March 21, 2014, 3:45 PM · SeaWorld celebrated its 50th anniversary today with celebrations at all three SeaWorld parks: Orlando, San Antonio, and - where it all began - San Diego.

SeaWorld® opened its gates for the first time in 1964, founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris and David DeMott. Originally planned as an underwater restaurant, the concept grew into a marine zoological park on 21 acres along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego.

This incident, however, is a reminder of what happened at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010 when trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by a killer whale during a performance. As a result of that case, OSHA eventually fined SeaWorld for safety violations.

Attractions & Presentations Our park is about animals, exciting rides and family-friendly entertainment. From the rush of the ray on our Manta roller coaster to the awe-inspiring and playful dolphins in our Dolphin Adventures presentation, there is something for everyone at SeaWorld San Diego-a real, amazing adventure.

SeaWorld is renowned for its up-close animal encounters. Killer whales, dolphins and sea lions have their own family friendly experiences, which focus on educational aspects of the animals as well as theatrical.

Dawn Brancheau Brancheau, who was a highly experienced orca trainer at Seaworld, had been feeding Tilikum fish near the end of the "Dine with Shamu" show and was on the edge of the pool rubbing the orcas head. The orca then grabbed Brancheau and pulled her into the water in an incident that was caught on film.

Rotor blades from the outbound helicopter entered the forward cabin of the landing chopper, causing it to break apart in the air and fall into shallow water next to a sandbar, the report details.

SeaWorld® opened its gates for the first time in 1964, founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris and David DeMott. Originally planned as an underwater restaurant, the concept grew into a marine zoological park on 21 acres along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego.

The SeaWorld California theme park, located in San Diego, reported an increase in attendance by about 25 percent in 2022 over the previous year. In total, the aquatic theme park welcomed 3.51 million visitors in 2022, up from 2.8 million in the year prior.

In addition to being a theme park, SeaWorld Orlando is also a conservation and rehabilitation facility. Whether an animal suffers from scoliosis or chronic illness, SeaWorld ensures these marine creatures receive top-tier medical care.

SeaWorld often keeps dolphins, whales, and other animals trapped with incompatible tankmates. The tension leads to fights and even fatal injuries. Staff members drug some animals to try to relieve their endless frustration.

As of September 20, 2023 there are: At least 176 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves. SeaWorld holds 18 orcas in its three parks in the United States. At least 44 orcas have died at SeaWorld.