SeaWorld Orlando has completed the ride track for its upcoming Penguin Trek roller coaster, due to open in spring this year.
SeaWorld made the announcement on social media on 30 January, with a video showing construction crews lifting the final piece of track into place.
Penguin Trek is SeaWorld Orlando’s first family launch coaster. It is made by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and features an indoor and outdoor track, which ends in the park’s penguin habitat.
The new coaster boasts two launches and speeds of up to 43 mph across a 3,020-foot track. Guests will enjoy the experience in snowmobile-style ride vehicles, which were unveiled during IAAPA Expo 2023.
On these ride cars, guests will travel through the Antarctic wilderness, navigating twists and turns and “narrowly escaping the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern,” according to SeaWorld.
“As guests are going through the queue, they will find themselves in the midst of an arctic research base,” explained Jeff Hornick, SeaWorld’s vice president of attraction design and development (via Spectrum News 13).
“And from that base, they’ll actually be sent out and brave a lot of the wild environments and harsh nature of Antarctica.”
He added: “Once guests get off the ride, their adventure will continue as they set off on a trek on foot to go actually meet the real penguins in the penguin colony.”
SeaWorld Orlando’s eighth coaster
Penguin Trek will be SeaWorld Orlando’s eighth coaster and comes after Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, which opened last year.
In more news, SeaWorld Entertainment is changing its corporate name to United Parks & Resorts from 12 February to unite its portfolio of seven brands across 13 theme parks.
“Our new company name, United Parks & Resorts Inc., better reflects that we have been, and will continue to be, a diverse collection of park brands and experiences,” said Marc Swanson, the company’s CEO.
Images courtesy of SeaWorld
