Busch Gardens, Adventure Island Receive State Approval To Reopen

TAMPA, FL — SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. announced Thursday that the reopening plan for Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island has been approved by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The theme and water parks will reopen on June 11.

The parks will reopen in phases with limited capacities, safety protocols for sanitizing, social distancing, face masks requirements and temperature screenings of all guests and employees.

A new advanced online reservation system will help manage capacity. Guests will be asked to visit the reservation pages of park websites where reservations will be required to guarantee entry. Reservations will be available starting at 10 a.m. June 8.

“We thank Gov. DeSantis, Mayor (Jane) Castor and County Administrator (Mike) Merrill for their support of tourism in Central Florida as we prepare to reopen our Tampa parks to the public on June 11,” said Marc Swanson, interim CEO of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. “Over the past two months, we have worked with state and local health officials, third-party medical and epidemiology experts, and attraction industry leaders to enhance our strict health, safety and cleanliness standards. We are committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees and animals in our care, and will continue to follow the guidance from health officials as conditions evolve.”

“We have been eagerly awaiting the day to announce the reopening of Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, and we’re so glad that day is here,” said Stewart Clark, president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. “The health and safety of our guests has always been our top priority, and we’re looking forward to delivering memorable experiences at our parks while addressing the important health and safety needs of our guests during this time.”

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island have launched new safety websites with detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when the parks reopen, including key operational changes. Specific information by park can be found by visiting the following websites:

• Buschgardens.com/tampa/safety
• Adventureisland.com/safety