United Parks & Resorts Inc. is the Orlando, Florida-based company that owns and operates SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Water Country USA, and Adventure Island. Its roots trace back to 1959, when Anheuser-Busch opened the original Busch Gardens in Tampa, and to 1964, when SeaWorld was founded independently before joining the Busch Entertainment portfolio in 1989.
The Blackstone Group acquired Busch Entertainment Corporation from Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2009 for roughly $2.7 billion, and the company went public in 2013 as SeaWorld Entertainment under the ticker SEAS. In January 2024, following years of scrutiny over its orca programs and a broader push to reflect its multi-brand portfolio, the company rebranded as United Parks & Resorts, moving to ticker PRKS on the NYSE.
Stats at a Glance
- Headquarters: Orlando, Florida
- Founded (as public predecessor): 2013 (as SeaWorld Entertainment)
- Renamed: United Parks & Resorts, effective February 2024
- Stock ticker: NYSE: PRKS
- Parks operated: 12 destinations (8 theme parks, 4 water parks)
- 2024 attendance: About 21.5 million guests
- 2024 revenue: About $1.73 billion
- CEO: Marc G. Swanson
A Portfolio Built From Two Legacies
United Parks & Resorts’ brand lineup reflects the merger of two distinct histories: the Busch family’s regional theme parks, led by Busch Gardens Tampa and Williamsburg, and the marine-life-focused SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Orlando, and San Antonio. Sesame Place, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Water Country USA, and Adventure Island round out the portfolio, giving the company a mix of animal attractions, roller coasters, and water park destinations across Florida, California, Texas, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
From SeaWorld Entertainment to United Parks & Resorts
The 2024 name change came after a decade of turbulence tied largely to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which drew intense criticism of SeaWorld’s orca captivity practices and pressured attendance and stock price for years afterward. The company ended its orca breeding program in 2016 and gradually shifted away from theatrical orca shows. Rebranding as United Parks & Resorts allowed the parent company to present itself around its full seven-brand, twelve-park portfolio rather than being defined solely by the SeaWorld name.
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United Parks & Resorts FAQs
Is United Parks & Resorts the same company as SeaWorld?
United Parks & Resorts is the parent company that owns SeaWorld, along with Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Water Country USA, and Adventure Island. The individual park brands kept their original names after the 2024 corporate rebrand.
When did SeaWorld Entertainment become United Parks & Resorts?
The company announced the name change in January 2024, and it took effect on February 12, 2024, with the stock ticker switching from SEAS to PRKS on the NYSE the next day.
How many parks does United Parks & Resorts operate?
As of 2024, the company operates 12 parks in the United States, consisting of eight theme parks and four water parks, which drew about 21.5 million guests that year.
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