In 2020, SeaWorld San Antonio will ring in spring in a big way. The theme park is getting ready for the arrival of Texas Stingray, which park officials say will be the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in Texas when it opens next year.
Texas Stingray is designed to be the latest in SeaWorld San Antonio's array of breathtaking rides. Built by Great Coasters International, the Stingray will reach a top speed of 55 mph. A 100-foot drop and a 100-foot tunnel will be among the ride's significant features.
Visitors will be able to find it across from SeaWorld San Antonio's new turtle reef exhibit between the Rio Lock rapid river ride and Orca Stadium.
“Texas Stingray marks a new wave of excitement for SeaWorld,” said SeaWorld San Antonio VP of general services Scott Bacon said in a press release. “We continue to provide new reasons to visit SeaWorld and offer exciting new adventures for our guests, with a blend of thrilling rides, family attractions, and incredible animal and educational experiences.”
Among the features of the Texas Stingray:
- First drop is 57 degrees with 76-degree high turns
- Total ride takes more than two minutes along 3,379 feet of track
- Riders will hit 16 airtime hills
- It will be the first wooden roller coaster built in Texas since 2014
Ray Gonzales, marketing manager for SeaWorld San Antonio, said Texas Stingray, like the park's other rides, was designed to connect the roller coaster with an animal inside the park.
"The stingray was a logical choice as the quick movements of stingrays will be mimicked while riding the coaster," Gonzales says. "With our goal of a new thrilling attraction, we also wanted to make sure that younger thrill-seekers could also partake in this adventure. Texas Stingray features a height requirement of only 46 inches, which will allow families to ride together.”
With Texas Stingray, the park will now be home to five coaster experiences, giving all ages different kinds of thrills.
While the Stingray won't be open for a few more months, from now through October 27, visitors can buy a SeaWorld Fun Card for $67.50 and enjoy free admission for the remainder of the 2019 season, as well as the entire 2020 SeaWorld season. For $89.99, guests can buy a two-park Fun Card and get access to both SeaWorld and Aquatica for the rest of 2019 and all of 2020.
Rendering of the Texas Stingray roller coaster that will open at SeaWorld San Antonio in spring 2020.
