SeaWorld San Diego has year-long plans to celebrate six decades in Mission Bay.
Festivities began on March 21, 60 years to the day that SeaWorld first opened its gates in San Diego, with chief parks operation officer Byron Surrett speaking to guests and reflecting upon the company’s long history.
He was joined by SeaWorld’s longest-tenured employee, Charli Manzano, and SeaWorld leadership. The ceremony concluded with costume characters Shamu, Coral the Dolphin, Sydney the Shark, Shivers the Polar Bear, Puck the Penguin, and Flip the Sea Lion back together again to the audience’s delight.
Manzano has been working at SeaWorld San Diego since March 14, 1964. She started as a waitress at Hawaiian Punch Village when the park opened, acting as a mentor to the younger employees. She stayed at Hawaiian Punch Village for 17 years, working up to the position of manager and cross-training at other food and beverage locations in the park as it expanded. She then moved into a position on the group sales team, before moving into her current role as the receptionist at the administration building. Her fondest memory of her time at SeaWorld is being involved in the Lagoon Show, where she would perform a hula dance.
“It’s our diamond anniversary and there will be so much more to see,” said SeaWorld San Diego vice president Tyler Carter. “We recently kicked off a four-day event selling vintage and retro merchandise with some limited-edition food and beverage options, including the return of the Shamu cookie, a 60th-anniversary burger and donut, specialty cocktails, and mocktails. We also have a special 60th anniversary IPA, exclusive to the park, in partnership with Mike Hess Brewing.”
Added Carter: “We’ll also have a special 60th-anniversary gallery of historic photos and memorabilia at our landmark Explorer’s Cafe, where guests can walk through a memory lane over the past 60 years of things done at this park.”
Adding more excitement to 2024’s anniversary observance, the new “Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience exhibit” will be opening later this year. The first of its kind for SeaWorld parks, the Jellyfish Experience will be the newest immersive and interactive aquarium at the park.
Guests to the new exhibit will be greeted by a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes in three unique galleries as if diving into the heart of the ocean. Each of the three galleries will feature a jelly species to discover including Moon Jellyfish, Pacific Sea Nettles, Upside-Down Jellyfish, and Comb Jellies. Through educational components and aquarist staff within the exhibit, guests will learn from experts what makes a jellyfish, the beauty and diversity of the translucent species, their behaviors and patterns, and how they have adapted to some of the most extreme environments on Earth.
SeaWorld is a marine life theme park and accredited zoo and aquarium that provides experiences while educating and inspiring guests of all ages to care about marine life. Welcoming millions of guests every year, the marine mammal parks offer fun and enriching experiences from up-close animal encounters and year-round educational programs to award-winning marine-life-themed rides and attractions, special events, and exciting entertainment.
For 60-plus years, SeaWorld has advanced the conservation of marine life in and outside its parks through science, education, and exceptional animal care that is Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. SeaWorld is one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world, helping more than 40,000 animals to date.
The SeaWorld Conservation Fund, a nonprofit foundation established in 2003, has provided more than $20 million to nearly 1,400 organizations to advance critical research on every continent. A portion of park proceeds goes toward supporting these longstanding conservation commitments.
To commemorate 60 years of operation, the marine mammal park, for a limited time, is offering 50% off on guests purchasing tickets, fun cards, and annual passes.
SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO TIMELINE
1964: SeaWorld San Diego opened its gates for the first time in 1964, founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris, and David DeMott. Originally planned as an underwater restaurant, the concept grew into a marine zoological park on 21 acres along the shore of Mission Bay. With an initial investment of $1.5 million, 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two saltwater aquariums, SeaWorld drew more than 400,000 visitors its first year.
Adult admission is $2.25 on opening day.
Opening areas included: Japanese Village, Lagoon Stadium, Saltwater Aquarium, Sea Grotto, Hawaiian Punch Village, and Theater of the Sea.
1969: Skytower opens.
1976: Captain Kids World opens; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich buys all three parks.
1977: Mission Bay Research Foundation becomes Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.
1983: “Penguin Encounter” opens.
1989: Anheuser-Busch buys four SeaWorlds.
1992: “Shark Encounter” opens.
1997: J.J. the gray whale rescue and rehabilitation.
1998: Dolphin Interaction Program inaugurated; release of J.J. the gray whale.
1999: Shipwreck Rapids and Shipwreck Café open.
2000: Oiled Wildlife Care Center opens.
2002: California Coastal Commission approves SeaWorld master plan to allow expansion.
2004: “Journey to Atlantis” ride opens.
2008: SeaWorld collaborates with Sesame Workshop and opens Sesame Street Bay of Play area.
2009: Blackstone Group buys SeaWorld from Anheuser-Busch InBev for more than $2 billion.
2011: SeaWorld San Diego eliminated the use of plastic bags in the park’s gift shops.
2012: “Manta” rollercoaster ride opens.
2013: Blackstone takes SeaWorld public. The private equity firm later sold enough shares that it is no longer a majority owner but it is the largest shareholder.
2014: “Explorer’s Reef” opens for its 50th anniversary; adult admission, $84; annual pass, $328.
2015: Dolphin Days, dolphin presentation debuts; SeaWorld implemented a saltwater flushing system in one of the park’s restrooms.
2017: Orca Encounter, new orca educational presentation debuts.
2018: Electric Eel ride opens.
2019: Tidal Twister ride opens.
2022: SeaWorld announces over 40,000 animal rescues, Emperor dive coaster opens.
2023: Arctic Rescue, straddle coaster, opens; Pearl is the first Emperor penguin chick to hatch in over a decade.
