Pieces of mystery coaster are spotted at SeaWorld
Track segments and support pillars are reportedly seen for ride built by Intamin
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.
Dozens of teal, blue-gray and gold coaster track pieces are being stored in an otherwise unused parking lot at the 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 submarinethemed Mission: Bermuda Triangle before it was redone 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.
Wild Arctic closed in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of theme parks in California and across the United States. Pandemic closures delayed several SeaWorld attraction projects.
SeaWorld has not announced plans for a new multilaunch coaster, the attraction's name or when the ride will open.
Permits for a new attraction in the Wild Arctic area of the park are good through October, according to Screamscape.
The SeaWorld project will remove the four Wild Arctic flight simulators and reuse their building as a load station for the new attraction, according to the permits.
The new 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 Skistyle 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's cars are expected to reach a top speed of 42 mph as they travel along a terrain-hugging track that climbs to a maximum height of 30 feet, according to Behind the Thrills.
SeaWorld San Diego has been busy building coasters lately with the addition of Electric Eel in 2018, Tidal Twister in 2019 and Emperor in 2022.