Busch Gardens Williamsburg Announces...

BGW has announced the Mach Tower a 245 foot drop tower like many expected for the OktoberFest area and Vanish Point at WC with two 75 ft drop out slides plus two 300ft long speed slides.

http://www.buschgardens.com/bgw/CP/?page=BigNews

plus a multiple launch coaster for 2012 featuring "many" firsts

Awesome news! Sounds like BGW and BGW will be building the same kind of coasters in the near future.

LostKause said:
Sounds like BGW and BGW will be building the same kind of coasters in the near future.

Isn't that kind of implied? ;)

I believe it's incontrovertible...

I don't generally do water parks..at my size, the constant climbing takes too much outta me. But I don't believe I've ever been on a waterslide where you drop..apparently through a trapdoor of some kind...into the slide. I may have been on one at Action Park here in Jersey many years ago, but it's hazy. Might have been the Cannonball.

Anyway, a slide like this might be enough to get me to Water County for the second time in my life.

Vanish Point probably won't be one of those "looping slide" like Noah's Ark in the Dells just added. Based on the terms used and concept model in the video, this looks to be the first US installation of the Proslide SuperLoop: http://www.proslide.com/rides_08_d.php .

I was hoping the drop ride would be something themed like a Tower of Terror, but this will be nice. I just don't think my wife will go on it.

What type of tower ride is it? Intamin giant drop?

Moser, I believe.

I'd like to have seen them build one like that drop tower in Europe where it's in a faux castle tower, and the drop gondola is facing inwards. That looks cool.

That one would be perfect for BGW's setting.

Moser drop? Is this the one Jeff tried at IAAPA?

The Moser thing I got on was like a giant Frog Hopper. Probably not this.

BGT got a Moser freefall that is....guessing about 50-60' tall. I didn't think they made anything as tall as the proposed BGW ride (but I'd be happy to be wrong, I like the *multiple bounces* on their rides).

What I really would prefer NOT to happen - is a repeat of SheiKra -> Griffin, where BGW gets a far superior ride one season after Tampa gets the "proof of concept" version.

Is Griffon that drastically different than SheiKra, though? I mean, I've heard differing opinions from both sides saying one is better than the other, but 'far superior'? I haven't been on Tampa's, and I know it's a faux pas to judge before riding, but it seems to me they'd offer relatively the same experience...

^For me, the second Immelmann and better use of the terrain (combined with the scenery of BGW) make for a better ride experience. Add in the bunny hop that actually provides decent aritime, and the fact that you can actually get sprayed on Griffin...and there's the CLEAR winner in my book.

I have been told that my perception of the difference(s) exceeds others' views in terms of compare/contrast...FWIW.

Those Moser Family frog hopper type rides are AWESOME! Didn't realize Lake Compounce had one when I was up there till the park closed. LOVE them.

DelGrooso's has one of those big-kid-sized Frog Hopper rides. It's a hoot!

Tekwardo said:
Moser, I believe.

I'd like to have seen them build one like that drop tower in Europe where it's in a faux castle tower, and the drop gondola is facing inwards. That looks cool.

That would be the rather unique "Mystery Castle" at Phantasialand in Germany. The tower is highly themed and is pretty much a walkthrough with actors on the way to the ride. You then enter this large room and you have 6 individual cars on the walls. Each car got 8 seats and the ride is an indoor Space Shot like experience. You got lights, music and a storyline to explain why you're doing all that.. Would have been the perfect ride for BGE, but with money already going toward the Proslide products for Water Country and the 2012 coaster....

I actually prefer Shiekra due to the location of the splash area.

Going to BGE for the first time, I had no idea about the "Splash Zone" and because of that I nearly got nailed by it. That would have ruined my day. :)