The Busch Gardens Thread

[Deadman]

Bad news for the Big Bad Wolf this week. Ever since we brought the story to light to the greater public that Busch Gardens Williamsburg was possibly seeking to remove their most popular family coaster, The Big Bad Wolf, the park and all rumors about it w

ent dead silent. All attempt to find out more information about this over the past month have been met with a brick wall… as no one associated with the park is willing to talk about it either way. In fact… no one wants to talk about the Wolf at all, which is concerning as this summer is the Big Bad Wolf’s 25th Anniversary… (1984 – 2009) and yet the park jumped at the opportunity to hail the Loch Ness Monster’s 30th Anniversary last summer.
If your luck enough at all to get a question about the future of the Big Bad Wolf off to someone who might be “in the know”, about all anyone has gotten so far is the standard “I can’t comment about future blah blah blah…” Of course as I’ve said for years, when it comes to situations like this, it’s not always what they say that matters, but sometimes what they are not saying matters just as much. If you were to ask one of the members of management if a rumor that they were going to remove Griffon next year were true, they would surely short and tell you that was complete hogwash. And yet no one is reacting that way to the rumors of The Big Bad Wolf’s demise.
I know sometime that a particular ride’s time has come… and it’s removal while sad was just a matter of time, but I don’t believe that this is the Big Bad Wolf’s time at all. If you visit the park, be sure to stop by guest relations (or e-mail them) and tell them how much you enjoy riding it. How having the Big Bad Wolf has really made every trip to Busch Gardens special for you and your family. Tell them how much your kids loving being able to ride it, as it was the only major family friendly coaster in the entire park. Let them know you care and how upset you would be if they removed it… because once the Wolf is gone… it’s gone forever. It was custom built to take advantage of the park’s terrain and there is no way it will ever be moved to a new location. Surely there has got to be a way to keep the coaster and build whatever expansion plans they have for the former Drachen Fire location.
To hell with the three little pigs… save The Big Bad Wolf!

 

[jen2009]

The last few times we have gone, it has been broken. We went on Saturday and to our amazement it was open and running with three trains. :sohappy: That is my favorite ride followed by Loch Ness. They were advertising heavily about it being its 25th anniversary. I hope they do not shut it down. Riding it made me remember how much fun it is. Had to ride it 5 times with DH because we may not be back until Hallowscream.

 

[Deadman]

update

A few of you have already send off comments to the park in support of saving the Big Bad Wolf however it seems that the park has already drawn up a general reply letter where they give off the same line that we’ve heard before, “While the park's management appreciates your comment, the company has a long-held policy
against commenting on rumors or speculation concerning future park attractions.” Keep it up for now though... the battle isn’t going to be won in a day. I came up with a new idea today, one that was also suggested by a reader as well, that we come up with some kind of T-shirt design for the enthusiast crowd to wear into the park that clearly says something about saving The Big Bad Wolf as a way to let the general public know about the park’s plans to remove this world class coaster. The park can see fit to blow off enthusiast claims to keep the ride as a “minority opinion” but if we can bring this news to the attention of the rest of the park guests who will also complain, there may be a chance we can Save The Wolf!
Meanwhile one source claims that the public outcry that started earlier this summer over the leaked plans to remove the Wolf may have been enough to ensure it returns for the 2010 season, but the plans to remove it are still alive and well. I think they failed to understand how much people loved this coaster, on top of the higher upkeep costs involved with a coaster of this age. After 25 years of operation, the ride’s systems could use some upgrades and the trains are also nearing the end of their lifespan and need replacing. Instead of embracing the opportunity to buy new “open body” style trains that would increase the thrill of the ride as well as increase the rider’s visibility, they are instead opting to drag the old girl off into the woods on a date with a shotgun which is just sad beyond words.

 

[Deadman]

Everyone knows that the bigger coaster lovers out there have issues when it comes to fitting into many Swiss designed roller coasters, like most of the fine machines at Busch Gardens from B&M, many requiring the use of one of the few “big boy” seats in each train. I’m not sure if this happened earlier this season or more recently, but a reliable source tells me that the seat-belts they encountered on Alpengeist appear to have been shortened quite a bit from their normal length from years past.

 

[Deadman]

http://screamscape.com/html/busch_gardens_williamsburg.htm

I’ve got a quick update about the meet at the park Behind the Thrills is planning for this Thursday. Yesterday the word “protest” was used incorrectly, and I would like to clear that item up that this is not in any way a “protest” taking place at the coaster. No sit-ins... no chaining yourself to the trees... nothing like that. We know officials at Busch Gardens real Screamscape and were getting a bit concerned. It is my understanding that the only thing being planned is a simple get together of Big Bad Wolf fans to show support for the ride and to spend some quality time together, getting in some rides together, and sharing memories and reasons that they have such love for the Wolf.
In other news, one of our readers went to the park this weekend, and I’ve got to wonder if Busch is feeling the heat over the removal of the Wolf. On three separate occasions our reader reports that crew members at guest relations, at the Wolf and on the tram driver at night all mentioned to guests that the Wolf was being removed to make way for a new roller coaster. One person said it was to be a two year refurbishment to the area that would end up with a coaster, another crew member actually went to far as to claim that the replacement would be a flyer coaster. Sounds like all the fuss and disapointment over the Wolf being retired may be forcing the park to leak out some information about their future plans a little early.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg has announced on their website that this year’s Howl-O-Scream will feature 15 NEW attractions, 18 scare zones, haunted mazes and shows. Howl-O-Scream will kick off this year on Sept. 25th and run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 1st. The official website is now live as well, though the section that will describe the haunts and such is still under construction for now.
In other news Coaster Dynamix came in to build their new Phoenix kit in the park over the weekend and was selling this newest kit to the public for $150. For now the only place you can buy The Phoenix is through Busch Gardens Williamsburg, at least through to the end of August, after which they will begin to sell it through their official website and through other hobby stores. They were also apparently showing off a new Griffon model kit that will be sold exclusively through the park sometime this fall. From what I’ve heard, the park was taking pre-orders for anyone interested in buying one.