SeaWorld acquires Knott’s Soak City – San Diego

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the Orlando-based owner of 10 US theme parks, has acquired Knott’s Soak City – San Diego, a standalone Southern California waterpark, from Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. The park, located just south of San Diego in Chula Vista, Ca., will undergo extensive renovation over the fall and winter and re-open next spring as SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s third Aquatica-branded park. Both SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio now operate Aquatica parks. SeaWorld will make significant changes over the off-season transforming the park into an Aquatica: “These parks reflect the highest standard of quality in attractions, entertainment and theming, but the presence of animals makes the experience something truly special. Aquatica San Diego, like its sister parks, will feature guest experiences with a variety of exotic animals,”said SeaWorld president Jim Atchison. “Having animals in our Aquatica parks adds an educational component to a waterpark visit that is both unexpected and enriching.”Last year, SeaWorld San Antonio unveiled its own Aquatica, with some of the region’s best ride attractions, along with displays of kookaburra, spoonbills and southern stingrays.