SeaWorld San Antonio’s Texas Stingray in Testing Phase

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originally posted on 1/25/2020

Photo Courtesy SeaWorld. View full-sized image.

While the excitement of a new year — along with a new coaster season — is already beginning to brew with the construction of several great rides, SeaWorld San Antonio (Texas) began testing Texas Stingray just as the years were switching over.

Texas Stingray is the only new wooden coaster to debut in North America in 2020, and expectations are quite high. Built by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII), the ride is poised to set records for the state of Texas for the tallest drop (100 feet), longest track (3,790 feet) and fastest speed (55 mph) on a wooden coaster. Comments from those in the construction process are that it ranks among GCII’s best projects to date.

Testing began as 2019 was transitioning into 2020.
Photo by Clair Hain/GCII. View full-sized image.

Photo by Clair Hain/GCII. View full-sized image.

Visitors to SeaWorld had clear views of the new attraction reaching its completion during the park’s Christmas festival. Testing, however, takes place outside of operating hours.

“We had a lot of our SeaWorld ambassadors — who had nothing to do with the ride — show up just for the excitement of watching it go around the track for the first time,” said Chuck Cureau, marketing leader, SeaWorld San Antonio. “We all kind of cheered and clapped.”

While GCII still “has the ride,” SeaWorld staff await their turn to finish the area with theming, walkways, landscaping and the like. “It looks pretty much done when you look at it,” said Cureau. “The queue house is there. The exit [gift shop] is there. But it is still a construction site. Landscaping is just around the corner, and it’s going to be looking beautiful.”

Photo by Clair Hain/GCII. View full-sized image.

Inherent to any coaster project is the need for safety requirements, so the engineers and construction crew continue to do testing in evening hours with trains making consistent circuits around the track. As this news article is posted, SeaWorld officials have yet to take a ride but are aware the ride will be turned over soon.

“There will be no shortage of ambassadors to take a ride. We will all be clamoring to be the first to ride,” Cureau joked.

As will ACE members. The biggest question for enthusiasts is a confirmation of an opening date.

The 2020 season begins on February 22. Although the park is optimistic Texas Stingray will be open for spring break, it can’t officially be confirmed until GCII turns over the ride.

“Stay tuned,” Cureau told ACE. “We are chomping at the bit to announce an opening date, but a lot of that is out of our hands. As soon as they turn the keys over to us and we know we have the date, we will shout it from the mountaintops.”

What is confirmed is the first official enthusiast event on Texas Stingray. ACE Day at SeaWorld San Antonio is set for March 21. Park officials have promised ride time, swag and much more. The event is listed on the Events Calendar on the ACE website. A registration flyer is forthcoming.

— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor