originally posted on 3/24/2025
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
SeaWorld San Antonio (Texas) opened its gates for the first time in 1988. At that time, it was known as Sea World of Texas, and the park debuted with a grand total of zero coasters.
Its very first came nine years later, and it was the first Bolliger & Mabillard coaster in Texas. Although it wasn’t in a Six Flags park, the ride was a Batman clone. The Great White was the Lone Star State’s first introduction to the Swiss firm.
Since then, the park has partnered with multiple manufacturers for its six coasters: Morgan, Zierer, Mack Rides, Intamin and Great Coasters International, Inc.
Beach Rescue Racer replaces SeaWorld San Antonio’s previous kiddie coaster, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby.
Photo: John Chen. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jeffrey Seifert. View full-sized image.
In early March, SeaWorld opened its latest coaster, but it kept its count at six. It actually traded a small Zierer coaster, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby, for a bigger Zierer coaster. With a height of only 13 feet and 230 feet of track, the former was not an intimidating ride — kids were its audience after all. It operated as Shamu Express for its first 15 seasons.
Beach Rescue Racer is larger than its predecessor but still targets the park’s smaller guests.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Its replacement is much more exciting, but it is still aimed at the family market in the park’s makeover of its kids’ area. Curiously, the San Antonio park seems to be letting go of the Sesame Street partnership, while most of the other United Parks & Resorts have not. Distanced from all existing Sesame Street branding, the former Bay of Play is now Rescue Jr. A couple of rides have been renamed, but a new waterplay area and three new rides have been added to transform the space.
Beach Rescue Racer is a custom Force coaster from Zierer. Significantly taller and five times longer (1,300 feet), this new ride doesn’t lose sight of its family audience. It is a nice balance of thrills and forces, much to the surprise of many riders (including ACEers).
Instead of large drops, curves and low-to-the-ground maneuvers are highlights of the new coaster.
Photo: Jeffrey Seifert. View full-sized image.
SeaWorld’s collection doesn’t offer extreme rides, but many are high thrill, and this is a nice offering for kids to ride with parents where everyone still enjoys it. The layout features a lot of speedy curves and spirals without steep drops.
With a 20-passenger train, waits for Beach Rescue Racer should be more manageable than those for the coaster it replaces.
Photo: Jeffrey Seifert. View full-sized image.
A single train seats 20, and the lift is tire-driven.
Painted in a wash of blues, Beach Rescue Racer is a great fit and not a copy of anything else seen before.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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