Mäch Tower

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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.

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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:
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Zachary said:
I believe the reason for running it in drop mode this Christmas Town is to allow people to get final rides. BGW didn't want to announce it's closure when the ride's core operating mode was already done for the season.
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I see. My point was mainly that they have precedent to not announce it until after CT was done.
 
Unfortunately I'd hate to say this but
⚠️⚠️⚠️MACH TOWER WILL MAKE ITS FINAL RIDES JANUARY 3RD!!
 

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Zachary said:
Source?

But also, yes, almost certainly, just as I've been saying—end of Christmas Town.
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Likely the post on one of the various BGW Facebook groups. Connoisseurs, Insiders, or Uncensored. I remember seeing someone post something like that.
 
It’s always been kind of an afterthought ride. I remember my first trip to BGW and thought it was oddly placed. Made me think it was there sadly hoping some folks from Verbolten would saunter over and give it a ride.

Most other drop towers are placed as a centerpiece. Heck; SFGAm built a whole rock facade around theirs to really make it stand out. KI put theirs squarely in front of their splash down. Tampa’s is pretty prominently displayed, etc.
 
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ControlsEE said:
I mean, it's getting to the point that if they are going to announce a closure before it shuts down for good, they would probably say something soon. Otherwise, they're either not going to give the chance for last rides, or it's not closing.
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Or third possibility that they will continue to run it up to the point that it will cost money to address an issue and then close it for maintenance issues and never reopen it. My money is on that at the moment.
 
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sjduane19 said:
Mach Tower will officially be closing January 8, 2023
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Season 4 Singing GIF by The Office


Goodbye Mach-y, Its been nice! Hope you find your paradise! Come January, feel no pain. FEEL NO PAIN!!! Mach-y! Mach-y! Mach-y's goin' away!
 
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I liked this ride and don’t understand the utter hatred for it that this site has. The restraints are definitely not good, but it has a great view, a fun drop, and I thought it fit well into Oktoberfest. I understand it was maintenance-intensive but it’s sad to see yet another ride go at this park with no replacement lined up (that we know of at this point).
 
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Thomas said:
All the rides I worked on die… except one… for now.
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My last season as Lead was at MT. Spent more time at Rhine and DK than at my actual ride... Thanks to shutdowns. I remember showing up my first day for training at MT and my ABUS said "Mach is down today, probably tomorrow, maybe the whole week. We have some call-outs for the 4-C shift at Alpie. Since you were lead there last year, can you get certified before lunch and step in?". Only time I was certified to run rides in two different areas (this was pre-Invadr so Alpie was still a part of France/New-France Ops).
 
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Reading this news is not a surprise given all the rumors that have been discussed here. However, does the park actually have a plan to replace Mach and also Cradle? Given the removal of now Mach and Cradle, the portfolio of flat rides in the park is just getting very weak in my opinion, not to mention old as many of the flats are aging. Perhaps this is solved in 2024 if some of the recent rumors of Festhaus park coaster delays are true?

I get it about Mach having many operational issues and likely trouble sourcing parts. But the future SEAS Capex strategy needs to be balanced in the approach for BGW to invest not just in new coasters but also new flat rides, park infrastructure improvements, investments in events (especially Chistmas Town), etc.

Overall, we are going to be netting one less attraction going into next year with DarKoaster opening after losing Mach and Cradle. One less attraction while the park continues to struggle on park operations, scaled back entertainment offerings, and pathetic culinary operations, all while charging more and more with sneaky surcharges and increased pricing on everything. All of that does not make me want to visit the park nearly as much as in the past.

Hoping something gives soon as the current business model is not sustainable in the long run especially to local loyal pass members like many of us here.

Sorry for the soap box friends, just needed to say all that.
 
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The first entry in this thread is a WikiPost. As such, it can be edited by anyone with the appropriate permissions.
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