Busch Gardens officials announce 2012 roller coaster details

Busch Gardens’ officials unveiled the name of the Williamsburg theme park’s 2012 roller coaster during an exclusive pass-member appreciation event Saturday morning.

“Verbolten℠ offers the latest in roller coaster technology,” said Park President Carl Lum while addressing an enthusiastic crowd inside Busch Gardens’ 2,000-seat dining facility. “When Verbolten opens in spring 2012, coaster fans will feel the exhilaration of multiple launches and a few surprises that can’t be found anywhere else in the United States.”

Saturday’s announcement naming Verbolten as the Williamsburg park’s new roller coaster ended months of speculation among coaster fans who have been eagerly awaiting official news about the new thrill ride.

In addition to the name, park officials unveiled a few technical details about the roller coaster and a way for fans to learn more about Verbolten over the next several months. Guests with smartphones or other Internet-connected devices can download exclusive coaster details using a unique Quick Response Code, a.k.a. a QR code. Content will be updated regularly, but it can only be accessed by reading the in-park QR code.

Saturday’s event also offered pass members an exclusive preview of the 13th anniversary of Howl-O-Scream, which begins Sept. 23.

Vice President of Entertainment Scott Gasparich introduced pass members to a menagerie of creepy characters representing the Dark Side of the Gardens that make up this year’s Howl-O-Scream. Most haunted houses, scare zones and shows are new, Gasparich said, while the rest are resurrected guest favorites.

“Busch Gardens pulled out all the stops for Howl-O-Scream’s 13th anniversary,” Gasparich said. “There is nothing in this year’s event that hasn’t been intensified, including new takes on old favorites.”

Great new haunted houses like Dead Line offer a modern spin on some classic scares. Howl-O-Scream fans suffering from coulrophobia take note that the evil clowns are back and have taken over Festa Italia in Fear Fair and Grin and Scare It. Finally, Fiends is back in the Festhaus by popular demand. Gasparich and his creative team have breathed new life into Busch Gardens’ classic show that debuted during the first Howl-O-Scream in 1999. It is always “Code Pink” in Dr. Weirdstein’s laboratory, and the good doctor is once again feverishly working on his latest and greatest invention.

Howl-O-Scream begins Sept. 23 and continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 30. Howl-O-Scream is not suitable for younger guests after 6 p.m. Parental guidance is encouraged. The park’s younger guests will be treated to Halloween happenings during the day with their favorite characters at Sesame Street Forest of Fun.

For more information about the 13th anniversary of Howl-O-Scream, visit www.howl-o-scream.com/va

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The Anticipation Is Over - Mach Tower opens at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens’ Mach Tower officially opened today, ending months of anticipation from guests eager to ride the parks’ newest and tallest thrill attraction.

“We know our guests have been eagerly awaiting the debut of Mach Tower,” said Park President Carl Lum. “During the manufacturer’s initial testing, some mechanical issues were discovered that caused the delay. Now that the ride is open, we are excited to share this amazing experience with our guests.”

Mach Tower offers an incredible view as its 30-seat rotating carriage climbs nearly 240 feet above the park’s Oktoberfest village. Thrill elements experienced during the ride keep riders from becoming complacent on their journey to the top. Once riders get a few seconds to take in the view, the carriage plummets at breathtaking speed straight down the massive maypole-themed tower attraction.

“We’re pleased our guests will be able to ride Mach Tower before the summer comes to a close,” said Lum. “We allowed our guests a sneak peek earlier this week and the overwhelming comments have been, ‘it’s been worth the wait.’”

Ray Beyer and his son Brandon were some of the lucky guests who experienced Mäch Tower during the sneak peek.

“I thought it was great,” said Brandon, adding that the drop took his breath away. “Not being able to look down sort of freaked me out.”

Mach Tower anchors a newly rejuvenated Oktoberfest village featuring new game areas, performance spaces and a pretzel bakery serving some of the best pretzel-themed cuisine in the region.

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2011 Brings Ten New Attractions to Parks Across the Country

Hey Fans! In case you haven’t heard, 2011 is a really exciting year for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. We’re opening ten – that’s right, ten – new attractions in our parks across the country! Here’s a quick download on everything that’s coming to your favorite parks this year.

Just announced this morning, a new killer whale show is opening at all three SeaWorld parks. “One Ocean” connects guests to the sea, and to these amazing animals, with a new level of excitement while it educates and inspires you to make a difference in this world. The show is scheduled to premiere at SeaWorld Orlando at the end of April, SeaWorld San Diego on Memorial Day weekend and SeaWorld San Antonio in June.

SeaWorld San Diego also is opening a second major attraction this summer – Turtle Reef where you can get an up-close look at 60 threatened or endangered sea turtles. And don’t miss its new ride which takes you on an exciting animal rescue mission!

SeaWorld San Antonio also opens Sesame Street Bay of Play this spring which will include three acres of exciting rides, shows and play areas and will be home to a colorful carousel with all the friends of Sesame Street.

Just across the street from SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove is opening an all-new area called The Grand Reef. You can experience this new adventure in a variety of ways: there’s plenty of shallow water areas; a chance to snorkel among thousands of fish and rays in deeper water; and, for the most thrill-seeking fans, there is SeaVenture – an underwater walking tour using dive helmets.

If your favorite part of a park visit is thrill rides, then the Busch Gardens parks are the place for you! Busch Gardens Tampa is opening Cheetah Hunt, a multiple launch-point coaster that uses repelling magnets to launch riders from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of seconds. At the new Cheetah Run animal habitat, you can witness the world’s fastest land animal in action during daily sprints.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is opening a drop tower called Mach Tower, where you’ll be lifted almost 200 feet in the air before a breath-taking and exciting drop. Also in Williamsburg, Water Country is opening Vanish Point, a new thrill attraction where you can choose which way you drop out of sight: either plunging down after the floor drops out from under you, or horizontally on a 300-foot speed slide that drops you straight down.

And, for our littlest fans, you can have tons of fun at Sesame Place, near Philadelphia, during “Neighborhood Street Party” with all of your favorite Sesame Street characters, then scoot on over to the park’s newest ride – Elmo’s Cloud Chaser.

Pretty exciting stuff, right? We'll keep you updated on all of the latest developments on these attractions right here on our blogs, so check back often!

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Busch Gardens Williamsburg announces 2011 and 2012 plans

As you enter Oktoberfest and pass by the fun-filled halls of Das Festhaus, you see it rising into the sky – the massive spire known as Mäch Tower.

Craning your neck to see the top, you notice a group of revelers being lifted and spiraling into the stratosphere. Suddenly, in a rush of wind and screams, they drop. So does your jaw.

This is Mäch Tower, the highest ride in Busch Gardens. It’s 245 feet of adrenaline-pulsing thrills with a view of the park and surrounding countryside you have to see to believe. That is, if you can keep your eyes open.

Mäch Tower – Heart racing. Jaw dropping. Spring 2011.

Then in 2012, we unveil our next attraction ... a multi-launch roller coaster featuring many "firsts".
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