qpb2004

Is the park typically dead during the “bonus” days this week? I might head there for a few hours tomorrow.

Oh thanks I didn’t know this, but yeah I’m gonna switch over to a membership most likely after the changes.

It seems like Six Flags forgot about this in true Six Flags fashion, though I did get an email from Cedar Point about their $99 dollar pass instead.

Glenwood Caverns has announced their new record-breaking coaster, Defiance, which will feature 110-foot freefall drop at a beyond-vertical 102.3 degrees along with three inversions! https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2021/08/05/roller-coasters-colorado-theme-park-plans-mountaintop-coaster-2022/5495447001/ With a 110-foot freefall drop at a beyond-vertical 102.3 degrees and three disorienting inversions, Defiance, a new roller coaster coming next summer to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, would be plenty thrilling regardless of its location. But here’s what will put it over the edge: It will straddle Iron Mountain, some 1,300 feet above the town and the Colorado River. You can start screaming now. Representing the small park’s largest ride investment to date, Defiance will capitalize on Glenwood Caverns’ unique mountaintop location and provide new ways to experience its spectacular vistas. “We thought this would be out of our league,” says Nancy Heard, the park’s general manager, referring to the extreme coaster. “And it is a bit of a stretch. But the view will be absolutely phenomenal. And the drop will take your breath away.” According to Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, the German-based company that will be manufacturing the custom coaster, Defiance will begin with a 75-foot vertical lift hill (passengers will probably want to empty their pockets before boarding) and momentarily slow to a crawl at its apex for what it has dubbed a “panorama stall.” Because this will be in Colorado, riders will really be up there where the air is rare – at 7,132 feet above sea level. There won’t be too much time to take in the sights, however, as the eight-passenger trains will almost immediately plummet down the beyond-vertical drop. How could a coaster climb 75 feet and fall 110 feet? Navigating the park’s mountainous terrain, the track will descend into a ravine. The park is bragging that Defiance will feature the steepest freefall drop in the Western U.S. In fact, Cannibal, a coaster at Lagoon in Utah, has a 116-degree drop. The keyword, apparently, is “freefall.” As Gerald Ryan, technical manager at Ride Entertainment, the company that will be installing the coaster, explains, most beyond-vertical coasters include either holding brakes to stop the train or trim brakes to slow it down. Defiance, however, will be a “true, gravity-driven freefall drop,” he says. Regardless of the record-breaking claims, it will surely be a freaky ride experience as the track folds in on itself. Helping to ensure a freaky ride experience: The seats will forego over-the-shoulder restraints and only use ratcheting lap bars. “You’ll be suspended at the top of the mountain looking down at Glenwood Springs before you disappear into the abyss with nothing but a lap bar,” Heard says. “Oh my God!” Gerstlauer, by the way, is known for its beyond-vertical coaster drops. It manufactured TMNT Shellraiser at Nickelodeon Universe in New Jersey, the world’s steepest coaster at 121.5 degrees. After dropping and revving up to 56 mph, passengers will brave a “twisted top hat” that will invert them before sending the train racing in a different direction, a “banana roll” that will flip them yet again, and a final “zero-G roll” that will toss them while simultaneously sending them rising through the element. Less than a minute after they began their mountaintop journey, the riders will return to the station. They’ll be comin’ round the mountain “This is a once-in-a-lifetime location,” says Ed Hiller, CEO of Ride Entertainment. Installing the coaster may pose once-in-a-lifetime challenges. Glenwood Caverns visitors park at the base of the mountain and ride in a gondola to its summit. To access the park, service vehicles climb a narrow, steep, dirt road that includes several switchbacks. Just getting the equipment, track, and other materials to the top of Iron Mountain will require lots of planning and deft handling. For example, Heard says semitrailers bound for the park have great difficulty turning around. “We’ll probably have to unload the trailer, take a crane, lift the flatbed up and turn it 180 degrees so we can point it back downhill.” (Which raises the question: How will they get a crane up there?) In addition to delivery concerns, Ride Entertainment will have to contend with the site’s hilly terrain as well as likely snow, ice, and wind during the installation, which is scheduled to begin in the early spring. Had the park been able to go with its initial concept, the installation would be even trickier. “Originally, we wanted the coaster to go off the edge of the cliff,” says Heard. That design proved to be cost-prohibitive, however. If going off the edge of the cliff sounds appealing, Glenwood Caverns has just the ride for you. Its Giant Canyon Swing hits 50 mph as its pendulum arm arcs about 90 degrees into the ether with nothing but the Colorado River 1,300 feet below. In 2017, the park opened the Haunted Mine Drop. The only drop tower ride to start at ground level and plummet down, it freefalls 110 feet into Iron Mountain’s inky darkness. Other attractions include two smaller roller coasters, an alpine coaster and a zip line-like ride that passengers can experience by sitting in side-by-side seats. Glenwood Caverns began adding rides in 2005 to help occupy visitors waiting to enter its two mountaintop caves. Now the attractions have become key features of the adventure park. The new coaster will take it to another level. “Defiance is going to be a big shot in the arm, especially post-COVID,” Heard says, apparently not recognizing the pun. “It shows our commitment.”

At this point I wouldn’t be surprised if Kingda Ka’s launch cable snapped.

I feel like it’ll go from like 8-10:30/11 if the park still closes at 8, but I’m hoping for the extra long ERT lol. The website also doesn’t mention the cruise, so I wonder if that’s not happening this year.

I was wondering when they’ll release that info on coastermania myself, it looks like in the past it’s been released around a week before though other years it’s been way earlier so we’ll see.

^ That happened to me on Sunday too, I spent a good 20 minutes sitting on the break run after my ride while they found riders for the first (mostly empty) train.

How busy have Sundays typically been this year? Will be heading down to the park with the FP Bronze this weekend.

With the park now closing at 8, it makes me even more grateful to attend the event for the night rides it will offer!

^ I can confirm this, as I had the pleasure of walking down it today at the park.

Hey all, just reaching out to ask if any members of this thread will be attending Coastermania. I'll be traveling to CP with my family who won't be attending the event, so I'd be interested in riding with some other enthusiasts during the ERTs. If anyone's going and wants to meet up, feel free to shoot me a message.

I also purchased my ticket, interesting to see how crowded it will be given that it still hasn't sold out to my knowledge.

Just finished up my second stint at the park, was an enjoyable time. Lines decreased to around 15-20 mins for the coasters and a walk on at the end for Apollo that allowed for a mini marathon. I can’t feel my face from the cold now though, lol.

BGW is mobbed today with most lines overflowing out of the queues... I’ll be back later so hopefully the crowds die down. It’s most likely a combination of the spring break rush and a lack of staffing.

Just used this offer and will most likely be there April 2nd!

I wonder if BGW will quietly open Alpengeist, Tempesto, or Loch Ness on the more popular days of this event.

Especially since they're charging up to $75 on peak days for daily tickets. Not great if you aren't a passholder.

New information has been released regarding the upcoming Food and Wine festival... SIP, SOAR & SAVOR AT THE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL This popular food festival returns with limited capacity, enhanced health and safety measures and NEW dishes and beverages from around the world. This spring, flavors are in bloom at Busch Gardens with the return of the park’s fan-favorite Food & Wine Festival. Serving guests April 2 through May 23 with limited capacity, this year’s menu features festival favorites and fresh twists on classic cuisines. Guests are invited to take their taste buds on an adventure through 11 specialty food and beverage areas as they sample from 25+ international tastes and 75+ wines, brews and cocktails. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival will feature food and beverage items not normally served at the Williamsburg theme park. The festival will take guests on a savory, sweet and scrumptious culinary trip through Virginia; Mexico; Hawaii; Brazil; Jamaica; South Korea; Italy and the Mediterranean. To complement the dishes, an array of beverages will be offered such as frozen specialty drinks like the all-new Honeybee Hurricane, Manta Margarita and a variety of refreshing Sangria choices. MAKE YOUR NEXT DISCOVERY DELICIOUS Embark on a culinary adventure from cork to fork with more than 75 wines, brews & cocktails and over 25 international flavors - including 8 ALL-NEW dishes and beverages. From Virginia to the Mediterranean, the festival will take guests on a savory, sweet and scrumptious culinary trip around the world. COASTERS & RIDES FOR THRILL-SEEKERS OF ALL AGES Soar through the sky on one of our iconic roller coaster or spin & fly on more of your favorite thrill rides: Griffon* Apollo's Chariot* The Little Balloons* DaVinci's Cradle Battering Ram Turkish Delight The Trade Wind Verbolten* InvadR* Finnegan's Flyer™ Busch Gardens Railway Le Catapult Kinder Karussel Der Roto Baron Der Wirbelwind Prince Elmo's Spire Oscar's Whirly Worm Grover's Alpine Express *Please note that colder temperatures or inclement weather conditions may impact ride operations during the event. Feel free to the park’s website for more info: https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events/food-festival/

Anyone speculate when Coastermania tickets will go on sale? I'm assuming the event will be a bit different from the past given the circumstances.

I was planning on going the 2nd, and it looks like that day will have a full session from 11-9 as opposed to the evening and night slots. The lineup has not been announced, but it will probably look similar to what it is now. I wouldn't be surprised if they close Apollo or Griffon and open Alpengeist back up.

Park hours have been released, it looks like the park will be opening May 14th this year!

Where did you see that? From the website it just says "Sold Out" across the board which I assume means they aren't available for purchase yet.

That's what I figured. I'll plan on visiting on the 23rd.

If anyone has been to HITP, can someone let me know if the crowds/social distancing have been better than during Hallowfest? I am planning on possibly going next wednesday, as I figure it will be a light day for crowds.