SeaWorld to Introduce New Roller Coaster in 2018

In an effort to expand beyond the ill-fated animal shows and bad press in recent years, SeaWorld will be introducing three new major attractions for 2017 including Ocean Explorer, the new Orca Encounter and the all-new summer nighttime extravaganza Electric Ocean—Electric Eel. In addition, yesterday SeaWorld San Diego unveiled plans for its 2018 attraction—the Electric Eel roller coaster.

With these new park attractions, 2017 and 2018 will be a period with the most robust growth since the park’s opening more than five decades ago.

Manta Ride at SeaWorld

“Electric Eel will bring a whole new level of excitement to SeaWorld in 2018,” said SeaWorld San Diego’s Park President Marilyn Hannes. “This new, first-of-its-kind coaster at SeaWorld will give riders the rare opportunity to feel what it’s like to move like an eel as they twist and flip along nearly 900 feet of undulating track.”

Electric Eel will feature astounding loops, twists and airtime. Multiple-launch experiences will propel riders forward and backward as they speed through the ride’s station house accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour in seconds. This adrenaline-pumping coaster will offer riders the only upside-down view of Mission Bay.

SeaWorld clearly has a goal to continue to evolve. They hope that this phase of growth will be the next generation of marine-life experiences, setting the standard for combining immersive and innovative ways to engage with ocean animals while providing family fun for children and adults.

“The future is bright at SeaWorld and we remain committed to long-term investment in the park,” said Hannes. “We always strive to provide new reasons to visit SeaWorld and give our guests experiences that matter with a blend of exciting rides and incredible animal and educational experiences. We want our guests from around the world to not only have a great time, but be inspired to care about the ocean and the animals that live there.”

Complementing the Electric Eel roller coaster is the anticipated Ocean Explorer experience opening in 2017—which will include a live eel habitat featuring one of the world’s most extensive collections of moray eels. Through large viewing windows, visitors will plunge into the world of the eel as they swim and dart through the caves and crevasses of their naturalistic deep-ocean environment.

Electric Eel will join Manta and Journey to Atlantis as the third coaster-type ride experience at SeaWorld San Diego. It will be constructed on an approximately two-acre site on the eastern side of the park between the currently under-construction Ocean Explorer attraction and Journey to Atlantis. The ride is expected to open in summer 2018.