Mach Tower still not open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Why didn't they buy one from S&S or Intamin? I did like the one at Moreys Piers, but the other 2 companies seem much more reliable. Don't bring up the Kentucky Kingdom accident. I blame that on the maintenance of the park. ;)

Mmmmm... Vibrating seats.

I can't verify this, and I don't typically like to fuel rumors, but I read somewhere that someone witnessed the brakes fail during testing, causing the whole vehicle to hit the ground. If there's any truth to that, it could explain the delays.

The magnetic brakes did not (and can not) fail, but the giant hydraulic plungers that lower the ride down the last few feet were not installed correctly and the carriage bumped into the ground.

I read the same thing, RollrCoastrCrazy.

Maybe they should have bought the drop ride from a more popular ride company.

...Like Intamin. :D

A 300' Arachnophobia style dropper with the tilting seats (who cares about vibrations?!) would have been PERFECT and already open. Busch messed up big on this one.

As it stands they purchased a non-operational tower with gimmicky seats that isn't nearly as tall as KD's higher capacity tower.

Busch messed up big on this one.

And I fear that they may have messed up big on next year's coaster too, for the same reasons.

zzzzzzzzzzzzz. With all of the other amazing flat rides out there that parks in the US do not have, why would they install a ride that King's Dominion already has? This ride has 0 appeal to pull someone to Busch Gardens for a visit, if they have already been to King's Dominion.

These funds would have been much better spent making Oktoberfest look like Oktoberfest with a couple nice, original European flat rides.

RollrCoastrCrazy said:
A 300' Arachnophobia style dropper with the tilting seats (who cares about vibrations?!) would have been PERFECT and already open.

"Arachnophobia" is fear of spiders and a so-so movie with John Goodman.

"Acrophobia" is fear of heights and a nice drop ride.

Class dismissed :)

So-So? So-So??? I've lost a touch of respect for you, sir.

That movie is boss. Cheese at it's finest.

Ha Mike I can't believe I did that, when I was at SFOG a few days ago I actually laughed at my friend that mistakenly said that. Karma is a *****.

...and here I was giving credit for a clever "re-naming" of the ride... :)

Raven-Phile said:
So-So? So-So??? I've lost a touch of respect for you, sir.

That movie is boss. Cheese at it's finest.

Whatever can I do to jump back up? At least it's just a touch...

I could be wrong, of course, but I really don't think that the attractions at KD have any relevancy to the draw for most at Busch Gardens. At least not when it comes to a drop tower. That KD has a bigger (and operational as it were) drop tower isn't going to keep people from going to BGW. The average park goer doesn't care, in my opinion.

super7* said:
With all of the other amazing flat rides out there that parks in the US do not have, why would they install a ride that King's Dominion already has? This ride has 0 appeal to pull someone to Busch Gardens for a visit, if they have already been to King's Dominion.

That's pretty much exactly how it doesn't work.

A drop ride is something that has been noticeably missing from Bush Gardens VA's ride lineup for a very very long time now. Unique rides aren't always what sells admission tickets. There is a reason why so many amusement parks have a drop ride, and it's the same reason they have any other popular, non-unique ride... They are usually well received and bring in the crowds.

^ I agree T, which is why I'm surprised Great Adventure and Magic Mountain still have not added one to their lineup.

I have only been an enthusiast for 3 years. Before that we went to an occasional amusement park (mostly KI or CP) but at most once a year.

Back then I never considered what coasters or rides a park had. To us all parks were equal.

New attractions meant that the park had something to market as new and exciting. It didn't matter to us what it was because the hype was all that mattered.

I honestly don't believe that anyone will be going to BG just for Mach Tower but for the entire experience.

Well, Dave, I would agree mostly with that, except that some people go year after year to the same park, and a new attraction is reason enough to go for those people. I believe that's why the lines for the new rides are usually longer than the old rides. ...in my perception of it, anyways.