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/

 

[halfabee]

The park doesn't care about what we want, there going to do something that is easily marketable and "the worlds tallest twisted drop on the east coast" is right up there alley

Personally, I really hope they don't start advertising "the world's tallest twisted drop on the east coast."

 

[Drachenwolf]

Theme park business has the potential to BOOM if/when the pandemic is *safely in the rearview*. (*perhaps quite soon*)
My hope here is they'd shelve the current idea in favor of a greater, true giga addition... even if it requires an extra year or two of patience.

 

[Jonesta6]

As long as that idea doesn't require the park to backtrack on any goodwill that was needed to get the approvals they've needed from the county and other entities so far, sounds interesting.

 

[Zachary]

I just removed 2022 from the thread title. We’re approaching the point where it would be nearly impossible for such a timeline to be feasible. Pair that with the lack of really any early signs or rumors of imminent construction in Festhaus Park and the 2022 prognosis is grim.

 

[Zimmy]

this makes me a sad panda.

 

[Zachary]

I do think a delay to 2023 or beyond makes it dramatically more likely that the project is undergoing a redesign. If you’re in the “hopin’ for a redesign” camp, this could be interpreted as great news.

 

[finalcloud]

I do think a delay to 2023 or beyond makes it dramatically more likely that the project is undergoing a redesign. If you’re in the “hopin’ for a redesign” camp, this could be interpreted as great news.

This is excellent news. When you guys broke the design news for the original plan I wasn't excited. Go back to the drawing board and see if they can really make it exciting for everyone. If they go back to the same design, I hope the ride proves me wrong.

 

[warfelg]

I do think this is a really good thing for the park, and getting Pantheon open this year would be even better. I liked the 2 coasters in 2 years ambitions but having them spread out a little is a better thing for them.

 

[SLC Headache]

As someone who wasn't really excited for Drachen Spire, the thought of a major redesign is great news. We will already have two back-and-forth launches, so Drachen Spire would just have felt like the same but bigger. Actually, I'd rather not see any launches on this unless it's a launched lift hill or an inverted top hat.

 

[Nibbins]

Soooo.... what will be new in 2022?

They'll need something to advertise.

 

[Jonesta6]

Soooo.... what will be new in 2022?

They'll need something to advertise.

I wouldn't be too surprised it'll be between new events for year-round ops and a continued push of Pantheon. Eventually, if this ride is planned to open in 23 then we may start seeing coming soon ads.

 

[panopticon31]

I really really reaaaaaally hope its getting a redesign into something other than a shuttle coaster

 

[Mushroom]

Soooo.... what will be new in 2022?

They'll need something to advertise.

I don't think they'll need something else to advertise. Pantheon will have been open for less than a year - and during an extremely abnormal year on top of that. Why can't Pantheon continue to be their headline attraction in 2022?

I know SEAS' pre-COVID plan was to add a new ride every year, but there's nothing wrong with taking an off year after opening a huge new coaster in an uncertain economy during an equally uncertain year. Until a few years ago, the park took off years all the time.

 

[Memles]

I definitely think that 2021/2022 are just not going to be normal years in terms of how the parks approach them, and so the idea they'll need something new for 2022 is definitely unlikely. I figure they either just focus on having the 2020 season they never got to have, or they try to get something open for Water Country.

 

[Jonesta6]

The revamped Aquazoid and whatever becomes of Rampage - make it a one-two hit and there's still plenty to talk about.

 

[Zachary]

Aquazoid Amped is almost certainly opening this year. Something would have to go SERIOUSLY off the rails for that project to be delayed again.

 

[Zimmy]

Polercoaster CONFIRMED!

 

[kulthus]

If they re-design it, I wonder if they will try to keep it all in FHP, cross the Rhine, or maybe use some of the other land that hasn't been used for public areas previously?

 

[Jonesta6]

Can pretty much garuantee there won't be a river crossing - too much RPA buffer destruction needed.

I think many folks pointing out the area around the boneyard may have a good thought - problem is they'd probably not want anything in storage visible from the ride if possible so that'll require either moving the boneyard or being really careful with the layout to avoid it. Obviously they haven't shown too much concern with knocking over trees when they're outside of the ROA buffer zone.

 

[Zachary]

Yeah, I think we can easily rule out crossing the Rhine. It sorta seems like that was probably the thing that sunk Project Madrid in the first place.

My expectation is still that this thing is will remain inside the railroad loop. If they're going to build outside the area highlighted on this page, we'll need to see a lot more preliminary site work occur (read: soil testing).