Busch Gardens Williamsburg announces retirment of Big Bad Wolf

They must have something ready to be built in it's place already.

Why else would they close the attraction before the end of the park's season? Why not let it operate one more month?

This is sad news. Bbw, was the best suspended coaster that I have been on. It had some fast turns, steep drops, and great themeing with the village and all. It's celebrating it's 25th annerversery this year. Does anyone else think that there are many more years left in this coaster? It was built in 84, and many other suspended coaster built around the same time are still operating. Ninja built in 88, iron dragon in 87, vortex in 91, flight deck 92.

Now I am going to have to make it out there on this trip I am takeing this next week so we can ride it one more time.:(

As sad as I am about seeing the ride go, I'm glad they at least given us a confirmed closing date.

Yea, unlike geauga lake.

This is the classy way to close a ride. Thank you, Busch Gardens, for the "official word" and a last chance to ride the Wolf.

I was cool with no Podcast last Sun (I was still behind anyway), however, I want a Podcast this weekend now! Thank you :)

^ not only is it the classy way but its the smart way. Now people who originally were not going to BGW may change there plans and go so they an get one last ride.

I have just posted some pictures of bbw on here from my visit in june of this year.

http://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Topics/101.aspx

I am going to make a special trip out there on monday, so I will try and post some better pictures of the ride when I get back.

I'm really bummed. This is one of my all time favorite coasters. Its def one of my top 10. I'm really glad I bought a shirt when I went 2 years ago. What a bummer.

Rip good friend!

Well now Ken can breath a sigh of relief. Poor guy had to endure the agony of knowing its fate, but couldn't tell a soul.

LoL Dave.

Purely coincidental I changed my avatar to this 3 days ago of course ;)

"The Big Bad Wolf offers a thrilling ride experience coupled withaggressive ride dynamics. While it remains a safe attraction, it hassimply reached the end of its service life," said Larry Giles, BuschGardens' vice president of engineering and design.

In other words, the ride has become too expensive to justify maintaining it.

I'll never get a chance to ride, with the economy the way it is I can barely afford to fly back to PA for a visit. A trip to BGW on top of that is definitely not in the price range this summer, maybe next when I move back but by then it will be too late. :( I was too young to ride when last visited BGW but I remember watching it and Loch Ness for hours mesmerized.

I guess this is a bitter sweet goodbye. I know what the rumors are for the next major project at BGE, but I was hoping that BBW would not have to go. This was the first BIG ride I took my three neices on, and the coaster that got them hooked from the start. We will miss you BBW, and know you will live in our memories forever.

Yeah, it's a real shame. First Eagle Fortress, now this. I'd guess the remaining suspended coasters will be disappearing over the next few years.

Freaking hell, that's not a whole lot of notice, but better than nothing. I wonder if I call pull off a BGE trip in August...

If you look at the photos that Crazy Horse posted, you'll notice that one of them is of an entirely empty queue. I've heard that some smaller rides are doing more business than this one is. If they're anything like some other parks, they likely have a cost-per-rider ratio that they consider, and this one just isn't there anymore.

Don't get your hopes up about a replacement for next year.

There were a lot of rumors earlier this year that Top Gun/Flight Deck at KI would be closing at the end of this season. I now doubt that with the future of SOB in question.

Had a night ride on BBW during Howl-O-Scream in 2003 that was one of the best rides I've ever had on any coaster.

Great ride. It will be missed.

Richard Bannister said:
Yeah, it's a real shame. First Eagle Fortress, now this. I'd guess the remaining suspended coasters will be disappearing over the next few years.

Yeah, my expectation is that "the future of suspended coasters" literally hangs in the balance of the S&S FreeFly. There's just no way we're going to see more of the old-style Arrows, and the ones that already exist seem to be in consderable jeopardy. EF and BBW came first IMO due to age and intensity (i.e., wear-and-tear).