| SkyTower | |
| Location: | 7007 Sea World Drive Orlando, Florida and 500 Sea World Drive San Diego California U.S. |
| Completion Date: | Calif. 1969; Fla. 1974 |
| Building Type: | Observation Tower |
| Roof: | CA 320feet FL 400feet |
| Antenna Spire: | FL 4251NaN1 |
| Floor Count: | 2 |
| Owner: | SeaWorld |
| Status: | Operational (as of March 2024) |
The SeaWorld SkyTower is the name given to similar observation towers located at both SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks.
The San Diego SkyTower is a 320feet gyro tower that was constructed in 1968 by Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd of Japan.[1] It opened in 1969 and gives passengers a six-minute view of SeaWorld and San Diego while rising at a rate of while spinning slowly at 1.02 rpm. The original ride vehicle was replaced in 2002.
The Orlando SkyTower was constructed in 1973 and opened in 1974. The tower is the tallest observation tower in Florida and contains a double decker rotating pod. SkyTower is lit with an array of Electronic Theater Control's LEDs as of February 2013. The height of the tower is 400feet from the base to the top of the structure, however riders only reach a height of 365feet. The highest point of the structure which includes the topping flagpole is 425feet.
On December 22, 2015, at the height of the Christmas travel season, the Orlando SkyTower became stuck, 200 feet up. There were about 50 people on the ride at the time, and it took two hours to get all passengers down. This was the first known incident on the ride.[2]