SAN DIEGO — Just months after debuting its latest coaster, SeaWorld is finalizing approvals on yet another one that is, by design, meant to appeal more to families than thrill seekers.
The San Diego marine park is so far keeping details about the new attraction under wraps until it secures approval from the California Coastal Commission, but rumblings about what the coaster might be are surfacing on theme park fan sites. What is known is that the new ride is planned for the Wild Arctic area of the park where a helicopter-themed ride operated for more than two decades.
That ride shut down in early 2020 after park officials decided the Wild Arctic simulators had run their course and it was time to to “update the ride experience of the attraction.”
In an application to the Coastal Commission, which expects to review the SeaWorld project as early as next month, the park offers only a brief description of the ride. It will be a roller coaster at a height of no greater than 30 feet, consisting of two trains, with no more than 32 passengers riding the coaster at any one time. The application, which was originally drafted in 2019, notes that the four Wild Arctic simulators on the project site will be removed, and the existing building will be adapted as a load station for the new ride.
The Behind the Thrills fan site offers still more details, speculating that the coaster will “traverse a course of twisting track that simulates the movements of a snowmobile on a daring Arctic rescue mission.” When SeaWorld first confirmed in 2019 that it was replacing the Wild Arctic attraction, it said that the unspecified new attraction would be arctic-themed. The Behind the Thrills post notes the track for the coaster already is being delivered to SeaWorld.
SeaWorld spokeswoman Tracy Spahr said she could not divulge any more details until the permitting process is complete.
“As we have publicly announced, we regularly look for ways to enhance the attractions, events and experiences for our guests,” she said in an emailed statement. “That includes planning and permitting through local and state regulatory agencies. We are in the permitting process and will announce more detail as and when appropriate.”
In keeping with SeaWorld’s obligation to include an educational component in most of its attractions, Spahr said the coaster “will have a conservation partner tied to it that will support us in sharing our mission to educate and inspire our guests.”
The approval process for the overall attraction includes required signoffs from the city of San Diego for building and related construction permits. City of San Diego spokesman Scott Robinson confirmed this week that the city is in the final stages of approving required permits for onsite construction of structures related to the coaster, although not the ride itself. SeaWorld’s original application to the city is due to expire Oct. 30, he said.
Although the project was conceived some time ago, the pandemic delayed all new theme park attractions across the country amid prolonged park shutdowns. SeaWorld’s Emperor dive coaster, which was originally supposed to open in 2020, did not make its debut until this year. In recent years, the park, long known for its orcas, dolphins and other marine mammals, has been doubling down on thrill rides, opening one coaster after another.
Electric Eel opened in 2018, followed the next year by Tidal Twister, although that attraction has remained “temporarily closed” for several years.
Theme park consultant Dennis Speigel said he hasn’t heard much about the new coaster at Wild Arctic because the park has been very guarded in releasing any details about it. His Ohio-based firm, International Theme Park Services, did some research and learned that the San Diego park is planning a more intimate, family-oriented launch coaster that will likely be similar to the Wave Breaker ride at the SeaWorld San Antonio park.
“I’s a good move on their part because they have enough thrill coasters in the park already and need something more family-oriented that allows the smaller children to ride it,” Speigel said. “You try to provide something annually to each demographic segment that keeps all of them happy so they’ll keep coming back.”
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