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:​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

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/

 

[bejackso]

while this 2021 coaster certainly looks unique, i'm pretty baffled. it's incredibly similar to pantheon (maybe worse), and will be built THE NEXT YEAR! I don't get it. maybe the park will unveil some wild feature about this ride to truly differentiate it, but for now i'm somewhat unimpressed. looks to be a very short ride time.

 

[GrandpaD]

Pretty cool...now BGW has the "world's largest corkscrew!"

One little observation looking at the electrical plans. It appears (I don't see the blueprint key to confirm) that there might be pathway lighting (designated by the squared 4) being installed along the existing pathway that runs parallel to the Verbolten show building. It's probably initially for security to keep an eye on the area. But it may also be for future expansion into that large open area.

I'm guessing the square 6 are closed circuit cameras.

 

[bpeter4]

the best part about a giga is that the 300 ft drop gives you intense momentum to carry throughout the layout. this is definitely cool and unique, however... I don't understand what the point of this ride is?

either way, I am looking forward to further analysis from the community, and for when bgw eventually announces the coaster themselves.. hoping for more surprises down the line but wouldn't be taken aback if that well has dried up.

Moments like these make me wish I haven't been browsing this forum for news on a giga since August 2018, it lead me to be semi-disapointed in the Pantheon announcement, and this leak as well.

 

[GrandpaD]

After looking at Reddit and then Google, the two "ends" of 2021 are similar (but much larger) to Turbo Track Coaster Ferrari World.

Big corkscrew -


I wonder if the 2021 short spike will curve like this?

 

[Jonesta6]

Would be cool if the transfer track to the launch from the station was a turntable so that a train could be launched either forwards or backwards.

I also think that they may be intentionally leaving space for future expansion, though I don't know what country they'd be able to use - would think that could depend on the theme of 2021.

But realistically, this ride would be one hell of a centerpiece for an area.

 

[TerrainHuggr]

First off, thanks again the administrators and contributors of this website. Second to none as far as I'm aware of piecing together credible info for an amusement park.
I've said it before and I'll say it again… Such an odd choice. A curved spike might help to increase my interest but I'm not even sure. Would of liked an airtime hill other then the possible launch hills. I'm not gonna complain, it's certainly one of a kind (kind of). I believe Pantheon should prove to be a much better ride experience for myself and what I look for in a coaster though.

 

[DECoasteyGuy]

as in my opinon this doesn’t look too appalling...i’m just going to underestimate this coaster so i can have a blast when i get on it

That’s what I always try to do. Most people’s rankings are based on how a ride did compared to expectations, so I go in with low expectations for everything

 

[warfelg]

Pretty cool...now BGW has the "world's largest corkscrew!"

Then we need the worlds biggest bottle of wine and biggest wine glass. Who’s in?

 

[snowman6996]

What is the old Drachen Fire maintenance building used for? Launch maintenance equipment?

 

[basseyfish]

I can't imagine seeing this in the skyline. It's going to look NUTS

 

[Jahrules]

One thing bothers me about this.

How does a spiral look like a knife edge from kingsmill? And will this really only be 10 ft wide?

 

[UncleDuncan]

What is the old Drachen Fire maintenance building used for? Launch maintenance equipment?

Charging station for the deer.

 

[SLC Headache]

Could it be both a beyond-vertical and a spiral? If so, I'll go from skeptic to believer.

 

[halfabee]

I will ride this attraction.

And if its success generates sufficient bottom-line boost to keep the big-ride train rolling through the mid-2020s, then I will VERY happily ride the park's inevitable shiny silver full-circuit giga as well. Its station placement will be somewhat controversial... right up until people get to ride, and everyone forgets what they were worried about. Also, don't expect to queue up for it in Germany.

I have a crayon drawing of it around here somewhere...

 

[JohnD]

How does a spiral look like a knife edge from kingsmill?

Google ‘spiral knife’

 

[GrandpaD]

I agree @halfabee going back to DF's old station will raise some eyebrows. But I suspect they'll make use of the large empty area between the station and the Verbolten show building. Perhaps a 2022 offering?

 

[halfabee]

Times were, I'd freely use words like "never." These days...

 

[CarterGee]

Hi what if the spiral is beyond vertical? Does it look like it could be to anyone else? Am I crazy? Please tell me.

Also do we have any stats on length from the No Limits creation?

 

[DC High Heat]

Nah, can’t be, the plans are from directly overhead. You’d see the end move toward the bottom right of the plan if it were past 90. As is, you can see right down the middle. I think the transition into the rotation is slightly less than vertical, as in it starts rolling as it leads out of the pull-up. But the main portion of the spiral is definitely vertical.

 

[BGWnut]

@Zachary always has to tease us...