Property and Equipment, Net

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]

8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

The components of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, consisted of the following:

	2020			2019
	(In thousands)
Land	$	286,200		$	286,200
Land improvements		405,652			403,409
Buildings		737,231			733,258
Rides, attractions and equipment		1,547,786			1,527,301
Animals		142,307			142,232
Construction in progress		153,529			117,121
Less accumulated depreciation		(1,611,745	)		(1,476,059	)
Total property and equipment, net	$	1,660,960		$	1,733,462

Depreciation expense was approximately $148.0 million, $156.2 million, and $155.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded approximately $6.7 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in fixed asset write-offs, which is included in operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of comprehensive (loss) income. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded approximately $10.9 million in fixed asset disposals associated with certain rides and equipment which were removed from service during 2018, which is included in operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of comprehensive (loss) income.

See Note 1–Description of the Business, Impact of Global COVID-19 Pandemic, for further details regarding proactive measures the Company has taken starting in March 2020 relating to its capital expenditures including delaying the opening of certain new rides.