cathyJ Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Busch Gardens Africa in Florida has a woodie but not Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia. Wonder why? Over the years I have been told two totally different reasons. 1. The town of Williamsburg won't allow it. Ok, if that is the case they sure have no problem building other types of tall coasters. Why not a woodie? 2. Kings Dominon !!. Both BGE and KD opened up in the same year. 1975. Part of a deal between the two was that KD would get the woodies while BGE would get only steel. OK..but KD has a few steel coasters now but still no woodie at BGE. Wonder which is correct? Or if there is another reason why no woodie was ever built at Busch Gardens Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightypotato Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I always thought it was the residential neighborhoods close to the park that didn't want to deal with the noise of a wooden coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Could the hilly terrain and river at BGE be factors? Interesting point, that, until now, I'd never really thought of. You know, something like Kentucky Rumbler or Renegade would be cool there. Conversely, BGE has Apollo's Chariot, a B&M hyper, while BGA does not. Of course that could change in the next couple years. No woodie at BGE....(scratches head), now why didn't I notice that....(walks away mumbling into kitchen for some white raspberry tea). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmor Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I dont know but I just dont see a wooden coaster fitting in there...but thats just me. And I love me some raspberry white tea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electerik Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I think it’s simple: they view the one wooden coaster they did build as pretty much a failure. This seems to fit their overall approach: if they try something new and they like it, then they build more at other parks. If they don't like it, they don't built more. As enthusiasts, we may disapprove, but I think Busch was wood-shy from the beginning, and Gwazi just reinforced it. I really don’t see them building another one for a while, unless they see it as a significantly different animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I have no independent confirmation of this, but I think biggest factor here is noise. Residents of Kingmill on the James, a bunch of rather expensive homes also developed by Busch and located behind the park, will not put up with the rumbling and roaring of a wooden coaster. That being said, it cracks me up that you can see Griffon from the Kingsmill golf course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastergirl26 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 So the Kingsmill /neighborhood can put up listening to the B&M roar but cant put up listening to a woodie, lol funny. Its a theme park come on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkdcoaster Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 BGE B&Ms do not roar, they just Scream. Like chuck said too noisy for those with their nose pointed skywards. I think also they look at long term popularity too and Woodies just do not maintain that with the GP like Big smooth Steel. JEFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBru Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 ^That is a good point. Unless there is constant news surrounding a wooden coaster, their popularity diminishes a lot quicker than a unique steel roller coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvoLee Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I have no independent confirmation of this, but I think biggest factor here is noise. Residents of Kingmill on the James, a bunch of rather expensive homes also developed by Busch and located behind the park, will not put up with the rumbling and roaring of a wooden coaster. That being said, it cracks me up that you can see Griffon from the Kingsmill golf course. Ahh, forgot about the nearby housing. Good point and I am now the wiser. So you can see Grif from the golf course. Let's see, sunny day, putting green, coaster in view...yeah, I could live with that. And I love me some raspberry white tea! Ain't it great? Good taste my friend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBru Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Hell, at the rate they're going we probably won't get another major steel coaster until 2012-2015. *Waits for someone to make "there isn't that much time" joke* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astroworldfan1 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 ^ That isn't a lot of time! If BGE would get a woodie, I think it would fit perfectly where Drachen Fire was. -Tatum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkdcoaster Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Kingsmill complained alot about how loud Drachen Fire was, I am sure a wooden coaster would please them. JEFF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I find it kind of funny how Busch developed Kingsmill, yet it's that exact development that forces them to keep their rides at certain heights and keep the park's volume down. Ironic, no? And, for the record, a terrain-hugging Plug-N-Play wouldn't be too loud... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFjunkie2010 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 When I asked people, I am always told that Busch was not happy with their purchase of Gwazi and that they do not want to risk another "failure" of a ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DATman Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 You'd think that with the development of Intamin woodies, most of these arguments are pointless. Of course, BGE could be looking at one and we wouldn't even know about it for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Clear Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 The Intamin fart would be too disruptive to the Kingsmill community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texcoaster Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 ^That is a good point. Unless there is constant news surrounding a wooden coaster, their popularity diminishes a lot quicker than a unique steel roller coaster. Yeah, that's why unique steel coasters like Magic Mountain's Flashback, Kings Island's Bat, and Knott's Windjammer had such a long and happy life, while woodies like the Coney Cyclone, Kennywood Thunderbolt, and Kings Island Beast never have anyone in line for them. A GOOD wood coaster will often be the longest line in the park, no matter how old the coaster is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBru Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 ^ Exception paradox: if every rule has an exception, then there must be an exception to the rule that every rule has an exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam06pr Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 after visiting this park this weekend I can so see a Woddie being built here. It would be nicely done. I guess people do not want to listen to the noise a woodie makes, but it could be located somewhere where noise is at a minimum. Also, I think that things with Gwazi has turned out "not good" that maybe BEC does not want to invest on Woodies anymore. I would like to see them try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfoot12 Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I'm with others in saying that an Intamin prefab might work. From what people say they're not too noisy. My current theory is that a B&M flyer will go up where DF used to be and they'll call it Drachen's Revenge. I guess we'll see after the reception of the flyer down in Sea World. Why is Gwazi considered such a failure? Does it have that low a ridership? (Personally, I liked Gwazi, but I'm in a minority there and my woodie count is pretty small.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Clear Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I actually really liked Gwazi, too. Of the three GCIs with PTCs that I've been on, Gwazi seemed the least wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam06pr Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I enjoyed gwazi too...problem is, it is rough and it takes forever to dispatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All Clear Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 I didn't find it all that terribly rough, compared to Roar at SFA or Hershey's Wildcat pre-MF trains. I was actually surprised by how smooth some of the elements were. I'd be bracing myself for agony at an upcoming fan turn and get no rattling at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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