Project 2021/Drachen Spire: Intamin Multi-Launch Shuttle Giga Coaster [Cancelled]

General Information:​

"Project Drachen Spire," is a community-generated identifier for the Intamin-made, multi-launch, shuttle giga coaster that was originally slated to open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 2021. The attraction is planned to utilize the currently-vacant land behind Verbolten, Festhaus Park—the former home of Drachen Fire.

The coaster's main layout—as leaked before the addition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—featured two launches, two spikes (one spiral, one vertical-ish), and a couple of banked turns. Drachen Spire was designed to run two trains by means of a pair of switch tracks connecting the primary, shuttle portion of the layout to the station platform.

Important Articles:​

• Most Up-To-Date Understanding of the Layout:
  
  

  Leaked Electrical Plan Depicts Busch Gardens Williamsburg's 2021 Roller Coaster in Detail – BGWFans

  If there’s a god, he’s up there laughing this afternoon. Why? Because BGWFans just had one of those classic sitcom moments. Yesterday, we published our painstakingly detailed analysis of the footer plan for what we believe is Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s 2021 roller coaster—seemingly a huge...

  bgwfans.com
• Most Recent Status Update:
  
  

  Drachen Spire Height Waiver Extension Details – BGWFans

  Just over a week ago, we reported on the renewal of the notorious 355 foot Festhaus Park height waiver that was originally requested for the controversial, Intamin-made, multi-launch, giga, shuttle coaster we’ve dubbed Drachen Spire. In last week’s article, we were very careful to leave the door...

  bgwfans.com

NoLimits Model of the Layout:​

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Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

Additional Coverage (Newest to Oldest):​

• https://bgwfans.com/2022/drachen-spire-height-waiver-extension-details/
• https://bgwfans.com/2022/drachen-spire-height-waiver-renewal/
• https://bgwfans.com/2021/drachen-spires-slumber/
• https://bgwfans.com/2020/leaked-ele...-williamsburgs-2021-roller-coaster-in-detail/
• https://bgwfans.com/2020/busch-gardens-williamsburg-2021-shuttle-giga-coaster/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/germany-expansion-site-plans/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/2021-rpa-impacts-plan/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/newly-leaked-document-depicts-project-2021s-station/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/project-2021-height-waiver-vote-happens-tomorrow/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/born-from-the-ashes/
• https://bgwfans.com/2019/bgw-project-2021/

Previous Thread:​

https://parkfans.net/threads/january-2019-festhaus-park-height-survey.5696/

 

[GrandpaD]

I was going for realistic @Jahrules . For now, that Saudi thing is a dream. Besides, I was attempting to do a standard lift hill as requested.

 

[Zachary]

I'm glad to see a traditional lift concept being put forward! Ultimately, that would be my preference for sure. I just wish more signs were pointing in that direction. ?

Out of curiosity @GrandpaD, what were you picturing at the top of the lift? A flat Griffon-style turn? A turning drop? I don't think there's a right answer there, but I didn't know if you were envisioning something in particular.

 

[Luke]

We have an FAA waiver! Huge thanks to @Adam for the tip!

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View: https://twitter.com/BGWFans/status/1166425260239020035

Yay wYDaily referred to us.
"Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fans, an amusement park and roller coaster enthusiast group"

Busch Gardens files notice with FAA for this project | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Busch Gardens’ newest — yet still mysterious — attraction is in the works, and Federal Aviation Administration documents show the park chipping away at the permitting process. Busch Gardens has…

wydaily.com

 

[GrandpaD]

@Zachary Honestly, I hadn't thought that through. I think I'd prefer the turning drop. With the short train we suspect, I think that would be the way to go.

 

[thopping]

Curious how the traditional lift hill would look from Kingsmill... i.e. how "knife blade" like...

 

[BGWnut]

Personally I think that I305's lift hill is very knife like. It's also lattice construction

 

[FoozMuz]

Yes that view of i305 I'd consider the quintessential knife edge view.

 

[halfabee]

Against hope...

 

[madmax]

Reminder that if this is a lift hill it will be the tallest and fastest non launch coaster in the world.

 

[Zimmy]

If lift I would personally prefer a turn al la Nessie. I dislike the idea of killing the forces of a amazing straight drop like this with a twist.

 

[James]

Are there any cable lifts that attach outside of the station? I love all the lift hill hope but based off the leaked plan the lift hill won't start at the station if it's there.

 

[----------------------]

Are there any cable lifts that attach outside of the station? I love all the lift hill hope but based off the leaked plan the lift hill won't start at the station if it's there.

El toro

 

[warfelg]

El toro

I forget every damn time I ride it that it’s cable.

 

[GrandpaD]

Are there any cable lifts that attach outside of the station? I love all the lift hill hope but based off the leaked plan the lift hill won't start at the station if it's there.

Even though my design has as much chance of happening as me hitting the lottery, I purposely had it start after it left the station. With an incline about or a little bit less than Intimidator, there's room.

 

[Jonesta6]

I'm not sure if a cable lift could realistically be used when starting outside of a station unless the station is incredibly efficient or there's enough track in between to allow stacking.

I really like the idea of a launched lift - not necessarily a fast launch but one that can mimic the sensations of a traditional lift minus the clank of the anti-rollback devices.

Something like this would allow for creative freedom in the layout given the angle of the station to the high point, and also not relegate the ride to being a one-trick pony.

 

[GrandpaD]

I know very little about lifts @Jonesta6 , but I wonder about the efficiency of an LSM/LIM lift. I know Incredicoaster is LIM with a height of about 120ft. Maverick is LSM but only about 100ft. To build a hill 3X the height might be cost prohibitive.

One thing I thought about this AM was what was discussed yesterday - power. If BGW is strapped for power, a mechanical lift hill may be the way to go.

 

[madmax]

Are there any cable lifts that attach outside of the station? I love all the lift hill hope but based off the leaked plan the lift hill won't start at the station if it's there.

You know you can use a chain lift right?

 

[Jonesta6]

@GrandpaD I can't fault your logic there, was thinking a low speed launch on the hill could reduce power consumption to a reasonable amount along with any other gadgets such as the super capacitors mentioned earlier.

If there is a discount and this is essentially a prototype kind of ride, then there may be enough savings for the park to opt for it.

However, back to an argument I made for a chain lift when Madrid was still in play that we knew of - technology has gotten better to where chain lifts can handle steeper ascents.

The question remaining is how to solve the Pythagorean triangle with an acceptable angle given the currently unknown lateral distance (lift start isn't necessarily from the station) and presumed height (variable, but somewhere in the ballpark of 340'+).

Hulk coaster lift/launch combo?

 

[GrandpaD]

@GrandpaD
The question remaining is how to solve the Pythagorean triangle with an acceptable angle given the currently unknown lateral distance (lift start isn't necessarily from the station) and presumed height (variable, but somewhere in the ballpark of 340'+).

Hulk coaster lift/launch combo?

I'm certainly no mathematical genius. My Google measurements were Intimidator's hill was 340ft to go up to 300ft. Thus (this is where I suck at math), using the same angle of assent, it would be about ±375 ft to reach 340ft. A straight line from the FAA high point to the station is 480ft. So (if I'm anywhere close math-wise) you have a lot of leeway.

For what it's worth, the length of stator track for Red Force is also 480ft.

 

[warfelg]

I'm certainly no mathematical genius. My Google measurements were Intimidator's hill was 340ft to go up to 300ft. Thus (this is where I suck at math), using the same angle of assent, it would be about ±375 ft to reach 340ft. A straight line from the FAA high point to the station is 480ft. So (if I'm anywhere close math-wise) you have a lot of leeway.

For what it's worth, the length of stator track for Red Force is also 480ft.

But if it's true that the track turns out of the station, you need to take out the amount of distance the turn takes to where the launch/lift can occur.