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

 

[ludmarco]

I tried getting it replaced to the point of emailing someone inside the park. They basically said they aren’t removing it.

Well... I guess that’s that.

 

[Icer]

Damn thing may as well be a flag pole at this point

 

[Mushroom]

is Disney-level theming too much to ask?

At this point, theming is too much to ask!

 

[SLC Headache]

Damn thing may as well be a flag pole at this point

That'd be an improvement.

 

[FoozMuz]

It is so frustrating that all it would take to make this a very decent ride IMO is a new fiberglass seat shell piece, but I know they would never do it. Alternately, make the OTSR's into lap bars in the style of pantheon.

 

[Dombot]

It is so frustrating that all it would take to make this a very decent ride IMO is a new fiberglass seat shell piece, but I know they would never do it. Alternately, make the OTSR's into lap bars in the style of pantheon.

HONESTLY. I don't even hate Mach Tower, but good LORD those seats are so awful for no reason.

 

[ControlsEE]

HONESTLY. I don't even hate Mach Tower, but good LORD those seats are so awful for no reason.

The reason is because they bought a taller version of a kiddie ride built by Europeans (statistically smaller than Americans).

 

[ludmarco]

At least it looks pretty. It’s got a nice shade of blue and some pretty folk art (?) designs.

 

[Dombot]

The reason is because they bought a taller version of a kiddie ride built by Europeans (statistically smaller than Americans).

Weird thing is, WIld Surge at Busch Gardens Tampa is a kids drop tower made by Moser... and yet it's somehow waaaay more comfortable than Mach Tower. I rode them both within a few months of each other in 2018. It's kinda baffling.

 

[horsesboy]

When driving past the park to check on the Pantheon situation I spotted that the giant crane is back on site and there appears to be lots of work going on regarding the motor replacement Maybe it can open in time to get some gopro shots of Pantheon testing.

 

[UncleDuncan]

Hmm. I never ride Mach Tower because... well, it’s not special and there are a lot more fun things to do. However, I do feel like having a tower is an almost “essential” part of a park. After Patheon‘s and the Festhaus Park (?) completion, I hope BGW will invest in a more engaging tower... is Disney-level theming too much to ask?

Oh. Disagree. It's very special.

 

[horsesboy]

Apparently the motor replacement were not complete as the crane is back.

 

[horsesboy]

First time I have seethe seats uncovered this year.

 

[Crunchewy]

Never having ridden this or seen it in person, what makes the seats so uncomfortable? In that picture of them they don't look too weird.

 

[Le Moose]

Never having ridden this or seen it in person, what makes the seats so uncomfortable? In that picture of them they don't look too weird.

Hard, uncomfortable, plastic/fiberglass seats. With no pads.

 

[SLC Headache]

Hard, uncomfortable, plastic/fiberglass seats. With no pads.

And the OTSR manages to crush your arms.

 

[horsesboy]

Never having ridden this or seen it in person, what makes the seats so uncomfortable? In that picture of them they don't look too weird.

No matter how I sit on it the over the shoulder restraint seems to pinch my shoulder and upper arm against the top corner of the seat. It also feels like it causes you to slightly bend forward.

 

[ControlsEE]

Never having ridden this or seen it in person, what makes the seats so uncomfortable? In that picture of them they don't look too weird.

It was designed by an Italian company, who used their average body size for the seat sizes. To put it delicately, most Americans have a different size that does not fit well in the seats. Also, the aforementioned OTSR's have about 1/2" clearance on each side, so your arms either are pinched between the restraint and seat, or stick out the bottom of the harness.

 

[Jonesta6]

I think I fit the seats well enough so it's not too uncomfortable though I still prefer Drop Zone at KD - the main issue I have with the seats on MT are the huge plastic leg-spreader/crotch buster for each seat.

 

[halfabee]

I find that the seats tend to prevent any effective "scooting back" at all, so it feels like I'm sliding forward in the seat against the restraint the entire time. Not endemic to other freefall rides. Just MT.

Given MT's spotty operational history and too-frequent issues, it's especially uncomfortable to have to put that much more faith in the restraint system.