Take a Dive on Texas Stingray

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originally posted on 3/6/2020

Photo: John Chen. View full-sized image.

SeaWorld San Antonio unleashed one of the most anticipated new coasters in 2020 and the only wooden coaster to open in North America this year. They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and now Texas Stingray can boast it is the tallest, fastest and longest wooden coaster in the state.

Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.

This park was the first of the SeaWorld chain to add a roller coaster back in 1997 with Great White. Today, the park has an impressive collection of six coasters, the most of any SeaWorld property. The ride is located in the back of the park across from the Turtle Reef section that was added in 2019, between the Rio Loco rapids ride and the Orca Encounter.

Ray Gonzales, leader of loyalty and consumer activation for SeaWorld, said the ride has been in the works for two years. Because SeaWorld San Antonio’s primary focus is on conservation and education, it wanted to highlight an animal featured in the park. The lead car of the roller coaster features a stingray, and the park knows everyone in Texas is full of state pride, so Texas Stingray was chosen as its name. Throughout the ride, riders are twisted back and forth, similar to the action of a stingray in water.

Keeping with the SeaWorld philosophy, once riders are in the line, signage has been added throughout to educate guests on stingrays and environmental conservation. The park teamed up with Harte Research Institute to help create the educational signage. There are also many amazing views of the coaster while waiting in line.

Photo: Jay Jacobs. View full-sized image.

In the station, riders board one of the beautiful and comfortable Millennium Flyer trains from Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII). Once loaded, the train dispatches for a quick trip to the lift hill.

Once riders reach the top of the lift, they have a few seconds to catch a quick look at the other exciting coasters in the park to the left, or they can see what is coming up on the right. A beautifully twisted layout that never lets up awaits. Leaving the lift, a turn to the right leads to a 100-foot drop. The ride is very smooth and features constant speed and back-to-back elements. Interestingly, the only straight piece of track is in the station and brake run. During the journey, the track crosses over the Rio Loco rapids ride twice and goes through a 100-foot-long tunnel as it makes its way back to the station.

Photo: Courtesy SeaWorld. View full-sized image.

Photo: John Chen. View full-sized image.

Like most wooden roller coasters, Texas Stingray gives a different ride experience depending on one’s seat selection. The front has incredible ejector airtime and the views of the twists and turns ahead offer great visuals. The back offers a smooth and totally different ride with more lateral forces. Although the trains have 12 rows, Gonzales mentioned that his favorite seat is in either row nine or 10 on the right side.

The ride has a 46-inch height requirement making it easy for most family members to ride. GCII designed the coaster to be equally fun for the average guest and still pack a punch for enthusiasts. The park is billing this ride as a family coaster, but thrill seekers will still love the ride.

Photo: Xander Lee. View full-sized image.

Texas Stingray stands 96 feet tall and has a first drop of 100 feet at a 57-degree angle. The ride has 16 airtime hills and reaches speeds up to 55 mph but feels much faster as you travel through the elements. The trains travel over 3,379 feet in just over two minutes. That makes it the seventh longest GCII coaster operating in the world, second longest in North America.