Bolliger & Mabillard delivers latest ride for SeaWorld San Antonio

Barracuda Strike, family inverted coaster, delights guests of all ages

AT: Tim Baldwin

tbaldwin@amusementtoday.com

SAN ANTONIO — When Bolliger & Mabillard surged onto the industry scene in the 1990s, the Swiss firm made its first installation in Texas at SeaWorld San Antonio. During that time, the inverted coaster was the innovative attraction that theme parks were eager to get their hands on. Texas’ first inverted coaster was Great White. Now, nearly three decades later, the manufacturer and park have created a sibling. Marketed as a family inverted coaster, the new attraction is called Barracuda Strike.

Whether it is water rides or kids’ areas, the San Antonio park has invested heavily in family offerings in the past few years.

“It's always been about family, but especially this park because of just the conservation message, the education message that we always try to have,” said Jeff Davis, park president. “Our goal is really for people to be able to come to SeaWorld and have something for everyone so that nobody in the family is going: ‘I don't want to go there.’ Whether it's seeing animals, whether it's riding a roller coaster, whether it's riding one of our other rides or seeing one of our great shows, we really feel like all generations can come together and make memories.”

Although the lack of inversions and the 42-inch height requirement lean into the family dynamic, Barracuda Strike still delivers an incredible amount of thrill. Part of that is owed to its waterside setting. After climbing the 90-foot lift, riders plunge directly toward the park’s central lake.

“Of course, being SeaWorld, we do everything we can to kind of incorporate water with our rides,” said Ray Gonzales, director of marketing. “We're so fortunate at this park to have such a beautiful lake. Over the years, you've kind of noticed that we just continue to add things around the lake.”

The park’s Intamin jet-ski coaster, Wave Breaker, zips over the water, and the recent Tidal Surge addition, an S&S Screamin’ Swing, swoops out over the lake. In the case of the new B&M coaster, support footings are poured directly into the lake so that riders’ feet soar right above the water’s surface.

When asked if building over the water creates challenges, Gonzales told Amusement Today: “It was pretty similar to Wave Breaker. We had to dam our lake to lower the water to be able to put in the supports and beams for the coaster. With this one, we didn’t have to close as large a portion of the lake as we did for Wave Breaker, but we still had to do part of it.”

As much as the park is known for its rides, SeaWorld is also known for its animal interactions.

“With this new attraction, not only is it probably our most themed attraction that we have in the park — I'm sure you walked around and have seen the additions of reef rocks and fish, same thing in the queue line — but with Barracuda Strike, we were also able to bring in live Barracuda to the park, which is over at the aquarium,” said Gonzales. “Starting with the grand opening of the ride, people will be able to go to our Shark's Pool Reef exhibit and see live barracuda for the first time ever at this park.”

Along with the themed and aesthetic touches, the coaster also features onboard sound, dramatically adding to the experience from dispatch to brake run. The ride’s queue also has ambient sound as people prepare to board.

The look and feel of the station have a sense of being below a pier. A sculptural school of fish swims below the wooden roof and above the heads of guests. A single train of 10 rows seats 20 passengers per cycle.

The B&M family inverted coaster is the third in a row that United Parks and Resorts has opened in as many as three years. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened Phoenix Rising in 2024. Last year, Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge. Of the three, Barracuda Strike stands the tallest, making it also the fastest. The Williamsburg installation last year had two lifts, making it the longest.

“We’re giving steps for children to enjoy rides,” noted Gonzales. “Last year, we built Rescue Junior, which had a new roller coaster. So now, from Beach Rescue Racer, [kids] have the opportunity to go to Wave Breaker. And now they can come to Barracuda Strike. It’s a little more thrilling.”

Now with seven coasters, the park offers many levels of thrills.

“I think we’ve done a pretty good job, if I say so myself,” Gonzales told AT. “When they are ready, the younger ones can get on Texas Stingray, Steel Eel and Great White.”