Founded in 1964, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment began as the idea of four graduates from the University of California Los Angeles. The marine zoological park was opened on 22 acres along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego.
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
SeaWorld opened a second park in Aurora, Ohio in 1970 and a third in Orlando Florida in 1973 and the fourth, and largest, in San Antonio Texas in 1988. Of the four SeaWorld parks, only the Aurora, Ohio has since closed. Sea World was held in a private partnership until 1968 and over the years has been sold to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc (HBJ), Anheuser-Busch and later the Blackstone Group.
Anheuser-Busch Purchase
Anheuser-Busch purchased the SeaWorld parks in 1989 from HBJ. The purchase included the now defunct Cypress Gardens which was closed and became the site for Legoland, Florida. During the management by Anheuser-Busch, the parks continued their expansion into marine studies and entertainment, offering more rides, water parks and shows in addition to the animal attractions themselves.
Current SeaWorld Parks
- SeaWorld Orlando - Orlando, Florida
- SeaWorld San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas
- SeaWorld San Diego - San Diego, California
Sea World Attractions
Although the rides and attractions vary from park to park, these are among Sea World's most popular draw beyond their animal exhibits:
- Journey to Atlantis
- Wild Arctic
- Rocky Point Preserve
- Dolphin Cove (Seaworld)
- Lights, Camera, Imagination 4-D!
- Shipwreck Rapids
- SeaWorld Sky Tower
- Sesame Street Bay of Play
Animal Exhibits
- Dolphins
- Orcas
- Pacific Walruses
- Sea Lion & Otter Stadium
- Penguins
- Pilot Whales
- Beluga Whales
Around the World
Visitors from all over the world come to the SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment in California, Texas and Florida. While Shamu was the name of the original orca, a number of different orcas are cast as "Shamu" in the different shows featuring the killer whales.