Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

^Exciting!

I don't want to get mine or anyone elses hopes up, but I'd like to bring up the fact that Intamin almost never sells something by itself, it always offers packages sometimes several rides at once, or sometimes several rides over a period of time.

Perhaps if BGT is really getting an Intamin Launched Coaster we could see BGW getting a kickass Intamin Drop Tower?!?!

I've always thought the Busch parks were lacking in the drop ride department!!!!

[bgeguyIndiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Donkey.]

It's gonna be a drop tower.

Application requests a waiver to height restrictions and proposes a "thrill attraction of a single tower not to exceed 260 feet above ground level."

http://first.jccegov.com/CaseTrak/searchdetail.aspx?caseid=61300

[Homeboy23Beware of the freeze-dried donkey!]

^^ I could really care less what it is as long as it is something close to that high ... And an Intamin to go along with all the B&M goodness they already have

Also, the soft opening of Europe in the Air hasn't gotten any love. No one going to check it out on Friday?

Here's more from today's Virginia Gazette:

Tower ride powers Busch

Busch Gardens plans to build a 26-story “tower” coaster that will easily eclipse the 205-foot peak of Griffon.
Blackstone to invest millions to remain competitive
By Cortney Langley
Modified: Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Originally Published:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 2:17 AM EDT

JAMES CITY — Busch Gardens plans to build a 26-story “tower” coaster that will easily eclipse the 205-foot peak of Griffon.

An application to the county for a height waiver describes a “thrill attraction of a single tower not to exceed 260 feet above ground level.” That strongly suggests a drop coaster, along the lines of “Tower of Terror” at Universal Orlando or “Drop Zone” at Kings Island in Cincinnati, which tops out at 315 feet and holds 40 passengers.

A similar drop coaster ride is in Germany’s Hansapark. “Monte Zuma” lifts 30 riders 160 feet in the air, and either drops them, catapults them up, or goes up and down like a yo-yo.

The Busch application is timely, since the theme park tends to roll out a new ride every three years. A balloon was lofted last Thursday to gauge the visibility of the ride.

Expansion reinforces Busch’s place as the driver of tourism in greater Williamsburg.

The new ride will be located in Germany, next to Der Wirbelwind swing ride. The plans suggest the ride will not be built on the site of the Big Bad Wolf, which has been retired.

The Griffon was the last coaster, in 2007. Typically thrill ride blogs are loaded with speculation long before the rides open, but those websites have focused on the “Europe in the Air” simulation ride that Busch Gardens will debut this year.

The investment of millions in a new coaster shows that Blackstone Group, which bought Busch Entertainment’s 10 parks last year, is willing to invest heavily in new hardware before attempting to flip the park. Last week Blackstone released its first-quarter financials for 2010, reporting a $360 million profit. That’s a big turnaround from an $82 million loss a year earlier.

I'm sure that Universal will be surprised to find that it has a "Tower of Terror."

[AndCamSSI think Intamin should make a donkey!]

Wonder what type it might be. An Acrophobia type would be great!

[SharkTumsSite Admin]

^^Journalism at its finest right there!

[pianojohnWhat I do and who I am]

When I worked there back in 1994-97, I remember hearing rumors about a themed drop tower, similar to that indoor one in Europe (whose name totally escapes me now!)

^Journalism at its finest right there!

Well, it is the Virginia Gazette--one of the worst papers anywhere.

^I recall Screamscape mentioning something about an indoor, themed drop tower for BGW a while back, but I can't find it on there now. I think something along the lines of Phantasialand's Mystery Tower would be pretty cool.

[AndCamSSI think Intamin should make a donkey!]

^Journalism at its finest right there!

Well, it is the Virginia Gazette--one of the worst papers anywhere.

^I recall Screamscape mentioning something about an indoor, themed drop tower for BGW a while back, but I can't find it on there now. I think something along the lines of Phantasialand's Mystery Tower would be pretty cool.

You also gotta love how its a "Tower Coaster" too!

Wonder if this paper would refer to a carousel as a "Walking Horse Coaster".

[kidcoaster 2"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

So since they describe it as a "Tower Coaster" will it count as a credit?

But, on a more serious note I think a drop tower will be a great fit for the park, and I am sure the views will be nice.