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

 

[Mushroom]

I do think this had something to do with negative comments pertaining to the ride. The park posts those videos essentially as advertising to promote their attractions, and anyone not familiar with the park who stumbles upon the video would immediately be aware of the ride's negative reputation. It was negative advertising for the park. From a marketing standpoint, it makes sense as to why it was removed.

However, we will probably never know the truth.

Agreed.

 

[phareous]

Was here for several days (31st-Aug 2) and it was always up. Pretty fun ride for me. It's more about the mental fear as the actual ride itself is pretty tame.

 

[BuschGardener]

Any word on whether they'll ever retro-fit seats like Falcons Fury on MT? My apologies if this has been discussed - as I'm sure it has...

 

[Unagi]

Any word on whether they'll ever retro-fit seats like Falcons Fury on MT? My apologies if this has been discussed - as I'm sure it has...

Two different companies. Not gonna happen.

 

[Jonquil]

^ I doubt they can, since Mäch Tower was manufactured by Moser's Rides and Falcon's Fury by Intamin. I don't think that Intamin would do any retrofitting on another company's drop tower, especially one as new and troubled as MT.

EDIT: What Unagi wrote.

 

[Unagi]

^Add to the fact that BGW hates Intamin.

 

[MAZ]

And now 'Moser'^

 

[Zimmy]

something something B&M Snobs something something

 

[Nicole]

I would add that MT has enough problems as it is, without adding another set of complicated, hard to maintain, moving parts.

 

[UbblyBubbly]

When MC becomes Nacht Tower during CT, has it ever had to drop instead of being let down slowly?

 

[wombat96]

Nope. Surprisingly, the ride works beautifully in Nacht Tower mode.

 

[Mushroom]

I was wondering the same thing. My elderly grandparents are visiting CT next week and want to see the lights from MT's view. However, I would be seriously concerned for their health and safety if the ride dropped, as they are certainly pretty "frail" people. Do you guys think it would be safe for them to do?

 

[Thomas]

I've never seen it drop at Christmas Town, but it's always a possibility.

 

[Imaginique]

I think you'd be better on the skyride for park light viewing. It's okay on Mach Tower but much more serene (and less freezing) on the skyride.

 

[wombat96]

My grandparents who are in there mid 70's rode Mach Tower during back in 2011 and really enjoyed it. Keep in mind they are on the extreme side living life as much as possible. Also Joe, I can almost guarantee Nacht Tower won't drop. I talked to a team member about this and they said the only way that it will drop in Nacht Tower mode is if all of the park power is off in Oktoberfest and won't return for an extended period of time.

 

[Jonquil]

I wouldn't trust Mäch Tower with my grandparents, and they're all dead.

 

[Username]

I think you'd be better on the skyride for park light viewing. It's okay on Mach Tower but much more serene (and less freezing) on the skyride.

I agree with this. I rode Mach Tower once in observation mode and it was SOOOOOOO cold.

 

[wombat96]

After some digging on the Internet it appears the music used when spiraling up is used from a scene in the nutcracker.

The portion from MT starts at the 20 second mark and ends somewhere around the minute mark.

 

[MAZ]

Not too surprised this thing wasn't working today.

 

[Mushroom]

Uh-huh, and apparently it's against park rules to take pictures of attractions while they're closed. That is, if you're also a BGWFans administrator and named Zachary.