SeaWorld San Antonio opening wooden roller coaster next year

Construction continues as SeaWorld San Antonio officials provide an update of their latest upcoming thrill ride, Texas Stingray, during a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. The Texas Stingray is a roller coaster with wooden tracks with steel supports and zips riders around at 55 miles per hour. There are steep 76-degree banks and a 100-foot drop to titillate thrill riders. Especially unique is the minimum rider height is 46 inches which give younger thrill seekers the opportunity to get on the coaster. Texas Stingray is still under construction and is expected to open to guests by spring 2020 according to officials. (Kin Man Hui/San Antonio Express-News) less Construction continues as SeaWorld San Antonio officials provide an update of their latest upcoming thrill ride, Texas Stingray, during a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019. The Texas Stingray is a ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff Photographer Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close SeaWorld San Antonio opening wooden roller coaster next year 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

SeaWorld San Antonio is opening a new wooden roller coaster — the tallest, fastest and longest ride of its kind — next year.

Riders on the Texas Stingray will zip along 3,379 feet of track, plummeting 100 feet down and tearing through a 100-foot-long tunnel at 55 miles per hour. The ride, expected to open in spring 2020, will join four other roller coasters at SeaWorld’s local theme park — Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster, Great White, Steel Eel and Super Grover’s Box Car Derby.

“Just like its animal namesake, Texas Stingray will allow riders the thrill of gliding up and down and soaring through quick turns,” said spokesman Chuck Cureau.

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It’s the latest in a string of attractions unveiled this year. Ihu’s Breakaway Falls, the tallest drop slide in Texas, opened at SeaWorld’s sister park Aquatica San Antonio in March. SeaWorld added the immersive Turtle Reef exhibit and two new rides, Sea Swinger and Riptide Rescue, in May.

Work on the multimillion-dollar Texas Stingray started about two years ago, said spokesman Ray Gonzales.

The new roller coaster was announced the week after the theme park’s president, Carl Lum, said he plans to leave SeaWorld. Lum is departing this month, declining to say why or whether a successor has been chosen.

“The team in Texas has done a great job over the last three years and I'm really proud of them,” Lum said last week.

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Other amusement parks and attractions in San Antonio have also been adding new offerings.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas opened a Joker-themed ride this year, believed to be the world’s tallest pendulum ride at 17 stories, and is planning to unveil a steampunk ride called Daredevil Dive Flying Machines next summer.

The San Antonio Zoo opened a new rhino habitat this year and is raising money to add an overhead cat walk to the jaguar habitat.

madison.iszler@express-news.net