SAN DIEGO — A brand new Sesame Place theme park is coming to San Diego, the first-ever Sesame Place to launch on the West Coast.

Opening in spring 2021, the new attraction will be a joint collaboration between SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street.

“As we celebrate Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary, we are excited to share the news of a major opportunity for kids and families to connect with and learn from the brand and its beloved characters,” said Steve Youngwood, President, Media & Education and Chief Operating Officer, Sesame Workshop. “The opening of Sesame Place San Diego will give guests a unique and powerful way to experience Sesame Street, enable us to connect with even more families, and further our educational mission.”

Upon opening on the site of the current Aquatica San Diego, Sesame Place San Diego will feature family rides, water slides, live character shows, parades and interactive experiences. It will also open as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), meaning staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training will be completed prior to the park’s debut plus pre-visit planning resources and a park-specific sensory guide will be featured on its website that makes it easier for parents to plan activities that satisfy their child’s specific needs. Designated quiet spaces with adjustable lighting and comfortable seating will also be incorporated.

“We are proud to be opening this new park as a Certified Autism Center and are committed in our efforts to offer families inclusive activities for children with autism and other special abilities,” said Marc Swanson, Interim Chief Executive Officer, SeaWorld Entertainment. “Providing fun and memorable experiences through exceptional service is a part of that.”

The original Sesame Place, currently the only U.S. theme park based entirely on the iconic children’s program, opened outside Philadelphia in July 1980 and has been a premier destination for families for nearly 40 years.

SeaWorld has been Sesame Workshop’s exclusive theme park partner in the United States for just as long. Sesame Street Bay of Play opened at SeaWorld San Diego in 2008, while SeaWorld Orlando recently opened Sesame Street Land featuring six themed rides and the park’s first-ever parade. There is also a distinct Sesame Street land inside the SeaWorld theme park in San Antonio.

“We share Sesame Workshop’s goal of educating and entertaining generations of children, and the opening of a second park, the only one of its kind on the West Coast, furthers our company mission to provide guests with extraordinary experiences,” added Swanson. “We are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the United States, and San Diego is the perfect complement to our Philadelphia location.”