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

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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:
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    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...
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  • Most Recent Status Update:
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    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...
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Previous Thread:​

 
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AIR said:
If this is all, I am very disappointed. It's so funky and just feels like a giant, tower that's unnecessarily close to Verbolten. Viewing the proposed spire would be right behind Verbolten's bridge. Something about how it'll affect the skyline seems off. But I guess we won't know until it's built.

On a positive note, I'm happy that minimal trees are being removed and that the impact on the overall park is fairly low.
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You bring up something interesting that I haven’t thought of: the skyline of BGW. I partially wonder if this type of design was always destined for a Giga because of the visual impact from Kingsmill.
 
Soooo... what I'm wanting to know is how is this any different than what Zach proposed this past fall? Maybe I missed it catching up on the forum, but it seems like this is just what was theorized a few months ago. Is the big reveal that we have a bit more evidence pointing us in this direction? Also, how is this NOT a one-trick-pony ride? Certainly seems more one-trickish than TTD/KK/RF. IMO, if its going to be a one-trick pony, it better have a very good launch, so we will see how it turns out. I don't know, I just don't appreciate shuttle coasters as much as other rides. Seems like kind of a cheap copout. Then again, maybe it will be received by the GP since a lot of the non-coaster enthusiast riders I know really just care about how tall and fast the coaster, now how substantive the ride is (The would put Tempesto over Verbolten for instance). At least BGW will regain "Tallest coaster in VA" again and wouldn't this be in the top 5 tallest coasters in the world?

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warfelg said:
Curiosity, is this going to be the tallest LSM launched coaster? I think that's for me going to be the biggest marketing point outside 300+, unless like I've said a few times, there's something really interesting going on with the cars/trains.
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Unfortunately no. Red Force will be about 10'-15' taller than this if it does hit the 355' mark and if you count the whole tower, you also have to count Superman at SFMM, which has a tower over 400' It will make this the #5 tallest coaster (KK, TTD, Superman, RF, BGW2020) in the world, and tallest LSM on the East Coast.
 
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ControlsEE said:
At least BGW will regain "Tallest ride in VA" again and wouldn't this be in the top 5 tallest coasters in the world?
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That would depend on how you calculate the tallest. Is it based on the highest point above ground or is it the difference between high point and the low point then it will be the 4th tallest when it's built since Tower of Terror II is closing. If it's just the height if the structure then it'll be the 5th highest.
 
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BGWnut said:
That would depend on how you calculate the tallest. Is it based on the highest point above ground or is it the difference between high point and the low point then it will be the 4th tallest when it's built since Tower of Terror II is closing. If it's just the height if the structure then it'll be the 5th highest.
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I was referring to structure alone, but as we know, marketing will spin it to make it the most exciting (IE, most GP think that AC is 210' tall, not 170')
 
They'll also probably try to tap into the "fastest", too. But I don't see this surpassing 100mph.

Screenshot_20200121-092616_Chrome.jpg

The chart is a tad old...I realize ToT2 is history.
 
GrandpaD said:
I don't like shuttle coasters. And I still won't like shuttle coasters after they test Pantheon. But, if it'll make you happy, I'll be put my dislike of that style coaster in abeyance until the Pantheon tests are complete.
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Pantheon is much more than a shuttle coaster if that’s what you’re saying
 
Delaware Giga Coaster said:
Pantheon is much more than a shuttle coaster if that’s what you’re saying
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That's not what I was saying. I was referencing a comment made prior.

ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ said:
It would need to pass 100 to go up close to 350ft. Unless there are launches on the spike itself.
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I'm not a physics guy. Maybe the recreation makers could chime in on the stats.
 
GrandpaD said:
I'm not a physics guy. Maybe the recreation makers could chime in on the stats.
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Just keep in mind that NL2 is NOT the best judge of speed. I've made 600+ ft tall coasters and they don't go over 115 mph with a 650' drop. Its fine for lower speeds, but once you get higher it doesn't seem too accurate.
 
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Sorry for the double post but this is a completely different topic:

first, my 2 cents on the backwards facing seats thing is that the last row of each train could face backwards like DC Rivals or something. This way you get the backwards experience but only if you want it. you essentially have two front rows.

Second, thinking about how it will need to get up close to 100mph on the launch before the spike, when it comes back down I feel like there would have to be trim brakes on that launch section, otherwise we are going through a not all that large turn at ~80mph. That wouldn’t be good
 
CarterGee said:
Honestly, if I ran KD, I would be very stressed out. This is the kind of custom, weird, one of a kind ride that KD lost when Volcano got torn down. (also, Volcano was majorly overrated fight me) Pair this with Pantheon and not only do you have the launch capital of the Virginia, but also two one of a kind attractions in the US and an easy "most launches in any park" tagline (2 with Verbolten, 3 with Tempesto, 4 with Pantheon, and likely 3 with Drachen Spire = 12) and I think this is such a clear winner. Not only that, but the only coaster over 305ft for 300+ miles aaaannnnnd like... I don't see how this is any kind of misstep.

Sure, everyone wants the longest, fastest, whatever every time, but budget isn't limitless and I think this is an incredible win.

And before anyone says, "yeah well I'd rather have Pantheon and then wait a few more years for more $ for a full circuit ride"... You need to factor in opportunity costs. What will BGW earn how quickly with two super marketable rides? What will be lost as nearby park catch up? How much more expensive would this new ride actually be?

I don't think I've ever been more excited since I saw the Verbolten plans for the first time ?
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ALL. OF. THIS.^

Once the speed and height are released as gospel from the park, that's all she wrote. People's attention to rides increases exponentially when you have 90-100MPH speeds and heights over 300 feet. Remember, those stats are hard to come by at about 90% of parks in the entire country. For little ole' Williamsburg to get that kind of cred is crucial.

Pumped. Goodness gracious!
 
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This is what I was hoping for yesterday:

In my opinion, this would have been much more elegant and looked better in the skyline and crossing the Italy bridge.

20200121_093817.jpg

It doesn't match the RPA buffer impact or high point. But I was hoping that idea would have been edited. This being a full circuit, with the use of the switch track and the back spike like a glorified TTD or Ice breaker. It also uses the ravine where the drop after the top hat would be, resulting in a bigger drop.

Of course, none of this matches what has been leaked but I thought I'd share what I was hopeful for.
 
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Very true @Bring Back Questor 87 . A while back in some thread we discussed Superman: Escape from Krypton. The "spike" is 415ft ...which is how they promote it. Yet the actual drop down is 328.1ft.

This might be constructed at 355ft but it won't go anywhere near the top. Superman needs 100mph to get up to 328ft. However, I'm surmising the 2021 train is a bit lighter, so I'd guess 95ish to reach about 325-330ft.
 
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