A snowmobile-themed roller coaster that takes riders on a frigid trek through the arctic tundra without ever leaving sunny Southern California is expected to begin construction soon at SeaWorld San Diego as the marine park continues its coaster-building binge.
Track segments and support pillars for a family launch coaster built by Intamin Amusement Rides have arrived at SeaWorld San Diego, according to a theme park enthusiast website.
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Dozens of teal, blue-gray and gold coaster track pieces are being stored in an otherwise unused parking lot at the San Diego marine park, according to online video posted by Parks Bros, a theme park enthusiast YouTube channel run by a pair of roller coaster-loving brothers from Southern California.
“SeaWorld San Diego Project” tags on the mystery track supports indicate the coaster was built by the Liechtenstein-based ride manufacturer, according to Parks Bros.
Additional aerial video posted by Parks Bros shows recently-cleared land next to the former Wild Arctic flight simulator attraction.
The former simulator ride opened in 1994 as the submarine-themed Mission: Bermuda Triangle before it was rethemed in 1997 as the helicopter-themed Wild Arctic, according to Screamscape.
SeaWorld San Diego announced in early 2019 the Wild Arctic ride would be replaced with a new arctic-themed attraction in 2021.
The Wild Arctic simulator attraction closed in early 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theme parks in California and across the United States. Pandemic closures delayed several SeaWorld attraction projects.
SeaWorld has not yet announced plans for a new multi-launch coaster, the attraction’s name or when the ride will open.
Permits for a new attraction in the Wild Arctic area of SeaWorld San Diego are good through October, according to Screamscape.
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The SeaWorld project will remove the four Wild Arctic flight simulators and reuse the existing ride building as a load station for the new attraction, according to the permits.
The new SeaWorld San Diego coaster is expected to have a wintry theme with snowmobile-style ride vehicles similar to Wave Breaker at SeaWorld San Antonio, according to Screamscape.
The 2017 Wave Breaker coaster with trains themed as Jet Ski-style personal watercraft features a tire-propelled launch and a mid-run tire-propelled boost, according to Roller Coaster Database.
Stretching to the East of the Wild Arctic attraction building, the new indoor-outdoor coaster is expected to reach a top speed of 42 mph as it travels along a terrain-hugging track that climbs to a maximum height of 30 feet, according to Behind the Thrills.
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SeaWorld San Diego has been on a coaster-building binge lately with the addition of Electric Eel in 2018, Tidal Twister in 2019 and Emperor in 2022.