Busch Gardens Williamsburg Project 2023: DarKoaster (Multi-Lap Intamin Straddle Coaster)

Important Articles:​

• BGWFans' full "Project DarKoaster" leak:
  
  

  Busch Gardens Williamsburg's New-for-2023 Roller Coaster

  BGWFans.com has exclusively obtained a bevy of information regarding a yet-to-be-announced, fully-indoor, multi-launch, family coaster currently in development for Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

  bgwfans.com
• BGWFans' summary of the DarKoaster: Escape the Storm announcement:
  
  

  DarKoaster: Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Indoor Roller Coaster

  Everything we know about Busch Gardens Williamsburg's officially-announced, new-for-2023, multi-launched, family roller coaster, DarKoaster

  bgwfans.com

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Major Updates:​

• July 15th, 2021: ParkFans member, @horsesboy, posts a rumor regarding possible DarKastle redevelopment plans
• November 25th, 2021: BGWFans begins teasing a Curse of DarKastle replacement
• December 2nd, 2021: Building permit filed for "modifications to existing Germany village building" valued at $3.5 million
• December 6th, 2021: BGWFans confirms that the Curse of DarKastle replacement is a roller coaster
• December 30th, 2021: BGWFans leaks "Project DarKoaster"
• February 10th, 2022: @Jahrules discovers a utility markings request for the area around DarKastle
• February 16th, 2022: DarKastle has been cleared out
• February 18th, 2022: Photos from inside DarKastle
• April 7th, 2022: DarKoaster plumbing and electrical permits found
• April 20, 2022: @horsesboy reports that stagged construction materials have been decreasing suggesting ongoing construction
• June 1, 2022: BGWFans reports that DarKoaster track is on-site and subsequently posts the first photos
• June 2, 2022: Busch Gardens Williamsburg teases Project DarKoaster for the first time
• June 14, 2022: BGWFans publishes DarKoaster photo and locker building plans
• July 18, 2022: Outdated photos from inside DarKastle leak online
• September 6, 2022: Busch Gardens announces DarKoaster: Escape the Storm opening in 2023
• April 20, 2023: Busch Gardens announces May 19, 2023 as the opening day for DarKoaster, with a Members Only Preview starting May 11, 2023.

 

[92ramsfan]

Really did name it DarKoaster huh? I love it.

 

[Coasternerd]

Check it out, your code name was the actual ride name this whole time!

 

[Coaster Takes]

Getting some GotG screen vibes from the animation.

 

[PhantomJB93]

Not unconvinced Drachen Spire would/will be the actual name of that too at this point. Wouldn’t hate it either.

 

[warfelg]

Not unconvinced Drachen Spire would/will be the actual name of that too at this point. Wouldn’t hate it either.

Did they tease that or anything else?

 

[Icer]

@warfelg After making people wait 30+min, they talked for about 5 min showing a quick animation and dropping stats. Zach's tweet is pretty much everything they said.

 

[warfelg]

@warfelg After making people wait 30+min, they talked for about 5 min showing a quick animation and dropping stats. Zach's tweet is pretty much everything they said.

That’s disappointing. Wonder if they’ll do it during tours when they hope no one is recording.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

I love it. Building on DarKastles theme is a great move.

 

[Thomas]

They better mount snowmobiles on the entrance arch where the wolf statues used to be.

 

[Icer]

Better yet, wolves on snowmobiles.

 

[Thomas]

I would like to amend my original name prediction to be “Ludwig’s Magical Kastle Snowmobile Adventure.”

 

[warfelg]

Better yet, wolves on snowmobiles.

Oh oh oh. Snowmobiles that are wolves!

 

[Mushroom]

Super excited for this. Not sure if I totally understand the snowmobile theme yet (are we supposed to be touring Ludwig’s castle in the modern day, sort of like Pompeii?), but I love the focus on storytelling and theming. Building on DarKastle’s legacy is exactly what I hoped for too.

Way more excited for this than I ever was for Pantheon.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

I admit I didn't see "snowmobiles" as the outcome for the train but god does it not surprise me.

 

[GoHokies87]

I'm sorry...Snowmobiles?!?!?

 

[tursiops]

No hints at possible opening timeframe. That was disappointing to me. Kevin did mention something about a full hardhat tour later this season or next year, which makes new doubt a winter opening.

 

[Zachary]

Snowmobiles are just a way for SEAS to dodge having to pay Intamin for custom train moldings. The video showed the exact same trains as Wave Breaker but with a fancy paint job.

 

[kmccarthy27]

Ooooohhhhhh the cars are snow mobiles

 

[madmax]

Anyone find issue with the height requirement being 48 when they badly needed a 42 in ride?

 

[warfelg]

Snowmobiles are just a way for SEAS to dodge having to pay Intamin for custom train moldings. The video showed the exact same trains as Wave Breaker but with a fancy paint job.

I’m curious as to how much that costs. Can’t be cheap.