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/

 

[horsesboy]

Suzy Cheely said in last month's meeting that project Madrid was cancelled so I assume nobody will think that.

Again people HAVE actually been referencing it as if it were the on going construction. We know that JCC knows that but some of the public outrage is that there are two of them within a few years. It's not true but that is some of the public perception that BGW has to overcome. I can't help but wonder if some of this would be less had BGW been more transparent about Madrid's fate at as n earlier date.

 

[GrandpaD]

If it's a (I'm still not convinced) giga, and SEAS wants bragging rights, they could always say "ah, ok. We hear you. So we're gonna knock 25 feet off. As you can see from the balloon test, that would effectively put it close to below the tree line". Kingmill folks walk away like they've won and BGW still gets a record setter (if it's a giga).

 

[metalman]

Don’t they remember a roller coaster once stood on that land? I understand that it was shorter, but surely there was noise from Drachen Fire.

 

[Lcucu3]

Fingers crossed for tomorrow. Let’s hope this goes through

 

[Teressalvt]

Sent my emails. Got a handful of 'Thank you' responses from the recipients this morning.

 

[DJTLG]

Some thoughts about Kingsmill's opposition...

• I imagine their property is already valued pretty highly considering the location, championship golf course, and award winning money-making theme park next door. Why are residents so convinced that improving/expanding that theme park will decrease property values. It seems like property values could increase with Busch Gardens' growth and continued success.
• If Kingsmill is such a great place, why are residents so concerned about property values? Sounds like they are just waiting for the right moment to sell and cash out.
• A major detail left out of the Kingsmill correspondence is how long these people have lived there. How can one buy a home beside a theme park and then complain about having rides nearby? There were probably some tall rides already there. Did they not expect the park to build more and even taller rides? I bet the proximity to Busch Gardens was promoted as a benefit at the time of purchase. I purchased my home near a military base. Jets (which are way louder than any ride located of 2,000 feet away) fly over regularly. I was aware of this when I moved in, and I've never complained.
• Busch Gardens is really asking a lot with a second height waiver for 2021 when 2020 hasn't even been built yet. I feel a better scenario would be for project 2020 to be completed first. Then residents and supervisors could see what the impacts on that are (if any). They might even be more willing to accept project 2021 at that point knowing that 2020 isn't a big deal. As much as I want to see 2021 happen quickly, it seems totally fair for the board to impose a delay for this reason.
• As people who do not live in the county, I am not sure it is our place to weigh in to the supervisors. If I were them, I would not consider correspondence from non-residents. I look at it this way. I wouldn't want people who live in elsewhere influencing my elected representatives on something that will be built in my community. Busch Gardens has a large number of customers and fans - and the supervisors already know that. Regardless of what they decide, the supervisors should be focused on hearing and understanding the concerns of smaller number of residents who will be directly impacted.

 

[bradd1319]

Some thoughts about Kingsmill's opposition...

• I imagine their property is already valued pretty highly considering the location, championship golf course, and award winning money-making theme park next door. Why are residents so convinced that improving/expanding that theme park will decrease property values. It seems like property values could increase with Busch Gardens' growth and continued success.
• If Kingsmill is such a great place, why are residents so concerned about property values? Sounds like they are just waiting for the right moment to sell and cash out.
• A major detail left out of the Kingsmill correspondence is how long these people have lived there. How can one buy a home beside a theme park and then complain about having rides nearby? There were probably some tall rides already there. Did they not expect the park to build more and even taller rides? I bet the proximity to Busch Gardens was promoted as a benefit at the time of purchase. I purchased my home near a military base. Jets (which are way louder than any ride located of 2,000 feet away) fly over regularly. I was aware of this when I moved in, and I've never complained.
• Busch Gardens is really asking a lot with a second height waiver for 2021 when 2020 hasn't even been built yet. I feel a better scenario would be for project 2020 to be completed first. Then residents and supervisors could see what the impacts on that are (if any). They might even be more willing to accept project 2021 at that point knowing that 2020 isn't a big deal. As much as I want to see 2021 happen quickly, it seems totally fair for the board to impose a delay for this reason.
• As people who do not live in the county, I am not sure it is our place to weigh in to the supervisors. If I were them, I would not consider correspondence from non-residents. I look at it this way. I wouldn't want people who live in elsewhere influencing my elected representatives on something that will be built in my community. Busch Gardens has a large number of customers and fans - and the supervisors already know that. Regardless of what they decide, the supervisors should be focused on hearing and understanding the concerns of smaller number of residents who will be directly impacted.

on bullet three, I looked at some of the addresses from the letters and the last purchase date for most of the houses were in the middle of 2000's and later

 

[Jahrules]

• Busch Gardens is really asking a lot with a second height waiver for 2021 when 2020 hasn't even been built yet. I feel a better scenario would be for project 2020 to be completed first. Then residents and supervisors could see what the impacts on that are (if any). They might even be more willing to accept project 2021 at that point knowing that 2020 isn't a big deal. As much as I want to see 2021 happen quickly, it seems totally fair for the board to impose a delay for this reason.

Busch gardens has the money to invest now. SeaWorld has committed to building new attractions at all the parks with some serious capital allocations.

We're likely to see a project 2022 as well in some form or another; but beyond 2022, the SeaWorld board has not committed to keeping up this $150m a year expansion budget. Businesses need to be allowed to spend when they have the money to do so.

 

[BGWnut]

Some thoughts about Kingsmill's opposition...

• Busch Gardens is really asking a lot with a second height waiver for 2021 when 2020 hasn't even been built yet. I feel a better scenario would be for project 2020 to be completed first. Then residents and supervisors could see what the impacts on that are (if any). They might even be more willing to accept project 2021 at that point knowing that 2020 isn't a big deal. As much as I want to see 2021 happen quickly, it seems totally fair for the board to impose a delay for this reason.
• As people who do not live in the county, I am not sure it is our place to weigh in to the supervisors. If I were them, I would not consider correspondence from non-residents. I look at it this way. I wouldn't want people who live in elsewhere influencing my elected representatives on something that will be built in my community. Busch Gardens has a large number of customers and fans - and the supervisors already know that. Regardless of what they decide, the supervisors should be focused on hearing and understanding the concerns of smaller number of residents who will be directly impacted.

I agree with your first 3 points. However the last two I have some issues with.

First, I think that the park is well within their rights to apply for a height waiver and begin the process of building something in 2021 while still working on 2020. There was no uproar when BGW filed a height waiver for Finnegan's Flyer despite 2020 having a height waiver and not being finished yet. Also if these same people in Kingsmill wanted to build and addition on their home and then while doing so they decided they wanted to add a front porch or something would we expect the city or anyone else to say well you need to wait for the other project to be complete so we can see the full extent of those plans? No we wouldn't. Companies and people are well within their rights to be planning multiple projects at any given time and have them at various stages of completion.

Second, while I agree that the board should not solely be listening to people who do not live in the county I do not agree that they should be ignoring concerns or support from people who wish to spend their money in the county. I saw that as someone who works in JCC and used to live there. I sent them a letter. I do not expect them to give my sentiments equal weight but I do expect them to take into consideration what would benefit the county and increase spending from people who don't live in the county. As such I am making them aware that approving this measure would most likely increase my spending in the county.

 

[halfabee]

Considering the volume of tourist spending in Williamsburg, I find it hard to imagine JCC giving little or no weight to the comments of those who visit from outside the area -- provided those comments directly tie visitor enthusiasm to the continued improvement of regional offerings.

A substantial number of local jobs presuppose the existence of healthy, maintained tourism levels. Real estate valuations are absolutely buoyed by regional economic prosperity, which in JCC's case is tightly tied to tourists' money remaining in town when the tourists themselves leave. And capital improvements arguably drive or maintain those visitors' enthusiasm, as they consider choosing other alternatives to a W-burg trip. Who enthusiastically wants to be a repeat visitor -- the most valuable kind of visitor -- if this year's W-burg attractions will offer nothing new of note vs. last year's?

All of that affects the local economy, and therefore the locals themselves. Ignoring the voices of out-of-towners is a disservice to the continued health of the region, and the prosperity of its own residents.

 

[cdchen83]

Live Stream | James City County, VA

Access live stream coverage of JCC TV Channel 48.

www.jamescitycountyva.gov

For those who want to follow along on their websites live stream or YouTube channel live stream. Both should show the meeting tonight. Hopefully it doesn't get overloaded with people watching. LOL

The YouTube live streaming channel is linked on the bottom of the web page.

 

[Logang]

What time does it start?

 

[Jahrules]

5 pm.

 

[cdchen83]

The show is about to begin. Lol

 

[Jahrules]

6 minute delay

 

[cdchen83]

Shes underway...

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View: https://youtu.be/E6dLqN78hCc

 

[----------------------]

public comment time...oh boy...

 

[halfabee]

Here we go, first comment on BGW.

 

[----------------------]

"space needle like"
-comment on picture shown by bgw to KM residents.

 

[halfabee]

"Here's a picture having little to do with the attraction being built. I don't want to see this thing from my driveway!"

Problem solved, instantly. Thank you for your comment.