Links to the past (AB logos and old ride references in the park today)

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CoolDrMoney

CoolDrMoney

Sep 5, 2010
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On a recent trip to the park, whilst washing my hands in the Festhaus, I noticed that the faucets still had the Anheuser-Busch Eagle logo on them.

Later, in Killarney, I decided to crawl up inside the talking tree at what is now Girls ShamROCK. Interestingly enough, he still talks...but he talks about about Corkscrew Hill, which we all know no longer exists.

This got me thinking -- we should make a listing of all the hidden (or maybe not so hidden) AB logos and references to defunct rides that remain in the park.

The list...

Busch References:
1. Anheuser-Busch Eagles on restroom faucets - Oktoberfest, San Marco, Forest of Fun
2. Anheuser-Busch plaque on the fountain - Rhinefeld
3. Anheuser-Busch branded iron landscaping around trees in front of Apollo's Chariot - Festa Italia

Left over references to past rides and attractions:
1. Corkscrew Hill references in the talking tree - Killarney
2. Grimm's Hollow signage - Land of the Dragons
3. Questor art on the cave walls in Europe in the Air - Killarney
4. Threadneedle reference on bridge - The Wild Reserve
5. Hastings reference on stained glass eagle in Das Festhaus - Oktoberfest

Outdated logos:
1. Busch Gardens Europe logo on photo booth and dog tag machine - Oktoberfest
2. Old fashioned BGW logo on pressed pennies - Throughout
3. Busch Gardens Europe logo on info signs - The Wild Reserve
4. AB-era Busch Gardens Williamsburg logo plate on Apollo's Chariot car - Festa Italia

Post anything you find, I'll keep the list updated and organized. Let this be something of a database.
 
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This thread has caused me to realize something: Busch Gardens Williamsburg is exceedingly good at erasing its past.

Anyway, the Adolphus Busch plaque on the fountain in Rhinefield is a pretty easy one. Do you plan to keep the first post updated?
 
1. Probably the second-oldest logo in the park. Zero car on Apollo's Chariot.

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2. Here's the oldest logo in the park. Courtesy of the CK's Check it Out thread.

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There are other faucets around the park with the AB eagle on them outside the Festhaus. I know the San Marco bathrooms have them too.

I noticed the photo booth and dog tag machine in Oktoberfest still have the "Busch Gardens Europe" logo on them.

Oh and both Busch and Sea World currently sell vintage logo merchandise around their parks. SW brought back their old script logo when I went down there last year. BGW has the block logo merch with the flags and they've been giving out block logo pins for season passholders in some of the gift shops.
 
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The nude fountain, that Doc made a thread about earlier, was from one of the original AB breweries. There used to be a plaque in front of the fountain explaining it, and also listing who designed it and when (it is easily 100 years old). I don't know if the plaque is still there or not because the last time I went to the park was in 2011.

If someone who's visiting the park soon, could you guys check that fountain to see if the plaque is still there?
 
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I just thought of one...a great one. In fact, the link to the past that I have discovered is so good and unlike anything anyone else would think of, I think it deserves its own spoiler tag.

Okay, my amazing insight into the park's past with Anhueser-Busch is...
Busch Gardens. The name says it all. It doesn't get more specific than that!!!
I win :cool:
 
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Also, and more seriously, do the multiple references to Big Bad Wolf on Verbolten count as AB references, seeing as they're actually new additions to commemorate the past?

I also feel like Ireland has plenty of intentional and unintentional references to both Hastings and the old Killarney. For instance, I believe one can just barely make out writing on the cave-like walls for the machines of Questor, which has pulled through both Corkscrew Hill and EitA (because, as it has been discussed on numerous occasions, it makes total sense for dungeon like caves to be the queue for an airport themed ride...but that's a story for another time).

EDIT: Just reading the comments on my other observation, I would like to quote Modern Family's Phil Dunphy for a moment: "While everyone's chasing each other around outside the box, you know what the box is? Empty.” Plus, I wanted to make sure I said it before Alpenghost did :p
 
I mean for this list to be of overlooked details or old references to days gone by...not for newly installed references that are made for the sake of being references or for old elements that have been retconned into new attractions.

So, those Questor markings you're talking about...are they Questor specific or are they just part of the general decor of the caves?
 
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Dr. Julius Money Ed.D said:
I mean for this list to be of overlooked details or old references to days gone by...not for newly installed references that are made for the sake of being references or for old elements that have been retconned into new attractions.

So, those Questor markings you're talking about...are they Questor specific or are they just part of the general decor of the caves?
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Okay, I've got it. I'm not trying to fool around or anything...so, basically old things of the past that have pulled through. Got it.

As far as the walls, I remember reading in a few places here that plans for machines or other writing can be found on the walls that I guess the park had trouble removing. Definitely specifically from another ride, though I am not positive as to which one they are from. Maybe even King Arthur's Challenge...I have not idea, though. The walls themselves, given the theme of EitA, obviously reference the former inhabitants of the area.

I'll do some poking around, but does anyone have any knowledge or proof to back this up?
 
What about that sign in Land of the Dragons above the two small spinning rides with the two dragons resting? I believe that was the old entrance sign to Grimm's Hollow area...it still has the old-fashioned fairytale trees and everything from then old area. I'll try to find a picture.
 
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The bridge after Eagle ridge in Wild Reserve is still named Threadneedle Bridge. You can somewhat see it in Google maps. Sure those pictures were taken in 2009, but the sign is still there.
 
Those drawings in the cave are a reference to the storyline for Questor. It's actually a reference to the storyline that never really came into fruition. The reasoning behind those, is that Alwyyne (the main character of the ride) used to draw on those cave walls for ideas. Many years later, those drawings or ideas "evolved" into the "ship" known as Queststor.
 
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BGW Family said:
I hope "The Watchers" aren't using this thread to take notes on where to go to delete the past next. I like those AB things being around. :(
Click to expand...

I hope not. To me, stuff like this helps the park feel mysterious and immersive. Like, this place has a history and there was a time before you showed up to visit. Not only is that cool all by itself, it also adds to that 'European villages' theme because, just like real towns, these little "towns" have history.

I want to go back and do some on-site "archeology," see what else turns up, haha.
 
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