'Arctic Rescue' Straddle Coaster To Open In 2023 At SeaWorld San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — The longest and fastest straddle coaster on the West Coast is coming to SeaWorld San Diego, the theme park announced Monday. Arctic Rescue is scheduled to open in spring 2023.

The family-friendly multi-launch ride will be incorporated in SeaWorld's Wild Arctic exhibit, which is home to a ringed seal, belugas and walruses. Riders will start their journey inside of the Wild Arctic exhibit and launch outside straddling a snowmobile-style vehicle.

Arctic Rescue, which will have a 48-inch height requirement, will have feature three launches at 34, 38 and 40 miles per hour. The coaster will glide up heights as tall as 30 feet along the 2,800 feet of track, according to the theme park.

"We're continuously looking for ways to add new experiences to the park for our guests and this new coaster is a great addition to our ride lineup and a perfect complement to the Wild Arctic exhibit," said Jim Lake, park president of SeaWorld San Diego.

SeaWorld aims to bring awareness to the pressures the Arctic faces through the new ride, according to the theme park.

"The ride is also an educational opportunity for guests to learn more about climate change, how it impacts animals in the Arctic and what they can do to help the issue," Lake said. "I truly feel that seeing these animals up-close at SeaWorld allows guests to build a stronger connection and encouragement to take action to help protect them."