SeaWorld San Antonio is a 250-acre (1.0 km2) marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, located in the Westover Hills area of San Antonio, Texas. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group, and the world's largest marine-life theme park. It is a member of both the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (formerly the American Zoo and Aquarium Association).
SeaWorld San Antonio (formerly SeaWorld of Texas) was developed by Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich (now Harcourt Trade Publishers) and opened in 1988. The park was built for $170 million and welcomed 3.3 million visitors in its first 12 months of operation, placing it among the TOP 10 attractions in Texas. At the time of the park's debut, it was billed as "the largest educational, marine-life theme park in the world."
In 1989, Harcourt, Brace, and Jovanovich (heavy in debt and fighting a hostile takeover) sold its SeaWorld and Boardwalk and Baseball theme parks to Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Plans to build a Boardwalk and Baseball park adjacent to SeaWorld of Texas were immediately abandoned.
On November 26, 1988, Kayla (stage named "Baby Shamu") was the first orca born at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Under Anheuser-Busch's watch, SeaWorld San Antonio closed less popular attractions such as the Texas Walk, the U.S. Map Plaza, and the Garden of Flags and added its popular Clydsedales to the park. The educational focus of the three parks were de-emphasized, and expansion focused on the addition of thrill rides (The Great White, Steel Eel, SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken, etc.) and water parks. In 1993, SeaWorld San Antonio opened its Lost Lagoon water park, and expanded with more thrills including the Rio Loco rapids ride till 2000.
In 1995, Anheuser-Busch successfully lobbied for legislation that allowed a company making less than 75,000 barrels per year of alcoholic beverages in Texas to sell their own product on premises they own. This legislation effectively legalized brewpubs in the state of Texas for the first time since Prohibition.
SeaWorld's main attraction is its Orcas, several of which are housed in 7-million-gallon habitats that are each known as Shamu Stadium. Shamu was the name of the first Orca brought to SeaWorld San Diego in the 1960s. 'Shamu' is now used as a stage name for adult Orcas in performances at SeaWorld parks. The Orcas all have real names.
Orcas at San Antonio: Takara, Takara's Calf, Kyuquot, Keet, Unna, and Tuar
Bottlenose Dolphins at San Antonio: Alice, Brady, Fathom, Gilly, Hacksaw, Kai, Mattie, Nacha, Nikki, Notchfin, Osbourne, Ping, Puka, Punta, Scotia, Yoyo, and four yet-to-be-named calves.
Belugas at San Antonio: Natasha, Crissy, Bella, Grayson, Luna, Martha, Oliver, Sikuu, Qinu, and Whisper.
NOTE:After living in San Antonio since March, Beethoven, the resident breeding male, was relocated to Atlanta, Georgia's Georgia Aquarium, where the aquarium's three resident beluga whales, Nico, Maris, and Natasha were residing. Nico died on SeaWorld's premises and Natasha, Maris's mother, stayed in San Antonio and Beethoven came with Maris back to Atlanta.
Lost Lagoon is a water park that was added to SeaWorld in 1993. It's open April through September.
Summer Nights offers entertainment during the night hours. During Summer Nights, the shows that they offer is Shamu Rocks Texas- Not only just Shamu, also today's hit music during the show similar to the Believe Show. Sea Lions Tonight- Where guests join these pranksters spoof about the days shows. R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4D- a 4-D movie in which takes place in Sea Star Theater. Pirates Plunder- Guests will join the ships captain and his crew as the captain battles for his bride and his ship against his nemesis, Captain Le Foe. A play like setting in Nautilus Amphitheater.
Howl-O-Scream is an annual Halloween event that takes place at SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. This year's event features the character Jack the Pumpkin King as the main icon, who is also featured at the event in Busch Gardens.