SeaWorld San Diego
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| Location | San Diego, California |
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| Website | SeaWorld San Diego |
| Owner | Busch Entertainment Corporation |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Previous names | SeaWorld California |
| Operating season | All Year |
| Area | 189 acres |
| Rides | 4 total
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| Slogan | Below The Surface, Above The Waves |
SeaWorld San Diego is a theme park located in San Diego, California. The park is owned by Busch Entertainment Corporation, a division of Anheuser-Busch.
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[edit] History
The following information is official and is from, SeaWorld.com.
SeaWorld was founded in 1964 by four graduates of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). They had originally considered the idea of building an underwater restaurant. Although this idea was not technically feasible, the concept grew into the idea of a marine zoological park on 22 acres along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. With an initial investment of $1.5 million, 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two seawater aquariums, SeaWorld drew more than 400,000 visitors its first year — a clear indication of the public’s curiosity and fascination for marine animals.
In the earliest years, the park was held as a private partnership. Then, in 1968, SeaWorld offered its stock publicly, enabling the company to grow. In 1970, a second SeaWorld park was built — in [Aurora, Ohio], near Cleveland. It was followed by a park in Orlando, Florida in 1973, and the largest park, which opened in San Antonio, Texas in 1988. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. (HBJ), owned and operated SeaWorld from 1976 to 1989. Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. purchased the SeaWorld parks from HBJ in November 1989. The parks are owned and operated by Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC), one of the Anheuser-Busch Companies. BEC also owns and operates Adventure Island in Tampa, Florida; Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia; Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida; Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania; and the newest member of the BEC family — Discovery Cove in Orlando. In January 2001, BEC sold SeaWorld Cleveland to Six Flags. Over the years, SeaWorld has grown from a small collection of marine animals into one of the largest and most respected marine zoological collections in the world. Its three parks are accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) — a recognition that these facilities have achieved high levels of animal husbandry techniques; medical care; and management competence in their zoological exhibition, collections, public education, and park operations.
Throughout SeaWorld’s history, the parks have remained committed to SeaWorld’s founding principles of quality in the areas of education, entertainment, research, and conservation.
[edit] Rides and Attractions
The following information is official and is from, SeaWorld.com.
[edit] Rides
- Journey to Atlantis, take a journey on a "mythical rush through uncharted waters" aboard the Journey to Atlantis water coaster. You first climb the huge lift hill, then you drop down and down on one of the biggest drops in California. Then, you board an "elevator" that surrounds you with Commerson's Dolphins and once again you drop down the "roller coaster" portion of the ride, finally ending in a cool splash of water.
- Shipwreck Rapids, riders aboard Shipwreck Rapids will sure get one heck of a soaking aboard this thrilling water rampage adventure through caves, caverns, and abandoned ships.
- Wild Arctic, visitors can board a simulated "jet helicopter" for a flight no one will soon forget through the arctic tundra. With whales, walruses, arctic foxes, seals, and polar bears along the way; you sure won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind attraction!
- Skyride, take a relaxing ride aboard the Skyride for a six-minute journey across the San Diego Bay located right next to SeaWorld San Diego. View the elegant beauty of Mission Bay aboard SeaWorld's one and only, Skyride.
- SkyTower, presented by Southwest Airlines, take an exhilarating ride aboard the SkyTower for some great views of not only SeaWorld San Diego, but Mission Bay and Downtown San Diego also.
- Shamu's Happy Harbor, climb, jump, run, and skip around this beautifully created "jungle-jim" at Shamu's Happy Harbor. Activities include; a water maze, splash down slides, plastic ball playground, and a crazy one-of-a-kind sandbox.
[edit] Exhibits
- Clydsedale Hamlet, guests at the park can view the all-famous Clydsedale horses that made Anheuser-Busch famous.
- Forbidden Reef, visitors can get up close and personal to bat rays, California moray eels, and other exotic creatures that live dark under the clear blue ocean waters.
- Penguin Encounter, six cold weather species of penguin and one temperate species can be found here. Visitors seep into the antarctic wilderness inside a conveyor belt and they can read cards that tell about the history of penguins.
- Manatee Rescue, guests may see up-close, the endangered Florida manatees that were rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld staff.
- Shark Encounter, visitors can get face to face with some of the world's fiercest of all marine-life; the shark. From over thirteen different species; including the sandtiger shark, bonnethead, lemon, Australian leopard, nurse, pacific black tip, white tip reef, brown banded bamboo, white spotted bamboo, epaulette, port jackson, and coral catshark. But, sharks aren't the only thing located here. Other "creatures of the deep" including a {{barracuda]] can be found here.
- Rocky Point Preserve, guests visiting the Rocky Point Preserve can view two totally different animals; the bottlenose dolphin and sea otter. First, guests will enjoy feeding and greeting the dolphins that roam freely among their habitats. And finally, guests can get an up close and personal look at the sea otters.
- California Tide Pool, get an amazing up-close venture into the California beaches as you roll up your sleves and touch amazing and sea stars. Other animals in the exhibit include purple sea urchin, green sea anemone, sea cucumber, wavy top snail, khellets welk, California spiny lobster and assorted fish. SeaWorld educators are also on hand to help anyone better educate themselves on these types of habitats and the animals that live inside of them.
- Base Station: Wild Arctic, come face-to-face with some of the arctic's most beautiful and majestic animals. At the Base Station: Wild Arctic you will see polar bears up close, almost touch the walruses and seals, and get up close and personal with some of the arctic's most beautiful beluga whales.
- Freshwater Aquarium, come view some of the most amazing freshwater creatures ever seen; including species from North America, South America, and Australia. You might even view an eel or two.
- Aquarium de la Mer, after watching the ever-enjoyable, Cirque de la Mer, guests will be fascinated by the awesome array of fish including exotic tropical fish, seahorses, jellyfish, lionfish, and some of the world's most exotic octopuses.
- World of the Sea Aquarium, located near Shipwreck Rapids, guests will discover the beauty of the ocean and it's creatures. From the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of California, every ocean creature imaginable can be found here.
[edit] Shows
- Believe! (Replaced Shamu Adventure), "At the heart of every being lies a spirit of wonder. Feel it come to life in our most sensational show ever. Believe. A captivating and visually stunning new Shamu show that transports your heart to the edge of wonder. Only at SeaWorld.
- Dolphin Discovery, guests watching Dolphin Discovery will certainly awe at the attention to detail that went into creating this show. This fast-paced show features tailwalks, jumps, and backflips from bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales.
- Pets Rule!, this animal show is mayhem at first glance! From wild dogs doing the tango to majestic flying birds; this show will truly show us what all of our pets do when no one's at home. This isn't just your ordinary SeaWorld show.
- Clyde And Seamore In Deep Deep Trouble, SeaWorld's hilarious heros find themselves in yet another hilarious act. As there trouble deepens and deepens, something happens! A mermaid comes to life! Can they stay out of trouble just this once?
- Cirque de la Mer, this is surely one of the most extordinary shows on the planet! With mysterious creatures, flying acrobats, music, and special effects; this surely will be the highlight of anyone's SeaWorld trip.This is only a summer show.
- RL Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4D, join two joyful kids on an hilarious spine-tingling adventure through one of the world's most mysterious lighthouse's, the Haunted Lighthouse. This show features Sara Paxton and Christopher Lloyd.
- Ignight: As we move into night at Dolphin Stadium elements of fire and water are featured in this spectacular mix of incredible animal behavior and rockin’ music. Ignight showcases high flying bottlenose dolphins and the nation’s only performing pilot whales in a splashy, high-energy show enhanced with theatrical lighting and pyrotechnics. Dolphin Stadium Ignights into a rock-and-roll concert venue that has guests on their feet clapping their hands to the beat.
- Sea Lions Tonite: Laugh out loud at the new nighttime comedy starring Clyde and Seamore®, in Sea Lions Tonite. This humorous variety show spoofs today's popular television shows and some of the most popular attractions at SeaWorld. Find out what kind of trouble Biff, Mr. Silly Shoes, O.P. Otter, Clyde and Seamore can get into on the decks of the La Sienna. And don't miss Clyde and Seamore during the day as they star in Deep, Deep Trouble®.
- Shamu Rocks (Replacing Shamu's House fo Douse): Shamu Rocks is Sea World San Diegos all new nightime Killer Whale Show. See Shamu like you have never seen him before in this rockin nighttime show. Countdown today's hottest hits with Shamu, and his V.J. buddy. Every evening during Summer Nights is a party when you visit Shamu Rocks. And don't miss Shamu in Believe, an entirely new, visually stunning Shamu show that will take you on a sensational, breathtaking journey of curiosity and wonder.
- Riptide: Experience Riptide, the all-new acrobatic extravaganza featuring live music and amazing gymnastics. Celebrate with our Riptide crew as they rock the night away with a pulsating drum routine, acrobatics and unique specialty acts. Be a part of Riptide all summer long it’s an experience you will never forget. See all this and more during Summer Nights at SeaWorld.
- SkyBlast: It wouldn’t be summer in San Diego without SeaWorld’s nightly fireworks. Come experience SkyBlast, the all-new fireworks extravaganza which blends popular music with choreographed firework blasts that light up the sky. See the SkyBlast fireworks spectacular every night this summer during SeaWorld’s Summer Nights celebration.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- SeaWorld San Diego Home Page
- Shamu Official Website
- Journey To Atlantis Website
- Haunted Lighthouse Website
- Busch Entertainment Company Home Page
Zoo • Public aquarium • Aviary • Menagerie • Tourist attraction
List of zoos • List of aquaria • List of zoo associations
Animals in captivity • Environmental enrichment • Endangered species • Conservation biology • Biodiversity • Endangered species • Extinction • Ex-situ conservation • In-situ conservation • Wildlife conservation • Zoology
