The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has two attractions with shared names that are both worth visiting!
- Weedy Seadragons are small marine animals related to seahorses, and their habitat, one of the newest additions to the Zoo, and can be found in the Nocturnal Building in Australia and the Islands.
- There’s a historic family ride located in Adventure Cove! The Sea Dragon roller coaster is the oldest existing wooden roller coaster in Ohio, and the oldest remaining roller coaster designed by John Allen, President of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and designer of over 25 coasters.
The Sea Dragon roller coaster was built in 1957 for the Gooding Zoo Amusement Park by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company at a cost of $100,000. Originally named the Jet Flyer to resemble jet fighter aircraft, it was renamed the Sea Dragon in 1984 when Wyandot Lake was constructed.
Now over 65 years old, the original design features of the Sea Dragon roller coaster remain unchanged. The 1,320 feet of track has a classic figure-eight shape, a height of 37 feet, and reaches a top speed of 25 mph. With safety as a value park-wide, Sea Dragon is no different and undergoes constant inspections and scheduled maintenance.
In 2022, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) organization, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of roller coasters, presented the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium with a plaque designating the Sea Dragon as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark for the ride’s historic significance. The Sea Dragon’s classical use of hand-pulled manual brakes and the absence of seat dividers on the train makes it an ACE Coaster Classic.
The Sea Dragon roller coaster, along with the 1914 Mangels-Illions Grand Carousel, make two historic rides that Zoo guests can enjoy in addition to the thousands of animals in our care.
