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

 

[snowman6996]

didn't it sort of crash down during initial testing?

 

[destroyer421]

This ride is still standing... Why?

It would be considered an act of terrorism if we tried to remove it ourselves.

 

[Hoopla]

Hey, so glad to have the forums back! In case you haven't seen, I uploaded two more of those Mach Tower stuck videos. I know it is a long way after that day (and I'm sure it has broken down ten times between Saturday and Today. )
Here is better view of the ride stuck...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge8tCD0dDFQ
Here is a video of the ride carriage coming slowly coming down the tower (it cam down the same way as observation mode.)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJtsDWKJ5wo

Make sure to keep up with my YouTube, becuase I may have something cool coming your way soon. :evilgrin:

 

[Mushroom]

Why don't they just save themselves some time and effort and make a little sign to put at the front of the park that says "Mach Tower Will Be Operating Today"? Not like they'd have to bother with it much...

 

[bigbrother32]

No. It should say "Will Mach Tower be operating today?"

 

[Mushroom]

^To be fair, that's probably a pretty accurate portrayal of the park's thoughts of the ride, bigbrother.

 

[chickenking]

I couldn't help but notice that Mach Tower is listed under the "Operating Attractions" forum. Now since it seems to spend an exorbitant amount of its time in a non-operating state, should there maybe be another category for "Sometimes Operating Attractions" or "Closed Today Attractions"? Maybe move it over to "Non-Operating Current Attractions" on those many many down days. Just sayin'...

 

[Ben]

I couldn't help but notice that Mach Tower is listed under the "Operating Attractions" forum. Now since it seems to spend an exorbitant amount of its time in a non-operating state, should there maybe be another category for "Sometimes Operating Attractions" or "Closed Today Attractions"? Maybe move it over to "Non-Operating Current Attractions" on those many many down days. Just sayin'...

Seems Like a lot of unnecessary work for site staff IMO.

 

[Hoopla]

Just put it in Defunct attraction, it'll save you time.

 

[Hoopla]

Mach tower was broken down Saturday and yesterday (tuesday). (Big Surprise) Yesterday (tuesday) however, they were running empty trains. The first test run they did, it was up at the top for about 20 minutes. Then they began doing testing with one of the doors on the ride car open. That is all.

 

[Party Rocker]

Just to note again the very large crane that originally was use to build Mach Tower is on site again.in the Team Member Parking Lot.

 

[chickenking]

So they are dismantling Mach Tower? :shocked:

 

[BGW Family]

* BGW Family does the Snoopy happy dance *

 

[Party Rocker]

So they are dismantling Mach Tower? :shocked:

Not necessarily, the crane could be used for major maintenance issues and aiding in fixing the ride. It does more than put it up and take it down

 

[BGW Family]

*BGW Family stops, wipes away tears, and goes back to work *

 

[pandorazboxx]

So they are dismantling Mach Tower? :shocked:

Ha. This is how rumors start. I can see it now tomorrow someone will post a link from screamscape that says there are rumors that Mach Tower is going to be dismantled. Then on screamscape it will reference your post on the BGWFans forums. haha.

 

[Hoopla]

Not necessarily, the crane could be used for major maintenance issues and aiding in fixing the ride.

So the park is just going to keep it next to the tower at all times? :huh:

 

[Party Rocker]

Not necessarily, the crane could be used for major maintenance issues and aiding in fixing the ride.

So the park is just going to keep it next to the tower at all times? :huh:

The crane is in the TM parking lot, they typically don't have it unless MT is facing extreme major issues.

 

[Hoopla]

They typically don't have it unless MT is facing extreme major issues.

So... always. (I was just joking in the previos post, sorry for any confusion. )

 

[Nora]

On one hand, I feel sorry for the park for getting stuck with a horrible lemon of a ride; but yet, "said" ride "could have been" that awesome Dragon Drop Tower concept that was posted here earlier.

I swear the park needs to cut their losses and just figure out what to replace it with.

Also, the last time I was there when it was ACTUALLY working; the ride was creeping up so slowly I thought you could watch the paint peel before the ride reached the top. When I asked the team member why is was moving sooooo slow and not turning on the way up, he dismissed me with an obvious fib of "well that is what it supposed to do."

Oh yeah- he obviously had no idea that he was talking to an avid fan. The look I gave him was a thing of legend.

Don't lie. Ever. I would rather someone say "Well, the ride operation has been changed temporarily... blah blah..." It is always best to make sure team members respond with the truth (even if the info is limited) rather than an outright lie.

Mach Tower, Mach Tower-
you make guests sour,
when they look up to glower
at your lack of power.