SeaWorld San Antonio

Infobox Amusement park
name = SeaWorld San Antonio


caption =
location = San Antonio, Texas
opening_date = 1988
previous_names = SeaWorld of Texas
season = March to December
area = convert|250|acre|km2
rides = 12
coasters = 3
water_rides = 9
owner = Busch Entertainment Corporation
slogan =
homepage = [http://www.seaworld.com/sanantonio SeaWorld San Antonio]

SeaWorld San Antonio is a convert|250|acre|km2|sing=on marine-life theme park located in the Westover Hills area of San Antonio, Texas. The park is a part of the SeaWorld chain owned by Busch Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

SeaWorld San Antonio is the world's largest marine-life theme park and is a member of both the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (formerly the American Zoo and Aquarium Association).

The park holds a yearly Halloween event, titled Howl-O-Scream, in the Fall.

History

SeaWorld San Antonio (formerly SeaWorld of Texas) was developed by Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich (now Harcourt Trade Publishers) and opened in 1988. The park was built for $170 million and welcomed 3.3 million visitors in its first 12 months of operation, placing it among the top 10 attractions in Texas. At the time the park opened, 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 Boardwalk and Baseball park adjacent to SeaWorld of Texas were immediately abandoned.

On November 26, 1988, Kayla (stage named "Baby Shamu") was the first orca born at SeaWorld San Antonio.

Under Anheuser-Busch's watch, SeaWorld San Antonio closed less popular attractions such as the Texas Walk, the U.S. Map Plaza, and the Circle of Flags and added its popular Clydsedales to the park. The educational focus of the parks were de-emphasized, and expansion focused on the addition of thrill rides and a water park. In 1993 the park opened its Lost Lagoon water park, and in 1997 the park debuted its first roller coaster, The Great White, along with Rio Loco, a water rapids ride.

In 1995, Anheuser-Busch successfully lobbied for legislation allowing a company making less than 75,000 barrels per year of alcoholic beverages in Texas to sell their own product on premises they own. This legislation effectively legalised brewpubs in the state of Texas for the first time since Prohibition. See also [http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/73R/billtext/html/HB01425S.HTM the creation of the Texas Brewpub license] and [http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/73R/billtext/html/HB01445S.HTM related modifications to Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission] .

Attractions

Thrill rides

*The Great White - Inverted Coaster
*Rio Loco - River Rafting Ride
*Steel Eel - Advertised as the first and only hypercoaster in Texas with speeds up to convert|65|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on.
*Texas Splashdown - Log flume with two sixty foot drops
*Journey to Atlantis Debuted May 12, 2007 (with a special employee and media debut the 10th and 11th respectively), the model for this ride is called the SuperSplash Atlantica by Mack gmbh of Germany. This will be the first ride of its kind in North America.

Children's rides

*Jumpin' Jungle - the Jumpin' Jungle lifts "tiny" guests two stories up in the air. Once at the top, the vehicle slowly drops and bounces as the guests laugh on the way down.
*Pete's Pinwheel - SeaWorld guests will have a great time aboard Pete the Penguin's Pinwheel. This miniature ferris wheel is great for little kids and their parents.
*Shamu Express - a family roller coaster themed to the park's signature killer whale. The killer whale-themed cars zip along convert|220|ft|m of track at convert|14|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on.
*Shamu's Happy Harbor - a tropical-themed adventure area for children
*Virgil's Paint Mixer - parents along with their children can ride in oversized paint jugs on this "tea-cup" type amusement park ride.

hows and exhibits

hows

*Believe - Shamu Stadium's new show featuring interaction with whale trainers. The show is much more visual, concentrating on acrobatics, dramatic original scores, and live underwater video projection. Shamu Stadium was completely remodeled for this show. SeaWorld San Antonio holds four orcas: Kyuquot, Keet, Unna, and Tuar.
*The Cannery Row Caper - A comical who done it featuring sea lions Clyde and Seamore, who attempt to unravel the mystery of disappearing fish in a nearby cannery. Other animals appearing in this show are Walrus and Otter.
*Rockin' Ski Party - a live-action boat, water-jet and water-skiing stunt show.
*Viva! - A first of its kind for SeaWorld parks, this show features professional high divers, aerialists and synchronized swimmers performing with Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.

Exhibits

*Aviary Habitats - guests can view a variety of birds from pink flamingo, ducks and geese, among other birds from throughout the Americas.
*Clydesdale Hamlet - view the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
*Dolphin Covemain|Dolphin Cove (Seaworld) - the popular Atlantic bottlenose dolphins are on exhibit here. SeaWorld staff educates the public on their behaviors and lifestyle. Guests can interact with the dolphins and purchase fish to feed the animals.
*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.
*Seal And Sea Lion Community - a variety of seals, sea lions, walruses and otters can be found here. Everyone will be delighted to see the seals bask in the warm sunlight, the sea lions swimming in the cool water, and the otters just doing what otters do.
*Sharks/The Coral Reef - SeaWorld guests can view some of the world's most exotic and fiercest sea creatures. Some animals that are found here include sting rays, eels, tropical fish, and a variety of sharks.

Entertainment

*Boardwalk Games Center - A Game Center conjoined with the exit of the "Great White" Roller Coaster that features Midway Games and a Video Arcade.
*Sea Star Theater A 4D Theater featuring Pirates! & Haunted Lighthouse

Lost Lagoon

Lost Lagoon is a water park that was added to SeaWorld a few years after the main park opened. It's open April through September.

*Activity Pool
*Buckaroo Mountain
*Castaway Cruisin'
*Lil' Gators Lagoon
*Sky Tubin'
*Splash Attack
*Wave Wash Pool
*Sidewinders

External links

* [http://4adventure.com/seaworld/tx/default.aspx SeaWorld San Antonio]
* [http://www.seaworld.com/ SeaWorld main website]
* [http://www.lonestarthrills.com/ Lone Star Thrills]
* [http://www.westoverlink.com/ Westover Hills]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvpXdGNZeY4 YouTube.com video of "The Great White"]