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• July 18, 2022: Outdated photos from inside DarKastle leak online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.

 

[VB06Hokie]

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Trains are in

 

[Jahrules]

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Trains are in

Thanks, I hate them.

 

[ControlsEE]

I thought I liked them until that last shot... they're maroon jetski's

 

[Irishlad]

Weren’t the original dark kastle vechicles this color on the inside? I’m fine with these honestly. They don’t look bad with the gold.

 

[ControlsEE]

Weren’t the original dark kastle vechicles this color on the inside? I’m fine with these honestly. They don’t look bad with the gold.

They were gold with red seats.

https://www.themeparktourist.com/files/u235/DarKastle/Curse-of-DarKastle.jpg

These jetskis look maroon/dark pink to me

 

[Zachary]

Good news? It's a fully indoor roller coaster. You won't be seein' much of these trains day to day.

 

[horsesboy]

I don't hate them but I will wait for a better view before deciding if unlike them.

 

[Irishlad]

I don't hate them but I will wait for a better view before deciding if unlike them.

And atleast we have some marketing.

 

[Icer]

I think what is so jarring about the vivid maroon is the teaser felt more like regal maroon/purple than just "Lol DC football team"

Other than that, I shouldn't be surprised they managed to cheap out even beyond what we saw in the animation teaser. Unless they have some stickers to slap on the thing, they seem to have run out of paint budget. Guess fixing those Pantheon signs is going to break the bank for them.

 

[warfelg]

Need to see it in person. The camera used and the lighting can make such a difference.

 

[Icer]

I still wonder what happened to all the details, I didn't think it was standard practice to ship trains with the intent to have any decals installed on site but then again I don't know anything.

 

[Seaworld History]

I still wonder what happened to all the details, I didn't think it was standard practice to ship trains with the intent to have any decals installed on site but then again I don't know anything.

That’s usually what they do, when the “new” kumba train came, it didn’t have the logo or the wheel cover decals, it was just yellow, same with the montu trains.

 

[I305Evan]

Same thing with Intimidator and Verbolten... the decals would probably tear easily when they're lifting each of the cars with straps/ chains. Not to mention Intamin does pull through tests with the physical train which could cause more damage to the decals. Best to apply them closer to opening since they aren't that time confusing to install. We probably didn't notice this with Pantheon because the lead car was put on display at IAAPA.

 

[Icer]

Good point, seeing Pantheon ahead of time definitely skewed my memory with this subject

 

[Aidansn07]

I still wonder what happened to all the details, I didn't think it was standard practice to ship trains with the intent to have any decals installed on site but then again I don't know anything.

Verboltens decals were done onsite

 

[MIKEYT67]

Verboltens decals were done onsite

Isn't it going to be darkride?
Decals are no big deal You can't see them anyhow

 

[Jahrules]

Isn't it going to be darkride?
Decals are no big deal You can't see them anyhow

We don't know what the lighting package (or theming) will look like yet.

 

[RollyCoaster]

I don’t think we’ve talked about this advertisement from Busch yet



Is this assuming that DarKoaster is opening up sooner than we thought?

 

[CoasterFan2735]

I don’t think we’ve talked about this advertisement from Busch yet

View attachment 28321

Is this assuming that DarKoaster is opening up sooner than we thought?

This really implies that it will be opening as soon as next month which I sincerely doubt was Busch’s intent. Maybe they shared the train footage the other day to start hyping up marketing for DarKoaster to bring in the guests outside of the summer season? That would be an interesting move for the park for sure but would make sense to open an indoor attraction during potentially colder weather, to maximize ROI.

 

[AIR]

They're doing the pull-through envelope testing today, I believe. This means the theming is likely set in place.