SAN DIEGO -- SeaWorld's newest roller coaster will open this spring. Park officials say the dive coaster "Emperor" will be the tallest, fastest, longest and the only floorless coaster in the state of California and the entire west coast of North America.
The coaster is quite a technological feat. The roller coaster will be part of the park's "Penguin Encounter" attraction.The ride, named “Emperor” to reflect the ability of emperor penguins to dive to depths of 1,800 feet in the waters of their native Antarctica, is being built next to the “Journey to Atlantis” attraction on what was previously a parking lot.
The steel roller coaster developed by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers, the Swiss roller coaster manufacturer, features a vertical drop about 90 degrees, which will provide a moment of free-falling for the passenger. Unlike a traditional train design, this train gives all passengers virtually the same experience throughout the course of the ride.
“There will be no other coaster experience like this in California,” said Marilyn Hannes, SeaWorld San Diego’s park president. “Emperor will both thrill our coaster enthusiasts and also serve as an attraction that educates guests about the importance of animal and conservation issues.”
This is not the first coaster Bolliger & Mabillard, has built for the park, but it is the tallest.