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Credit: Pray It No Photography, FlickrThere’s an update on the mass closures that hit SeaWorld at the weekend.
In the world of controversial theme parks, few locations have made the headlines quite as often as SeaWorld.
With locations in San Diego (the original), Orlando, and San Antonio, the marine theme park chain is renowned for its marine animal exhibits, shows, and educational programs, featuring a variety of aquatic species, including dolphins, sea lions, and orcas.
However, in the past decade, the parks have been increasingly criticized for their use of captive killer whales for entertainment. This was highlighted in the documentary Blackfish (2013), which alleged that the confinement of orcas led to aggressive behavior and health issues.
Related: Trainers Accuse Theme Park of Killing Orca, Updates Given
This scrutiny led to public outcry, legal challenges, and declining attendance at SeaWorld parks. In response, SeaWorld announced the end of its orca breeding program in 2016. It also shifted its orca shows to educational presentations instead of the traditional theatrical shows that involved trainers entering the water with the whales.
While SeaWorld Orlando seems to face the brunt of this criticism – with its former resident, Tilikum, largely the focus of the documentary – SeaWorld San Diego has also received its fair share. This extends well beyond its orca residents (although there are regular protests to free Corky, currently the oldest killer whale in captivity), with the park called out by the City of San Diego in recent years for not paying its rent.
In September 2023, the city filed a civil complaint against SeaWorld San Diego for breaching its lease. It claims that it’s owed over $12.2 million in outstanding rent, interest, and late fees left unpaid during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The case is currently set to go to trial in April 2025.
Earlier this month, the park also made headlines when guest Salina Higgins claimed that her group was humiliated and removed from the theme park after her daughter’s harness “malfunctioned” on the roller coaster Electric Eel.
“This latch was latched before we left. I checked it,” Higgins said. “The employee also walked by and pulled on it to check it, so what’s to say that this latch didn’t now stay in place? What’s to say the bar also doesn’t stay in place?”
SeaWorld has since insisted that there was no safety issue. “All rides and attractions, including Electric Eel, are designed, operated and inspected daily in accordance with all applicable standards and manufacturer specifications,” it said in a statement. “The ‘harness’ this family is referencing is called a “comfort collar,” which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device.”
Last week, the park entered into yet another situation with the local government. Over the weekend, three restaurants were shuttered across SeaWorld San Diego due to orders of the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health Food and Housing Division that deemed them unsafe for diners.
One notice posted at the entrance to Chicken Snack Shack, previously known as “Big Bird Bistro,” claimed that this was due to a “vermin infestation.” As per Reddit user AspenGrey, SeaWorld San Diego declined to refund guests who’d already purchased the All Day Dining package, which starts at $59.99 per person.
There’s a new update on these closures, with KSWB-TV reporting that county health officials shut down the restaurants after a routine inspection last week.
The Dine with Orcas experience – which allows guests to dine while getting up close and personal with killer whales – was closed, as were Explorer’s Café and Beer Bar, and the Chicken Snack Shack. All three were reportedly closed due to an undisclosed vermin infestation but have since reopened.
Another restaurant, Shipwreck Reef Café, had a minor vermin violation as well as other issues. This earned it a “B” health score, which was later upgraded to an “A” after a follow-up inspection.
Meanwhile, a fifth SeaWorld eatery – the Cotton Candy Factory – was also listed as “closed” in county food facility inspection records, but this was apparently self-imposed.
At the time of writing, SeaWorld has yet to directly address the closures. However, with the majority of locations now reopened, this hopefully means a reduced risk moving forward.
What’s your favorite thing about SeaWorld theme parks?