called SeaWorld Express.
Howl-O-Scream
Howl-O-Scream is an annual Halloween horror-themed event that takes place at Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and SeaWorld San Antonio.
SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration
SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration is an annual Christmas event that takes place at all three SeaWorld parks during Christmas on select dates. It offers Christmas themed areas, shows, and attractions.
Attendance
References
External links
- Media related to SeaWorld San Antonio at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- SeaWorld San Antonio at the Roller Coaster DataBase