Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[Midgetman82]

No, these pictures are great. Any update is a good update, especially pictures 6 through 20.

[Ed Farmer]

This thing is coming together quickly. I may be wrong, but I think we'll be seeing soft openings as early as April.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

It's too bad that it won't be open while I'm there, but it looks like a great coaster so far! I can't wait to get some good pics of it when I'm there ina bout a week or two!

[StarTrekGeek]

Woo! This ride will be epic! At this rate, track may be complete by the end of the month!

[orangeblue]

Is it bad that I get this aroused by seeing that twisty Intamin track?

[Intimidator305]

Well pre-305 and pre-Maverick I would have thought this coaster wouldn't even be worth the trip to the park, but since I rode them with all the kick-@$$ twisties I really want to get down there and try this out and so I can compare it to BGW's coaster next year! In my opinion, BGT won the last battle, because Sheikra is better than Griffon.

[Techno Dude]

Ooh, look at those curves! She's a beaut! I really can't wait to ride it!

[Joe Cool]

The part with the corkscrew and then the curve down to the ground, just looks amazing.

[the ghost]

Is it bad that I get this aroused by seeing that twisty Intamin track?

I think we all do...

[Band-Aid]

It's being built pretty quickly!

 

Hopefully, but unlikely, it will be done by late March

[1pizza14]

Looks like its coming along nicely! Still loving that inversion. Thanks for the update!

[RCoasterny]

Did anyone notice that Intamin support that isn't used to support track? I also noticed that Intamin is using an I-beam design for most of their supports, and will be putting sound reducing materials in the cylindrical supports.

[hersheypark28]

looks like a really fun coaster

[StarTrekGeek]

^^I remember when some concept art was leaked last September, it showed the track over the path. It looks like the supports not being used for track will actually be thematic supports.

[DougMJr]

The suports are one of the coolest things about this coaster, so beautiful to look at. Awesome photo update by the way. The ride looks like it is coming along very nicely.

[HappyEisentrout]

Yeah I was just looking at that support. I love the section where the supports stick off and look kinda like bamboo or branches. Excellent job by Blackstone.

[thrillrider]

This thing just looks better by the day.

[dragonskeep]

I love how the BGT coasters use the terain so much, they have some beautiful rides.

[sixflagsgadvguy1000]

I have only been to one Busch Gardens park, and that was the one in Virginia. I love it so much. It's such a beautiful park and although it only has only a few coasters, each coaster is awesome. Can't wait to get down to the Tampa park one day and take a ride on Cheetah Hunt, it looks brilliant. Not to mention Kumba, Montu, and Sheikra.

[CoasterComet]

^Uhhh.... aren't you forgetting a couple?

 

Scorpion, awesome powerful and rare Anton lap-bar only looper.

 

Gwazi... with new trains to boot!

 

I could pass up most B&M's. However, the ones at the Busch parks do seem to be very special.

 

When Goliath at SFOG was new, had one ride, then spent the day on Mindbender. The B&M's just kinda all feel the same to me - but I know they are good rides, very popular, efficient, etc.

[Ed Farmer]

I think Scorpion, as far as Antons go, is nothing to write home about. You can find one of those up north in Atlanta, as you mentioned. As for Gwazi, I really hope those new trains don't take away from the crazy ride it gave. I know the first opinions are positive, but it also had it's annual refurb, and I remember it was hella smoother coming off some work even in the PTC days.

[dragonskeep]

I have heard from a good source that the first s-bend will go over the Skyride. In the official video it goes under. If it turns out to be true the element will have to get up and over and down into the trench under the EOA trail bridge pretty quickly. Sounds pretty cool I hope it is true. Think of how cool this will all look from the Skyride, especially the fly over if true.

 

^ I think for now I had better rides with the old trains. They were mixed in with rides that were zero fun as well. The Flyers will find the track a little better with time and get a little faster. It felt slow to me but I did get to ride in the back which was no chance before the new trains.

[CPmillenia94]

Has it been confirmed whether these would have lap bars or not?

[Fooz]

I do believe the park has been upfront with the ride having OTSRs since the announcement. Also, pictures from today do indeed show the hill after the tower goes over the skyride! Half of that hill, the first trench, and the drop off the tower are all the track are all thats left to be completed.

[CPmillenia94]

Dammit. When will we see another intamin with t-bars because those are the best.