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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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/

 

[Seado]

To me that would near rule out B&M as a possibility.

Also crazy pass through my head last night. DarKastle/NewKastle to the height waiver location is the exact length of Fury’s lift, and it would be a minimal turn on the drop.

Why would that rule out B&M?

 

[Lcucu3]

If this is Intamin, we’ve seen them do a 180° degree turn at the top of the lift on Coaster Through the Clouds so it is possible. Just have a standard straight drop after turning at the top.

 

[mountaineers]

B&M runs 4 wide trains and DF ran 2 wide. Loading area would need to be completely redone, eliminating most of the savings.

 

[Icer]

I imagine they will be doing extensive changes to the DF building and loading area anyway. I don't see much of the current setup being salvageable/applicable to a newer coaster.

 

[AIR]

Besides that, Steel Dragon 2000 trains are custom for the track but are 2 across nonetheless.

Personally, I believe this will be the star flyer placed on that high ground that the Lumberhack maze currently occupies. A circular pad for a tower ride would fit perfectly there and is still downhill from Verbolten. I'm led to believe this is an expansion with at least a large flat being the star flyer and one roller coaster, smaller, utilizing the Drachen Fire buildings.

But of course, anything is possible as of now

 

[GrandpaD]

I guess I'm dense. Gigas take up a huge amount of real estate. And, with the impact area @Zachary laid out, I just don't see how one would fit.

Fury measures 560ft from the top of the lift hill to the top of the first hill after the drop. It's over 1200ft from the lift hill to the first turn around helix. If this thing is supposed to be a giga higher than Fury, I see no way for it to burn off speed in such a compressed area.

I'm with @AIR on this. As I've theoried before (sorry if I'm too repetitive), tower and a (hopefully) Taton style Blitz coaster.

 

[Jonesta6]

Am I the only one who thinks something like Maverick could work really well back there?

 

[AIR]

I would love an Intamin blitz coaster at BGW. Maverick is currently my favorite ride. Downtime is a little excessive but that's nothing the park hasn't seen in Mäch Tower and probably will see in MMXX.

The issue with a giga coaster in Festhaus Park is not only the size and shape of the site but the fact that it's landlocked by the boneyard, greenhouses (which get closer to Kingsmill), Verbolten, the Festhaus with the picnic village, and the Rhine. Unless you get very creative with a river crossing or around the woods by the boneyard, a 355 foot giga coaster staying in that site is quite unbelievable for a plot of land which seems smaller than I305's land and that ride is pushing limits as it is.

Whatever this is, I'm ecstatic to see potential expansion back into Festhaus Park after almost 20 years of vacancy.

 

[GrandpaD]

Am I the only one who thinks something like Maverick could work really well back there?

Isn't Maverick an old school version of the Blitz? I just mentioned Taron because it was newer.

 

[madmax]

We already are getting a blitz in 2020.

 

[GrandpaD]

We already are getting a blitz in 2020.

MMXX is not a Blitz. And Intamin didn't introduce it as such. It might have some elements similar but I don't see it like Taron or Maverick. I honestly think a compact Taron type that sends you every which way but loose will appeal to a different type (i.e. "adult") of rider than MMXX.

 

[Jonesta6]

Isn't Maverick an old school version of the Blitz? I just mentioned Taron because it was newer.

I only mentioned it because I've not ridden Taron. However, that's such a low height ride compared to the waiver that unless a hamlet was being developed there then I'd have to guess that is not being considered.

But, thinking back on Kevin's quote from the JCC meeting, could it be not only a ride development and or discount reliant upon the approval timeframe, but instead an anchor attraction (tower of some sort, not necessarily a thrill ride) to a new area?

 

[madmax]

MMXX is not a Blitz. And Intamin didn't introduce it as such. It might have some elements similar but I don't see it like Taron or Maverick. I honestly think a compact Taron type that sends you every which way but loose will appeal to a different type (i.e. "adult") of rider than MMXX.

Except not every park needs your definition of a blitz and both have the same exact audience. I’d rather have either a giga or an RMC hybrid anyways.

 

[GrandpaD]

Except not every park needs your definition of a blitz and both have the same exact audience. I’d rather have either a giga or an RMC hybrid anyways.

Obviously you're the expert on what a park needs and coaster demographics. Care to use that expertise in showing how a giga will fit into the area highlighted? I, for one, would like to view your input.

@Jonesta6 I think the park has a package deal with Intamin. Maybe even using the same MMXX crew to jump across the river. I know it's the "pessimistic view" but I do think tower/coaster combo.

 

[Jonesta6]

@GrandpaD so if we take the tower/coaster combo, what's the probability both are manufactured by Intamin and are part of either a new hamlet or Germany expansion?

 

[GrandpaD]

@GrandpaD so if we take the tower/coaster combo, what's the probability both are manufactured by Intamin and are part of either a new hamlet or Germany expansion?

Lol, let me look into my crystal ball...because my gut feeling guess cannot be interpreted in any way as official, reliable, viable or even bankable. I'm sure Vegas would set odds at 1000-one because they don't go higher.

Anyway, I think it's a Germany expansion because, with so much cash spent on rides they couldn't do a new hamlet justice. So maybe it's Black Forest and the attractions are named with some faux German-ish name. And Intamin is doing it all.

But don't bet on it. It's just so old guy watching Rawhide and trying to think outside the box.

 

[b.mac]

@GrandpaD so if we take the tower/coaster combo, what's the probability both are manufactured by Intamin and are part of either a new hamlet or Germany expansion?

Unless we're talking a Parachute tower, Flying Island, or Observation Tower, Intamin doesn't offer any tower rides that provide a noticeably different experience from Mach Tower.

 

[GrandpaD]

I know @b.mac but that bucket of bolts breaks down so much, I wouldn't be surprised if it meets a premature death.

 

[madmax]

Obviously you're the expert on what a park needs and coaster demographics.

It don’t think it takes an expert to know that MMXX and Taron have the same exact audience.

 

[BGWnut]

I would love an Intamin blitz coaster at BGW. Maverick is currently my favorite ride. Downtime is a little excessive but that's nothing the park hasn't seen in Mäch Tower and probably will see in MMXX.

The issue with a giga coaster in Festhaus Park is not only the size and shape of the site but the fact that it's landlocked by the boneyard, greenhouses (which get closer to Kingsmill), Verbolten, the Festhaus with the picnic village, and the Rhine. Unless you get very creative with a river crossing or around the woods by the boneyard, a 355 foot giga coaster staying in that site is quite unbelievable for a plot of land which seems smaller than I305's land and that ride is pushing limits as it is.

Whatever this is, I'm ecstatic to see potential expansion back into Festhaus Park after almost 20 years of vacancy.

I think it's feasible that they could removing the picnic area or at least a portion of it as it is not used very often anymore. I also wouldn't rule out them moving the greenhouse/boneyard. They've only said how close the highest point will be to kingsmill. They've never said how far away the entire structure is.