Texas Stingray: SeaWorld San Antonio’s Record-Setting Wooden Coaster

Texas Stingray is a wooden roller coaster at SeaWorld San Antonio, built by Great Coasters International (GCI) and designed by Skyline Attractions. It had a soft opening on February 21, 2020, followed by its public debut on February 29, 2020, though a brief pandemic-related closure meant riders didn’t get consistent access until it reopened that June.

Marketed as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden coaster in Texas at the time of its debut, the ride stands 96 feet tall and reaches 55 mph across 3,379 feet of Ipe hardwood track. Its layout weaves near the park’s Turtle Reef exhibit between Orca Stadium and the Rio Loco rapids ride, tying the coaster’s theming to a stingray-and-conservation storyline developed with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

Stats at a Glance

• Park: SeaWorld San Antonio
• Manufacturer: Great Coasters International (GCI)
• Opened: February 29, 2020
• Height: 96 ft
• Top speed: 55 mph
• Length: 3,379 ft
• Inversions: 0

The Ride Experience

Riders climb a chain lift before dropping 100 feet into a course built for airtime, with steeply banked turns and out-of-control-feeling transitions typical of GCI’s wooden designs. A highlight is a roughly 100-foot tunnel passage partway through the layout, and the ride lasts around 1 minute 40 seconds to 1 minute 50 seconds from launch to brake run.

Because the track uses Ipe wood rather than standard coaster lumber, Texas Stingray was built to hold up to the intense South Texas heat and humidity while keeping the ride smooth for years of operation.

A Stingray-Themed, Record-Setting Debut

At its 2020 opening, Texas Stingray was promoted as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in Texas, a title tied to its stats among the state’s wood coasters. The ride’s theming leans into its namesake, with signage and elements referencing stingrays and ocean conservation, part of a partnership with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies that funnels a share of related merchandise sales to marine research.

The coaster has since been recognized multiple times in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards rankings for top wooden roller coasters, cementing its reputation among enthusiasts since debuting.

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Texas Stingray FAQs

How tall is Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio?

Texas Stingray stands 96 feet tall and features a 100-foot first drop.

How fast does Texas Stingray go?

The coaster reaches a top speed of about 55 mph.

When did Texas Stingray open?

It had a soft opening on February 21, 2020, with its public opening on February 29, 2020.

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