Mäch Tower

Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!
Status
The first entry in this thread is a WikiPost. As such, it can be edited by anyone with the appropriate permissions.

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.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source


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
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Click to expand...
I just read this ENTIRE thread start to finish.....WOW! This ride is screaming to be put out of it's misery. I went on this at CT in observation mode for the 1st time and after reading this, I'm not sure that I can sit my behind on it again. Even if the view is breathtaking! It's a shame too because I love drop rides and I haven't even experienced the 'drop' on this tower. Thinking collectively on all of the posts in this 2-3 year thread, ChickenKing's 'garbage pail kids' reference to razorblades and alcohol gave me the heartiest chuckle. And the Intamin repair references gave me the 2nd biggest chuckle (They wouldn't touch MT for repairs with a 256ft pole!). I have been on KD's drop tower 100+ times and not once was it ever 'closed for maintenance'. I'm not saying it has never been down, only that it has never been down when I was there in the last 10 years of its existence. I know you guys are probably thinking 'what does he know, he's new'. I'll just tell you what I know. I know KD forever and a day, and I'll know BGW by the end of this year. What I will NOT know, is what the drop feels like on the Mach Tower! (unless somebody can convince me otherwise)
 
  • Like
Reactions: chickenking and BBW
It's not too hard to film the ride. All you need is a chest mounted camera and permission from the park. Wait for the ride to open and tell the person to get on.

 - I know someone who managed to film on all the rides in the park. Not sure if that Mach video was his or not.
 
No this Mach Tower POV is one of the official POV's the park took and released to their Youtube. I was poking fun at the fact the ride is always broken down. I am very certain it is easy to record, when the ride is operating perfectly. I wish the camera didn't seem pointed down the entire POV though.
 
Maybe out into the horizon perhaps? It just felt like it was forcing you to look down below the entire time and when there is not a lot of fast motion, it gets boring looking down. Why not show off the horizon as well?
 
  • Like
Reactions: CastleOSullivan
It would be nice to have a wide angle (vertical) lens, or possibly a high definition panoramic video. (Anyone taking note?):D  That way, aside from seeing construction work, I would not have much reason to ride it. Does anyone know if the park would even think about allowing this?
 
Most of the times we were in the area it was running. I did see it down with a bunch of park people discussing it one time in the middle of the day.
 
From my understanding it did pretty gold, I know it went down once like Nic said, but most of the time when I looked up in the sky, it was running.
 
My 1st time in the park on Saturday in 15 years revealed a true fear of this ride. I have walked by and ridden KD's drop tower a hundred times. It makes a powerful whirring sound when it drops that can be heard from many locations in the park, but never 'felt'. That being said, The Mach Tower is just scary! When I walked by, I stood and watched it drop. The crunching, grinding, metal on metal sound made me cringe. I felt popping and vibration in the ground that resonated through my whole body. I immediately pushed the stroller a safe distance away. I have a very 'mechanical' background and I can say with certainty that the sounds coming from the Mach Tower are not desirable.

Edit...1st time visiting a 'regular season' day in 15 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jonquil, Nicole, Hoopla and 3 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Status
The first entry in this thread is a WikiPost. As such, it can be edited by anyone with the appropriate permissions.
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad