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SeaWorld California - New for 2012 - Manta


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Certainly got this attraction back on track in a hurry, it was originally slated for last year but postponed due to the InBev takeover. It was also suspected to be from Premier Rides and similar in style to Mummy, with the turntables and backward segments. Either way, sounds like a great new attraction for San Diego!

2011 is the biggest year in the history of the SEA Parks in terms of investment, with 8 out of the 10 parks receiving new attractions. 2012 is already looking promising with this, Williamsburgs new coaster, plus some other surprises that haven't been announced just yet.

The park's blog also posted some concept art as well as a very generic video rendering of the coaster.

LA Times Article

SeaWorld San Diego will add a $10-million roller coaster in 2012 that marks the U.S. debut of a highly anticipated prototype ride.

Paired with a 100,000-gallon aquarium and outdoor ray pool, the Manta coaster will be in a relatively unused back corner of the marine park near the Skyride and Flamingo Cove, SeaWorld officials said.

The 30-foot-tall Manta will feature dual launch zones, a 54-foot drop into a subterranean trench and a dramatic wing dip into a shallow lake over a 2,800-foot-long track. Launched from a tunnel filled with manta ray projections, the inversion-less family coaster will reach a top speed of 43 mph and pull 4 Gs during the two-minute trip. SeaWorld is expected to break ground on the new coaster in the next month.

The electromagnetic-launched mega-coaster, which has coaster enthusiasts salivating, will deliver a much-needed dose of thrills to a park habitually light on rides. I can't wait to take my first spin.

SeaWorld San Diego's Manta represents a significantly more compact version of the 125-foot-tall, 3,500-foot-long Blue Fire coaster in Germany, which features heart rate monitors, video screens for each rider and lap bar-only restraints. The prototype Mack coaster be found only at the company-owned Europa-Park, which serves as a proving ground for the manufacturer's newest rides.

SeaWorld's sister park in Orlando, Fla., opened a similarly themed Manta flying coaster in 2009 that features a wing dip splashdown across a shallow lake.

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Looks great. The San Diego park is by far my favorite SeaWorld... the setting on Mission Bay, the sprawling paths and beautiful landscaping are much appreciated. We have family that lives on Mission Bay, a short walk from the park. This could be the push we need to make our way back out there next year.

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