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

Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!

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:
    bgwfans.com

    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 bgwfans.com
  • Most Recent Status Update:
    bgwfans.com

    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 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.

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

Additional Coverage (Newest to Oldest):​

Previous Thread:​

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Click to expand...
dude205 said:
The GP doesn't see park expansion as a big motivator to make a trip. An expansion with a coaster on the other hand is a money maker and something the GP would want to eat up.
Click to expand...

Coasters aren't guaranteed to bring people in anymore contrary to what is widely thought. Steel Vengeance and Twisted Timbers have not brought in nearly the numbers that Cedar Point and Kings Dominion were expecting and are the reasons why Cedar Fair as a whole is scaling back their major additions. Mystic Timbers also didn't result in a noticeable attendance increase and I highly doubt Copperhead Strike will, either.

So far in recent years the biggest attendance booster for parks have been seasonal events that give guests something to do during the deader times of the year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SukaUniFl, Logang, dude205 and 2 others
Because they can barely keep their hamlets up to snuff as it is. Hamlets are not just rides - they're experiences and they're not cheap unless you theme it after something that is easy to maintain like Hollywood studio buildings. Roller coasters and rides are singular machines (for the sake of argument) that I suspect cost fewer dollars to maintain, and definitely don't require constant meticulous supervision. The amount of resource programming to get a new themed area up and running is insane and when a hamlet goes to shit, you can't just take it offline to fix it. Furthermore, when a themed area falls out of favor, it's not like you can put it up on the market and sell it to the highest bidder. Look how stuck they've been with Festa for decades. Furthermore, I suspect another land wouldn't move the needle with park goers - but that's just speculation.

I'd rather BGW fix what's already broken in their parks versus adding new potential problems they'll probably end up ignoring in the long. None of the current hamlets are firing on all cylinders. Not one. And while putting in back-to-back 'big' rides might not be normal, it certainly makes a fuck ton more sense than expanding their current footprint so they can turn around in a few years and start ignoring their newest hamlet like they have all the others.
 
  • Like
Reactions: enaosaka, SukaUniFl, dude205 and 3 others
GrandpaD said:
Money is always an issue. Remember, that plan was under the leadership of Reilly. While the new CEO said he'd "stay the course", some things may have changed...notably the relationship with the Chinese. Plus, "the new guy" always like to make his mark on things. A balloon up in the air guarantees absolutely zip.
Click to expand...

I suspect we will learn more at the coming investor call. Everything I am hearing indicate that these rides are still happening. They were not something that was approved solely by John Reilly. It was a strategy that the board wanted put in place as a way to encourage growth.

As far as the relationship with the Chinese that had been in the work for months. The story broke last summer. It just wasn't an agreement that could be broken immediately. SEAS had to wait for them to not fullfil their obligations before they could trigger the out in contract.

I do think there will be some changes but for right now it doesn't appear to be effective this project. It could in the future and this could be axed.

dude205 said:
The GP doesn't see park expansion as a big motivator to make a trip. An expansion with a coaster on the other hand is a money maker and something the GP would want to eat up.
Click to expand...

I think you are wrong here. I agree that an expansion plus a coaster would draw more people than just an expansion with a new country. Still a lot of people would be really interested in seeing the new country.

b.mac said:
This is the only park in the chain that has any sort of info on projects beyond 2020 and based on what else is going on within the chain. Does SEAS even have the money to add something of that scale and continuing with their investment strategy? So far all of their projects, rumored and confirmed, are coming in on the smaller end of the investment spectrum compared to a $29+ million giga coaster (i305's cost adjusted for inflation), I don't think SEAS is willing to take that risk compared to a park like Cedar Fair who has been continuously doing it since the economy recovered and only has 2 successful years to show for it.
Click to expand...

I want to point out that they currently committed to spending $150 on attractions, shows or events each year. Nowhere does it say that every park will get a new ride every year. I think it's definitely feasible that one park could get a larger percentage of that capex because they are only adding a show or a smaller event. I think next year where we see every major park adding a coaster will be a little bit of an outlier. Must years I would expected one or two coasters whole the other parks add smaller rides like Finnegan's, new events like BierFest or Sesame Street kids weekends or shows that don't require a large investment.

Here's a quote from the Orlando Weekly about the investor call last August.

15284
 
  • Like
Reactions: dude205 and jonfin826
While I do want Busch to get another coaster, I've always loved it for the atmosphere and experiences you get to have there. I remember when I was younger I would go and there would be BBW, Nessie, AC, and Alpie. The trend in more coasters is a great thing, but I really hope they use some of this investment money to go into the hamlets and park as a whole.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: SukaUniFl, SLC Headache, tursiops and 1 other person
BGWnut said:
I was driving past BGW earlier and I saw this sign posted. Looks like we will be at least finding out if the height waiver is approved.

View attachment 15293
Click to expand...

These public hearings are interesting. I imagine an admin (@Zachary ?) Should attend. It's a good opportunity for the public to "ask questions" about the height waiver from which additional information can be derived.
 
I mean anyone can attend and give their report. Doesn't need to be someone of authority, nor do I think any of the admins want the "obligation" of going above and beyond to provide information further than they voluntarily decide to. I also don't think @Zachary would appreciate being volunteered for that, but perhaps I am just misinterpreting your post, because I doubt that was your intent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RollyCoaster
Historically little to no information has been revealed at these meetings. If someone wants to go see the process for themselves, I encourage it, but the likelihood that I'll be there is slim.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LudwigII and Icer
Out of curiosity, could that sign placement be misleading and not be related to the park? Or not related to this particular project?
 
Jonesta6 said:
Out of curiosity, could that sign placement be misleading and not be related to the park? Or not related to this particular project?
Click to expand...

No. The height waiver permit number is listed on the sign and aligns with the one for this project.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zachary
lce said:
I mean anyone can attend and give their report. Doesn't need to be someone of authority, nor do I think any of the admins want the "obligation" of going above and beyond to provide information further than they voluntarily decide to. I also don't think @Zachary would appreciate being volunteered for that, but perhaps I am just misinterpreting your post, because I doubt that was your intent.
Click to expand...

Of course not. I was just suggesting that Zachary is our resident sleuth. If there was worthwhile information to be gained by attending I am nearly positive he would be there.
 
Jonesta6 said:
Out of curiosity, could that sign placement be misleading and not be related to the park? Or not related to this particular project?
Click to expand...
Also typically JCC posts signs for meetings like this near the location of construction so that those who live nearby can come to the meeting and weigh in.
 
dude205 said:
While I do want Busch to get another coaster, I've always loved it for the atmosphere and experiences you get to have there. I remember when I was younger I would go and there would be BBW, Nessie, AC, and Alpie. The trend in more coasters is a great thing, but I really hope they use some of this investment money to go into the hamlets and park as a whole.
Click to expand...
This. I'd rather not see a second white-knuckler if it's at the cost of theming and landscaping. Yes, theming has fallen since InBev cruelly cut off the parks, but that doesn't mean they should give up and lead the park to become another Cedar Point, wall-to-wall extreme rides with theming an afterthought.

Ideally, MMXX would bring a refresh of Festa with it, then this would be a smaller coaster with more theming.
 
Last edited:
How large was the MMXX impact zone? 383 acres is huge.

EDIT: Upon further inspection they're just listing the acreage of the park and not the construction site itself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adam
The height waiver has been recommended for approval by the Planning Commission for public hearing at the next Board of Supervisors meeting (5/14/19). The project has the blessing of the Planning Commission, now it's up to the BoS for final approval. Also, note the verbiage used: "attraction" and "lattice-type construction." This could mean a variety of things, but I will mention that this is the same wordage used for the MMXX height waiver.

15321 15322 15325 15324
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nicole
You must log in or register to reply here.
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad