SeaWorld has no specific plans to resurrect a long-proposed theme park resort, but the idea remains in the park’s long‑term vision 40 years after it was first introduced.On Thursday, July 9, San Diego’s Planning Commission will decide whether to support SeaWorld’s long‑term development roadmap, keeping the park’s long‑standing dream of a resort on Mission Bay alive for now.While no specific hotel construction project will be discussed during the planning commission meeting, commissioners will consider a plan that preserves a four-decade-old resort hotel concept that was proposed in 1985 and abandoned 33 years later, in 2018.The hotel reveals SeaWorld’s decades-long effort to grow from a single-day attraction to a destination resort, similar to other major theme parks like Disneyland.Planning commissioners will consider recommendations on SeaWorld’s 2020 Master Plan and proposed changes to the City’s General Plan, Mission Bay Park Master Plan and the Local Coastal Program land use plan.
Conceptual hotel and marina site plan. (Figure 2-2, SeaWorld 2020 Master Plan)The Planning Commission will not approve the construction of any individual project. Instead, commissioners will make a recommendation to the City Council on whether to approve updates to guide future development at the park.“We are currently updating the existing master plan as part of our regular planning process. At this time, there are no specific details to share,” a SeaWorld representative wrote in response to a request for comment.SeaWorld rents its park property from the city, meaning future development must follow approved planning documents and will only be permitted after performing the required environmental and regulatory reviews.Long-range master plans allow cities and property owners to outline future development options, even when individual projects are not immediately planned or funded.The new plan must first clear the city’s approval process before heading to the California Coastal Commission for review. Approval of the plan does not authorize construction; any future hotel will require its own coastal development permit and commission approval, according to spokesperson Joshua Smith.The three-story, 300-room hotel on Perez Cove Way was first introduced as part of SeaWorld’s waterfront development in its 1985 Master Plan, including a parking structure and marina expansion.Environmental reviews revealed that the development would impact nearby seagrass and seabird nesting areas, contradicting Mission Bay’s goal of protecting sensitive environmental resources.
The park’s updated 2002 Plan carried the hotel idea forward, making changes to meet public access requirements and ensure compatibility with Mission Bay’s plan.In 2015, SeaWorld announced a partnership with Evans Hotels for a branded resort hotel, looking to transform the park into a multi-day destination. The proposed partnership would have been built right next to the park, including a ballroom and amenities to encourage visitors to stay overnight.The announcement came as SeaWorld was attempting to reverse declining attendance following years of criticism over its treatment of captive orcas, which intensified after the 2013 documentary Blackfish focused on three deaths caused by Tilikum, a wild-caught orca. Company filings described expanding resort opportunities as a way to increase guest spending and encourage longer stays.This agreement was terminated in 2018, with SeaWorld reporting a $2.8 million loss and refocusing development efforts from hospitality to attractions. Evans Hotels later alleged in a lawsuit that labor group opposition led to the cancellation. The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge.After several delays over the last six years, the Planning Commission will now be considering SeaWorld’s 2020 plan. Since it has not been approved yet, SeaWorld has continued to rely on the 2002 plan, according to Development Services representative Richard Berg.The California Coastal Commission said it is not aware of a proposed hotel development at SeaWorld, emphasizing that Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting will focus on long-term planning, not a specific construction project.It remains unclear whether SeaWorld intends to pursue the Perez Cove hotel. The company has not announced a timeline, submitted a development application, or confirmed whether the hotel is an active priority.
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