George Millay
Encyclopedia
George Millay was a United States
businessman, founder of SeaWorld
and the Wet 'n Wild water park
s.
In 1958, Millay and two partners that included David Tallichet
, formed Speciality Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business. Their first location was a Polynesia
n-themed Reef in Long Beach, California
. More than 100 other restaurants across the U.S. followed, including the Proud Bird adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport
, and 94th Aero Squadron near Van Nuys Airport
.
After selling out of SRC to Tallichet, Millay envisioned creating an underwater zoo. SeaWorld opened in 1964 in San Diego, California
. An orca
named Shamu
was added in 1965 and became one of its most successful attractions. Millay subsequently opened SeaWorld Ohio
in 1970 and SeaWorld Orlando
in 1973. He also assisted in the development of Magic Mountain.
In 1977, Millay developed the Wet n' Wild theme park in Orlando, Florida
. By the time he sold the company in 1998, ten such parks were in operation. Millay was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Hall of Fame in 1994. Ten years later, the World Waterpark Association gave him their first ever Lifetime Achievement Award and named him the official "Father of the Waterpark".
Millay died of complications from lung cancer
treatment in San Diego.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, founder of SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
and the Wet 'n Wild water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
s.
In 1958, Millay and two partners that included David Tallichet
David Tallichet
David Compton Tallichet Jr. was a United States businessman, noted as the father of the themed restaurant...
, formed Speciality Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business. Their first location was a Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n-themed Reef in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. More than 100 other restaurants across the U.S. followed, including the Proud Bird adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, and 94th Aero Squadron near Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport is a public airport located in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley section of the city limits of Los Angeles, California, United States. No major commercial airlines fly into this airport; it is used by private, chartered, and small commercial aircraft...
.
After selling out of SRC to Tallichet, Millay envisioned creating an underwater zoo. SeaWorld opened in 1964 in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. An orca
Orca
The killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
named Shamu
Shamu
Shamu was the fourth killer whale ever captured and was the third orca ever displayed in a public exhibit. She was the first orca to survive more than 13 months in captivity and was the star of a very popular killer whale show at SeaWorld San Diego in the mid - late 1960s...
was added in 1965 and became one of its most successful attractions. Millay subsequently opened SeaWorld Ohio
SeaWorld Ohio
SeaWorld Ohio was a park in the SeaWorld chain of marine animal theme parks. The park opened in 1970 directly across from Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, USA....
in 1970 and SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group...
in 1973. He also assisted in the development of Magic Mountain.
In 1977, Millay developed the Wet n' Wild theme park in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. By the time he sold the company in 1998, ten such parks were in operation. Millay was inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Hall of Fame in 1994. Ten years later, the World Waterpark Association gave him their first ever Lifetime Achievement Award and named him the official "Father of the Waterpark".
Millay died of complications from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
treatment in San Diego.