CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — There's a lot of multi-generational excitement as Sesame Street will come to life in San Diego County’s South Bay.
SeaWorld’s Sesame Place San Diego in Chula Vista will be the only theme park on the West Coast that is based on the world and characters of Sesame Street.
The theme park couldn't be opening at a better time, with people emerging from pandemic boredom and itching for a new experience.
"We've all been kind of locked up for the last year and everyone's ready to get back out," said Jim Lake, the park's president.
It's owned by SeaWorld and is the company's latest effort to move away from live animal shows, which had drawn worldwide criticism over its impact on whales and prompted profits to plunge, including at its San Diego park.
The park was built at the former site of SeaWorld's Aquatica San Diego water park, which closed after its 2021 summer season. The nearly 17-acre Sesame Place will include family-friendly thrill rides, parades, live shows, and character interactions. It'll also be open year round, unlike its predecessor. That means more jobs. Sesame Place plans to hire 900 workers, up from the 600 Aquatica employed.
Sesame Street-themed attractions and rides that twist, turn, and swirl will include:
- Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets let kids hop in one of Elmo’s rocket ships as they fly up, down, and all around on an imaginary trip through outer space
- Sunny Day Carousel, a cute, colorful, classic ride that’s perfect for all ages
- Cookie Climb puts kids in a cloud of cookie crumbs as they pull themselves to the top of Cookie Monster-themed towers and hang on tight for a giggling ride back down
- Sesame Street Soar & Spin lets guests choose their favorite furry friend’s balloon and go up high for a bird’s-eye view of the park
More information on rides, tickets, season passes, and more can be found online here.
The new kid and family-focused theme park will compete with Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Legoland, and other theme parks in Southern California.
The first Sesame Place theme park opened more than 40 years ago outside Philadelphia.
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