Mako is a steel hypercoaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and opened on June 10, 2016. Standing 200 feet tall and stretching 4,760 feet of track, it debuted as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the Orlando market, topping out at 73 mph.
Named after the mako shark — widely considered the fastest shark in the ocean — the ride leans into its marine theme with nine distinct airtime moments and a layout that sends riders soaring over water for roughly one-third of its course. It earned a Golden Ticket Award nomination for Best New Ride in its debut year and has ranked among the top 50 steel coasters in Amusement Today’s annual poll every year since opening.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: SeaWorld Orlando
- Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Model: Hyper Coaster
- Opened: June 10, 2016
- Height: 200 ft (61 m)
- Top Speed: 73 mph (117 km/h)
- Length: 4,760 ft (1,450 m)
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Mako’s out-and-back layout is built for raw airtime rather than inversions, delivering nine pronounced ejector and floater moments across its 4,760-foot course. Riders sit four abreast in open trains — no over-the-shoulder restraints — which lets the hills hit with full force. About one-third of the track passes directly over water, adding a sense of speed and openness that distinguishes it from inland coasters.
The drop from the 200-foot apex sends trains accelerating to 73 mph in seconds, and the momentum carries through a series of hills that reviewers have compared to the classic wooden coasters of an earlier era — smooth, sustained, and relentlessly paced.
Shark Theming and Recognition
SeaWorld wove a conservation message through the entire attraction. The surrounding Shark Wreck Reef area features recycled-material sculptures, educational signage about mako sharks, and an original 32-minute musical score composed by Rick McKee. The theme reinforces SeaWorld’s broader marine education mission without slowing down the coaster experience.
Since its debut Mako has been a consistent fixture in enthusiast rankings, reaching its highest Golden Ticket placement of 15th among steel coasters in 2019. It remains the benchmark hypercoaster in the Central Florida theme-park corridor.
Explore more: Roller Coasters hub.
Mako FAQs
How tall is Mako at SeaWorld Orlando?
Mako stands 200 feet (61 m) tall, making it the tallest roller coaster in Orlando at the time of its 2016 opening.
Does Mako have any inversions?
No. Mako is a hypercoaster designed around airtime hills rather than loops or inversions, featuring nine distinct moments of weightlessness instead.
Who built Mako and when did it open?
Mako was designed and built by Swiss coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and officially opened to the public on June 10, 2016.
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Photo: Adog104 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.