Thursday, September 27, 2018

SeaWorld San Antonio Announces New Turtle Reef Area with Two New Rides + New Waterslide


© SeaWorld San Antonio
Today SeaWorld San Antonio announced a major expansion for their 2019 season called Turtle Reef, a brand new area that will feature a sea turtle habitat along with two new thrilling rides.

Turtle Reef will be built between Shamu Stadium and the Rio Loco river rapids ride, taking up a currently undeveloped area.

© SeaWorld San Antonio
Within Turtle Reef, visitors will find a "fascinating habitat that will enable guests to get an up-close look at threatened and endangered sea turtles, plus learn about the threats the species face in the wild. The focal point will be a 126,000-gallon coral reef-themed environment, with a unique and natural bio filtration, featuring rescued and non-releasable green sea turtles, along with hundreds of multi-colored Caribbean fish."  The new habitat will feature SeaWorld San Antonio's second underwater viewing area, with floor to ceiling portals with turtles swimming just inches away.

© SeaWorld San Antonio
Near Turtle Reef will be two exciting new family rides, Riptide Rescue and Sea Swinger.  Riptide Rescue looks like it will be a Huss Airboat ride, similar in design (and name) to the ride at sister park SeaWorld San Diego.  The ride features three arms with rescue boat themed gondolas for riders, and the motion is similar to a Trokia ride.

Sea Swinger appears to be one of Zamperla's smaller model pendulum rides.  Passengers will sit at the end of the pendulum in a circle, facing outward, then spin as it swings 180 degrees in both directions.

This video shows off the new Turtle Reef area, including animations of the new rides.  In celebration of the new area the theme park will also form a new partnership with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute's Amos Rehabilitation Keep, giving them 5% of proceeds from turtle-themed merchandise sold at SeaWorld.  The organization's goal is to rescue and rehabilitate injured sea turtles, birds and other animals.

© SeaWorld San Antonio
Next door to SeaWorld San Antonio is Aquatica, a full water park, which will also feature a thrilling new waterslide tower next year.  Named Ihu's Breakaway Falls, the slides will be themed after the park's colorful gecko, Ihu.  Each slide will start with a floor-dropping plunge down a steep slide, with plenty of thrills, tight turns and tunnels located along the journey.

For more information on all that is new to the parks at SeaWorld San Antonio in 2019, check out the park's official website.


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