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

 

[Julia]

I swear they should get half of a refund on that downer. I just hope it gets its quirks out and really turns into a greater attraction than what it has been.

 

[jonfin826]

I imagine they got something out of Moser for all the trouble Mach Tower has experienced. Anyway, I'm glad they've improved its downtime, even if by just a little.

 

[BGW Family]

We now have an official on-ride video

Now we'll never have to get on the ride again.

Did this get taken down, also?

 

[Zachary]

I guess so. It was posted by the park, correct?

 

[BGW Family]

That is the way it sounded.

 

[Applesauce]

It was posted by the park, I remember seeing it in my subscription when it was posted. I don't know why they took it down though.

 

[Zachary]

The park wants to people to just forget.

In all honesty, I'm sure the comments on the video were comical. The best thing about Mach Tower is that basically everyone- no matter how familiar they are with the park- knows how awful the ride is.

 

[b.mac]

There are very few rides that are able to gain such a notoriety that they're known to people outside of the parks marketing areas. Most need news articles posted about them, Mach Tower did it with pure word of mouth.

 

[BGW Family]

So that is BGW's new tactic? If no one likes it or says bad things about it, just hide it from the world?

I have a lot to say to BGW about this and, more specifically, the LR take-down. But, I won't waste the mod's time with having to remove my language.

 

[MrLaptop]

^ I know, I checked their facebook page, all they respond to/read are positive things. Seems like they are shutting out the vast negativity so that they can do what they want. Even if it is legit.
They'll learn. :evilgrin:
EDIT: This post isn't necessarily talking about Mach Tower, just adding to the above post.

 

[Nicole]

But, I won't waste the mod's time with having to remove my language.

The Mod thanks you!

 

[jonfin826]

The park wants to people to just forget.

In all honesty, I'm sure the comments on the video were comical. The best thing about Mach Tower is that basically everyone- no matter how familiar they are with the park- knows how awful the ride is.

Hey now, I love Mach Tower...

...when it works.

 

[Unagi]

This video does not exist....

Just like the ride!!! LOL

 

[Party Rocker]

I doubt they removed it because they want people to forget the ride. The video was posted well after it opened. I believe it was posted back in 2012 or even in 2013 I believe. I'm sure there is another reason like they don't want guests trying to copy them by taking cameras on the ride or something to that extent.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

The video was posted earlier this year, around when the park was opening.

 

[whispers]

Mach Tower has been running pretty smoothly lately. (Knock on wood!)

 

[I305Evan]

I doubt they removed it because they want people to forget the ride. The video was posted well after it opened. I believe it was posted back in 2012 or even in 2013 I believe. I'm sure there is another reason like they don't want guests trying to copy them by taking cameras on the ride or something to that extent.

Kings Dominion, Cedar Point, and MANY other parks release on-ride videos of their rides. So far, I don't think any have been removed after X amount of time for being up. Heck there isn't any reason for them to be removed. And thinking people will copy them is out of the question, it'd make people think "why should I do this if there already is a HD, silent, non-shaky POV of this ride." Now there are some (a bunch) of people who will take on ride video no matter the case because rules... are well "what are rules" to some people. Heck it's better for the ride itself, because it could help build suspense to get someone to ride it, and that's what you want. More people seeing what your park (business) offers.

I think this is just a case of the park not wanting much notice on the ride due to it's excessive down time. I'm looking at Busch Gardens Tampa on that case with Cheetah Hunt... they seemed to have timed posts which advertise riding Cheetah Hunt, but it's down for an extended period of time at this point and guests are angry they're showing something that they can't ride. This would be the same case... Busch Gardens is advertising something that is down which upsets/ frustrates guests.

 

[Party Rocker]

Yet it has not had frequent downtime the same year the video was posted. I think it just doesn't make sense to post a video and then take it down just for the sake of people not knowing about the ride.

I mean seriously, what is the point of posting a video and then taking it down a few months later, especially when the ride has been operating very swell during that time.

 

[b.mac]

BGW is the only park that has removed a video of one of their rides without posting a newer, updated video for it. Downtime correlations mean dirt when BGW just performed a first amongst the amusement industry on youtube.

 

[Party Rocker]

It just makes no sense to me when there is no real logical answer as to why it was removed.

Other than worrying about people copying it with unapproved cameras, maybe they just want to put more focus on London Rocks! There are really a ton of reasons as to why they removed it; however, we will probably never know the truth.