Mäch Tower

Manufacturer

Moser's Rides

Model

Gravity Tower

Hamlet

Oktoberfest (Germany)

Opening Date

August 18th, 2011

Closing Date

January 8th, 2023

Attraction Height

240ft

Duration

About 90 Seconds

Riders Per Cycle

30

Height Requirement

48in

Mäch Tower was a Moser's Rides Gravity Tower located in the Oktoberfest section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Originally planned to debut in the spring alongside Beste Brezeln und Bier and numerous other alterations to the Oktoberfest hamlet, Mäch Tower faced months of delays throughout the first half of 2011. Ultimately, the attraction did not open to the public until August 18th, 2011.

Mach Tower was typically converted into an observation tower named Nächt Tower for the park's annual holiday event, Christmas Town.

On December 16, 2022 it was announced by the park that Mäch Tower would close on January 8th, 2023. The ride did not operate in it's typical Nächt Tower mode in 2022, in order to have final sendoffs in the normal drop tower mode.

When it debuted, Mäch Tower featured an onboard audio system which would play music throughout the ride's ascent and a seat vibration effect that would trigger immediately before the drop. A POV featuring the on-ride audio can be found below.

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Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

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Sources:

1. Mäch Tower Announcement Press Release
2. Official Statement Regarding Opening Delays
3. "Waiting for the Mach Tower to Drop" via The Virginian-Pilot
4. "Busch Gardens opens towering drop ride after 3-month delay" via The Virginian-Pilot
5. First Ride Video & Opening Day Photos via BGWFans
6. Early Mäch Tower Ride Impressions via Theme Park Insider

 

[netdvn]

Saw a few people riding Mach today. I talked to someone standing underneath the ride and she told me maintenance and a few higher ups were riding. That's definitely a good sign that the ride should be opening soon.

 

[Shane]

Was it still making awful noises?

 

[Party Rocker]

The other day, maybe one or two days ago, it was still making noises. Not sure if they fixed it by now though?

 

[chickenking]

The folks doing the testing told me MT should be open tomorrow.
Take that with a grain of salt going down a slide of razor blades into a pool of alcohol (the rubbing kind)

Also, the engineer guy said it should free-fall about 48-50 more feet...give or take a few.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Also, the engineer guy said it should free-fall about 48-50 more feet...give or take a few.

Dang That is a huge difference from last year. Now it might be worth waiting in line for. If the Engineer is right about that of course. Last year it started to brake around 150 or 125 feet last year so it should start braking somewhere around 75 feet which is a huge difference. If anybody goes there and it is open or testing a video would be great!

 

[Party Rocker]

Also, the engineer guy said it should free-fall about 48-50 more feet...give or take a few.

If the ride attendant is right about that of course.

Two different positions guys. I would trust an engineer working on the ride more than a ride ops team member, just saying.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Also, the engineer guy said it should free-fall about 48-50 more feet...give or take a few.

If the ride attendant is right about that of course.

Two different positions guys. I would trust an engineer working on the ride more than a ride ops team member, just saying.

You know what I was trying to say though. No need to waste a whole post on it. Just saying.
Edit: Fixed it now we can delete these two posts.

 

[bigbrother32]

The ride opened today with a longer drop and a longer time at the top the ride did break down though

 

[chickenking]

...the ride did break down though

:shocked:

 

[destroyer421]

the ride did break down though

Wow what a shocker. I'm not surprised. I rode it yesterday so I can confirm that it drops farther and holds at the top longer.

 

[Shane]

Does it make awful sounds still?

 

[bigbrother32]

Does it make awful sounds still?

Yes it does

 

[Party Rocker]

The sound of breakdowns

 

[chickenking]

Not real sure what everybody means with the awful noises. I was by Mach Tower for about 15 minutes and it sounds the same way it always has to me. By the way, I took a couple of videos of the new free-fall. I'll see if I can get them uploaded on YouTube tomorrow.

 

[chickenking]

Here ya go: Full ascent & drop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oW1yvmo1GLA
It stays at the top a loooong time now.
Look how far it free-falls!

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MT defies gravity! Free-fall only.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jqWcHanXZcE
From a distance.
Sorry it's sideways. Whatcha gonna do?

 

[I305Evan]

That is the slowest ascent known to man.

 

[Zachary]

Here's a video of the drop previously for reference. Quite the difference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EelLi_FUa9s

 

[pandorazboxx]

Sorry it's sideways. Whatcha gonna do?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA

 

[chickenking]

Nice.

 

[mjones73]

Here ya go: Full ascent & drop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oW1yvmo1GLA
It stays at the top a loooong time now.
Look how far it free-falls!

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MT defies gravity! Free-fall only.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jqWcHanXZcE
From a distance.
Sorry it's sideways. Whatcha gonna do?

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You can turn it in youtube.

youtube.com - click on your username on the upper left, Video Manager button, Hit the down arrow next to the Edit button for the video in question and select enhancements, use the rotate buttons on the bottom right of the video and save your changes.

The rides looks much more fun, thanks for posting those.