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.

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

Accept third party cookies

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

 

[Zachary]

Going on a month since my last post so I'll say it again. Get your Mäch Tower rides in before the end of Christmas Town. Confidence levels keep rising by the day. Future does not look bright for BGW's drop tower at all.

 

[cschnizer]

I’ve never heard the auto spiels for Mach until I watched a YT video yesterday. Is it the same guy who voices the Nitro Racer spiel?

 

[Coasternerd]

A point I saw mentioned in the rumor article about the on board audio being removed—I noticed on my last ride that the audio was functional. It may be entirely possible that they just forget to turn it on sometimes.

 

[ControlsEE]

I could be misremembering, but I don't remember anything in the ride controls that turned on or muted the on ride audio, that is the speakers on the gondola. The only speakers we had control of were in the queue and around the loading area. Keep in mind the last time I touched the ride was over 6 years ago at this point.

 

[Coasternerd]

Huh. That’s interesting. So it’s likely something the maintenance or entertainment departments have control over. Maybe it just depends on whether or not the people remember it exists lol

 

[snowman6996]

Closed for wasps today

 

[madmax]

Is bgw going to do a last ride or are they just going to quietly remove it

 

[horsesboy]

Is bgw going to do a last ride or are they just going to quietly remove it

One source has told me the plan is basically to run it till it breaks again and then not fix it.

 

[rollercoastercoaster]

Anybody know if it'll be running in the slow mode next weekend? Since it's preview of christmas town

edit: if its running lol

 

[horsesboy]

Anybody know if it'll be running in the slow mode next weekend? Since it's preview of christmas town

edit: if its running lol

My understanding is that it will be in its normal mode for Christmas Town not opersvation mode but I am not 100% on that info.

 

[Coasternerd]

My understanding is that it will be in its normal mode for Christmas Town not opersvation mode but I am not 100% on that info.

That’s why I’m confused because on the attractions list for CT, it’s listed as Mach Tower, but on the CT QQ it’s listed as Nacht Tower.

 

[Zachary]

That’s why I’m confused because on the attractions list for CT, it’s listed as Mach Tower, but on the CT QQ it’s listed as Nacht Tower.

Further confusing matters, the MT attraction page also currently lists Natch Tower during CMT.

I think it's likely this will all be explained by a MT closure announcement very soon. That said, for now, the website is very confusing as per what to expect from the ride next weekend.

 

[Mushroom]

2022 is shaping up to be a brutal year for BGW if Da Vinci’s Cradle, BfE, and Mäch Tower are all announced to be permanently closed this year.

 

[horsesboy]

2022 is shaping up to be a brutal year for BGW if Da Vinci’s Cradle, BfE, and Mäch Tower are all announced to be permanently closed this year.

I think Mach Tower will likely be a 2023 closer.

 

[rswashdc]

2022 is shaping up to be a brutal year for BGW if Da Vinci’s Cradle, BfE, and Mäch Tower are all announced to be permanently closed this year.

Who needs immersive rides and experiences when you’ve got record breaking coasters going up all over the park.

 

[ControlsEE]

You consider MT immersive???

 

[warfelg]

You consider MT immersive???

The elusive wild pole is a sight to behold in rural Germany as it often struggles to hide among the shorter but mature trees that surround it.

 

[rswashdc]

You consider MT immersive???

It feels like something I would see at the real Oktoberfest. The ride itself has a lot of issues, but the theme is pretty good compared to a standard fare drop tower.

 

[kmccarthy27]

Would have been so much cooler if it was themed like a giant Maypole and not what they did.

 

[ControlsEE]

@rswashdc How do you think it is different from almost any other tower? Not challenging, just genuinely interested in your opinion