Catapult Falls to open 2023 at SeaWorld San Antonio

The world’s first launched flume coaster will also feature the world’s steepest drop in a flume ride.

A 3D rendering of Catapult Falls, in which passengers ride in boats through a mostly submerged track to the elevator tower.

You don’t need a swimsuit to ride, but we recommend leaving your phone.

Rendering via SeaWorld San Antonio

In 2023, San Antonio’s already award-winning water park scene will break a few new records.

SeaWorld San Antonio’s Catapult Falls — the world’s first launched flume coaster, and the first flume coaster with a vertical lift in North America — is beginning construction for the 2023 season.

In case you don’t have your PhD in amusement parks and “launched vertical lift water flume roller coaster” means nothing to you, we’ll break it down word by word. Or just read on to drop in.

Launched coaster: Instead of relying on gravity to accelerate the car (or boat, in this case), launched roller coasters take you from idle to top speed in no time flat. Scared of the anticipation from inching up the hill? Launches speed you into the action before you have time to worry. Catapult Falls’ launch will send you on your way at 30 ft per second.

Vertical lift: A state-of-the-art elevator will take you up 55 feet straight up — about the height of a six-story building — before dropping you into the flume.

Water flume coaster: A flume ride drops you through a chute into a watery splashdown. The faster the ride + steeper the drop, the bigger the splash. Catapult Falls will drop you a world-record 53 degrees at 37 miles per hour. The resulting cascade of water will help cool you off on those hot Texas theme park days.

Aerial rendering of Catapult Falls.

A “splashzone” by the launch will cool you off even if you’re not onboard.

Rendering via SeaWorld San Antonio

Put it all together

Catapult Falls will launch you along the track at 30 feet per second to a vertical lift elevator, which takes you up to the world’s steepest drop on a flume ride + ends in the ultimate splashdown. Now don’t you sound smart.

Be the first in the chute

2023 Season + Annual Passes are on sale. Grab yours starting at $275 and get unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica — starting now for the rest of 2022.