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

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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

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I can’t see them building a star flyer next to Mach tower, I could be wrong. Is the highest point of the ride in the Oktoberfest hamlet or the field behind Verbolten??; if so there is a possibility of it being a coaster.
 
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Jpineda96 said:
I can’t see them building a star flyer next to Mach tower, I could be wrong. Is the highest point of the ride in the Oktoberfest hamlet or the field behind Verbolten??; if so there is a possibility of it being a coaster.
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We already know it's a coaster.
 
GrandpaD said:
All we know is there may be a coaster because of an "hallway” conversation but no facts (plans, permits, etc.) to back it. And we still don't know if that's the subject of the height waiver.
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I mean sure. But the source seems fairly reliable. Though sure, it could be a misdirection attempt where bgw tells employees wrong info etc... It just doesn't seem entirely likely in this case.
 
To be clear, we (as in the collective BGW community) essentially know nothing about this project. We know there was a really tall height survey conducted near Oktoberfest and a height waiver was filed using that data.

Anyone who knows something more than that is always free to get in touch—but until something substantive leaks out, we don't know anything more than what I put in the original BGWFans article about this project.
 
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Over the years, fairly reliable sources have made it clear that Montu was going to be named Scirocco and literally weave in and out of an Egyptian pyramid, and Riddler's Revenge was going to be installed in 1997 and be named AfterShock, and Kennywood was going to return their dark boat ride's theme to The Old Mill, and ... ... ...
 
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Jahrules said:
I mean sure. But the source seems fairly reliable. Though sure, it could be a misdirection attempt where bgw tells employees wrong info etc... It just doesn't seem entirely likely in this case.
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As the person who knows the source and relayed what they said I can tell you that they are actually in a position to definitively know the plans and based how they said it was a genuine slip of the tongue and they didn't mean to let it out. I'm supremely confident that it's a coaster. But if people don't want to believe me then that's fine. I have no issues with that.
 
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There may, in fact, be a coaster planned. That still doesn't mean it's the subject of the height waiver. And we all know what happened with the last height waiver. I still think (in a conversation with myself ?) it's some sort of tower to replace that bucket of bolts they call Mäch Tower and a RailBlazer type coaster.

One clue will be if the waiver is approved and we see an FAA filing giving better coordinates than we have now.
 
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BGWnut said:
As the person who knows the source and relayed what they said I can tell you that they are actually in a position to definitively know the plans and based how they said it was a genuine slip of the tongue and they didn't mean to let it out. I'm supremely confident that it's a coaster. But if people don't want to believe me then that's fine. I have no issues with that.
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It's not about whether or not people believe your recollection and impressions of the conversation, this person you talked to, the chain of information that would have passed this information to this person, etc. It's the simple fact that there's no proof. Without evidence, this is nothing more than a rumor.

Trust me, I've heard my fair share about this project too—some of it really, really credible. Without any substantial evidence though, I can't attest to knowing anything yet.

If you trust the person you spoke to, that's totally reasonable. That said, skepticism from everyone else here is not only warranted, but healthy.

For the record, none of this is meant as a critique of you @BGWnut, I just think it is very important to keep the facts separate from the rumors here. Less informed, less engaged people scan this forum and see "2021 is a coaster" and run with it without any context or nuance.
 
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This is a fair point. The height waiver could
very well have nothing to do with the "practically confirmed" 2021 coaster.

It's probably completely impractical, but I think it would be wild to have a near "0 drop" coaster loop around the massive undeveloped land on the other side of the Rhine. I envision it as something like a launch to some crazy speed, let's say 120. But then instead of climbing a crazy height like a strata, you go through sweeping curves, barrel rolls and airtime hills. Replicating g-forces similar to formula 1 corners or the like.

I just think it's a neat concept... due to the lack of height it would seem tame, but the mind melting speed would be quite intense. And bgw has the space for something like that. Though, the idea might actually require helmets for riders.. because at that speed anything to the face (like a goose?) would be extremely painful, if not fatal..
 
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Zachary said:
Less informed, less engaged people scan this forum and see "2021 is a coaster" and run with it without any context or nuance.
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Oh trust me once it came out that 2020 wasn't going to be a giga a ton of people are hoping 2021 finally delivers.

Personally I want to know what's so appealing about coasters that break 300+ feet, because my experiences with 3 gigas and 2 stratas were not solely determinant of them being over 300 feet tall.
 
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Zachary said:
It's not about whether or not people believe your recollection and impressions of the conversation, this person you talked to, the chain of information that would have passed this information to this person, etc. It's the simple fact that there's no proof. Without evidence, this is nothing more than a rumor.

Trust me, I've heard my fair share about this project too—some of it really, really credible. Without any substantial evidence though, I can't attest to knowing anything yet.

If you trust the person you spoke to, that's totally reasonable. That said, skepticism from everyone else here is not only warranted, but healthy.

For the record, none of this is meant as a critique of you @BGWnut, I just think it is very important to keep the facts separate from the rumors here. Less informed, less engaged people scan this forum and see "2021 is a coaster" and run with it without any context or nuance.
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I completely agree and in no way am advocating that forum members should believe it just because I said. I've been attempting to be careful about saying that I know. I'm very confident that it is a coaster for the reasons I mentioned but I agree that people should just blindly believe or take what I say as gospel.

I definitely get your point. I just wanted to outline why I currently believe that 2021 will bring another coaster to BGW.
 
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b.mac said:
Oh trust me once it came out that 2020 wasn't going to be a giga a ton of people are hoping 2021 finally delivers.

Personally I want to know what's so appealing about coasters that break 300+ feet, because my experiences with 3 gigas and 2 stratas were not solely determinant of them being over 300 feet tall.
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I think to people who aren't coaster enthusiasts, 300+ feet just seems like a cool number to brag about to friends. It also introduces a certain level of fear factor to those who aren't versed in all the safety protocol coasters go through.

But sure, most people here understand that height is just one factor into the equation; and maybe not even the most important one.

Like how RMC is the current top builder for most enthusiasts, but they have never built a giga and have only barely cleared 200 feet (steel vengeance is 205 with a drop of exactly 200) with a coaster so far.

Side note, both Zadra and RMC Gwazi are both structurally over 200; Zadra won't be a hyper but Gwazi may end up as a hyper.. the point is the lack of height doesn't detract from RMC being extremely desirable.
 
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Man some of this convo is 'lather rinse repeat'.

Ugh this is just that horrible time for stuff like this and even MMXX. We have just enough info to have hope, not enough to know for sure, and no clue where it's really going.
 
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BGWnut said:
As the person who knows the source and relayed what they said I can tell you that they are actually in a position to definitively know the plans and based how they said it was a genuine slip of the tongue and they didn't mean to let it out. I'm supremely confident that it's a coaster. But if people don't want to believe me then that's fine. I have no issues with that.
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Is this actually full on giga or is it just a one trick pony a la Red Force?
 
Jahrules said:
I think to people who aren't coaster enthusiasts, 300+ feet just seems like a cool number to brag about to friends. It also introduces a certain level of fear factor to those who aren't versed in all the safety protocol coasters go through.

But sure, most people here understand that height is just one factor into the equation; and maybe not even the most important one.

Like how RMC is the current top builder for most enthusiasts, but they have never built a giga and have only barely cleared 200 feet (steel vengeance is 205 with a drop of exactly 200) with a coaster so far.

Side note, both Zadra and RMC Gwazi are both structurally over 200; Zadra won't be a hyper but Gwazi may end up as a hyper.. the point is the lack of height doesn't detract from RMC being extremely desirable.
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Gwazi is supposed to be the tallest in North America and have a higher speed than steel vengeance so to me I would assume that it's going to be a hyper.

madmax said:
Is this actually full on giga or is it just a one trick pony a la Red Force?
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I want it to be a Giga but I only have enough information for me to believe that it's a coaster.
 
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