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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
 
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Im not sure they would need to move cranes, it should come down fast....really fast.
The park won't allow guests near an erect crane, therefore if they waited (which Zachary says they wont), they would have to take down the crane every weekend until it was completed or not allow guests in most of Oktoberfest until the work was completed. Otherwise, they would have to get a crane in, demo everything high, load out everything, and then demo the crane in 4 days(Mon-Thurs). I would guess that in reality, they will want the nearly 3 weeks as a buffer to get everything out that they can.
 
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Judging by this... the crane was onsite yesterday if everything went according to plan.
So if they are erecting the crane today (given that there was bad weather yesterday), the tower will probably be below the tree line by the end of the week, assuming no further delays.

Looking at the forecast, should be a pretty nice week for outdoor work. Highs in the 50's, rain only on Thurs night and friday.
 
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We know from @Rheath's photo that it went down for maintenance at the end of the day yesterday. I wonder if it was even going to be ready to run this afternoon....?
In all fairness I'm pretty sure it was temps. It cycled empty after I walked away and didn't open again, just found it ironic
 
The park won't allow guests near an erect crane, therefore if they waited (which Zachary says they wont), they would have to take down the crane every weekend until it was completed or not allow guests in most of Oktoberfest until the work was completed. Otherwise, they would have to get a crane in, demo everything high, load out everything, and then demo the crane in 4 days(Mon-Thurs). I would guess that in reality, they will want the nearly 3 weeks as a buffer to get everything out that they can.
You completely missed my point........
 
.......... which is moot because they are starting today, which was my point. I just wasn't going to call you out on it.
Im not sure what you were going to call me out on. You saying the park wont allow guests near a crane is also a moot point when the tower will be gone by then and the tall crane wont be needed after this week.
 
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If anyone was curious, the catch car for the gondola is currently parked at the top of the tower. I'm guessing work is being done now to remove the gondola from the tower structure.

The next step, I assume, is to gut the motor house at the top which would be the first use of the crane we would see in likely the next few days.
 
In honor of Mach Tower's end, here are some photos of its construction I took way back.
 

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Status
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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