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.

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  • Most Recent Status Update:
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    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...
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Source: https://wydaily.com/local-news/2019...oise-sound-concerns-from-kingsmill-residents/
From WY DAILY:

The James City County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday delayed a decision on a 355-foot height waiver for a new attraction at Busch Gardens after several Kingsmill homeowners voiced concern about potential noise and sight impacts.

The board met for their regular monthly meeting at the James City County Government Center, voting 4-1 to delay a vote on the height waiver until their June 11 meeting.

Four people spoke during the public hearing segment of the meeting, most citing concerns and asking for additional time for more research and discussion on the project.


“Give Kingsmill residents time to understand the proposal,” said John Hudson, vice president of the Kingsmill Homeowners Association Board of Directors.
The delay will also give Busch Gardens time to conduct more sound tests if they choose.

Busch Gardens requested the 355-foot height waiver for an attraction of a “lattice-type” construction, according to planning department documents.
The attraction will be “quite slender” and can be painted any color the county requests to lessen its visual impact, said Suzy Cheely, senior leader of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Cheely declined to give details identifying the type of attraction the project would be.

Park President Kevin Lembke said delaying the vote on the height waiver is “not ideal, but it’s not impossible.”

Busch Gardens’ business model needs to increase development to remain competitive, he said.

“This is a very critical piece of decisions going forward for our park,” Lembke said.

If built up to the full 355 feet, the ride could be visible from areas of the county where other rides currently are not, including parts of Kingsmill.

“I suggest that Busch Gardens should seek other ways to innovate without building taller and taller structures,” Kingsmill Community Services Association Board of Directors member Andrew Lloyd-Williams said.

Cheely said the ride’s proposed location has been moved downhill near Verbolten’s broken bridge, so it will be less visible than originally thought.

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Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens (WYDaily/Courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA)

The structure would also be visible from areas where other rides can be seen now, including from Route 60 and Interstate 64 in the Grove interchange overpass and the Williamsburg Country Club, according to the documents.
It would not be seen from the Colonial Parkway or the River Bluffs area of Kingsmill.
Since 2017, supervisors have approved other height waivers for rides proposed by Busch Gardens.
All were granted, allowing the amusement park to build Finnegan’s Flyer, the Project 2019 coaster formerly known as “Madrid” and now the unknown attraction.

The original Madrid project received a height waiver for 315 feet, but Cheely gave previously unreleased information at the meeting, stating that project as originally planned will not come to fruition.
Because the height waiver was already approved, another project is taking Madrid’s place. That project will be about 180 feet at its tallest, Cheely added.
“It’s a lot less than it would’ve been if the Madrid project would’ve gone through,” she said.
Several supervisors shared the sentiment that Busch Gardens is a strong community partner and continuing to improve the park to attract more visitors would benefit the area.

“Busch Gardens is a tremendous driver for tourism,” Supervisor Sue Sadler said.
Planning Director Paul Holt confirmed during the meeting that Busch Gardens is the county’s largest employer. Williamsburg-James City County Schools are the second-largest.

Seaworld — including Busch Gardens and Water Country USA — are the second-largest property taxpayer in the county, Holt said.
The Busch Gardens communications team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon on the nature of the project or application.

Residents interested in speaking publicly about the project can do so during the public comment period at the June 11 Board of Supervisors meeting. There will not be another public hearing on the matter.
 
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2021 Cliff Notes from the meeting:
  • Kingsmill is really mad.
  • The highest point has been moved three times now away from Kingsmill.
  • 2021's "actual structure will be very slender. More like a spire that has open lattice."
  • 2021 would be the earliest it could open.
 
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@Zachary so, it would appear that this public hearing had a lot more interesting information than we first thought. It will be interesting to see what they come back with in June. Also interesting to hear the new info about MMXX plans having changed.
 
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Jahrules said:
@Zachary so, it would appear that this public hearing had a lot more interesting information than we first thought. It will be interesting to see what they come back with in June. Also interesting to hear the new info about MMXX plans having changed.
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This is wildly unusual for the record. These meetings normally don't provide anything of any value. Someone who was in the room reached out to me with details as they came though so HUGE thanks to that person. I've been working through the whole meeting myself as well.

The June meeting should be very interesting...
 
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@Zachary side note: @Irishman 's above post needs a link to the source and shouldn't have pasted the entire article as per forum rules.
 
Oooh. I see 2 things in there that REALLY would piss me off as a BGW/SEAS representative and a JCC planner/board member.

1- Someone from Kingsmill saying:
“I suggest that Busch Gardens should seek other ways to innovate without building taller and taller structures,” Kingsmill Community Services Association Board of Directors member Andrew Lloyd-Williams said.
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Sorry. You don’t have the right to tell another business how to operate.

2-
“Give Kingsmill residents time to understand the proposal,” said John Hudson, vice president of the Kingsmill Homeowners Association Board of Directors.
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AKA - we want time to get a petition to object to this and possibly file a lawsuit should it be approved.
 
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Zachary said:
This is wildly unusual for the record. These meetings normally don't provide anything of any value. Someone who was in the room reached out to me with details as they came though so HUGE thanks to that person. I've been working through the whole meeting myself as well.

The June meeting should be very interesting...
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I know I made my statement up above, but in my 6 years working as a planner...this is unprecedented in my book. I’ve never seen anything like this.
 
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Jahrules said:
@Zachary side note: @Irishman 's above post needs a link to the source and shouldn't have pasted the entire article as per forum rules.
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For the record, the etiquette guidelines aren't rules.

I'd prefer that people not do this sort of thing, but we don't currently have a method for dealing with it. I suggest reaching out to someone on the Advisory Panel.
 
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Zachary said:
2021 Cliff Notes from the meeting:
  • Kingsmill is really mad.
  • The highest point has been moved three times now away from Kingsmill.
  • 2021's "actual structure will be very slender. More like a spire that has open lattice."
  • 2021 would be the earliest it could open.
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Add to that
  • MMXX "will be about 180 feet at its tallest"
 
GrandpaD said:
Add to that
  • MMXX "will be about 180 feet at its tallest"
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Height of MMXX would not have to do with "2021 cliff notes though". MMXX has its own thread so I assume that's why @Zachary did not post it here.
 
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It's really disturbing to me that Kingsmill is 'bullying' the county and BGW like this to not allow them to do what's best for their own business.

Like 3 times now BGW has moved this project, even shelved it at one point, because of Kingsmill. Like at some point someone needs to man up and tell them they do not run the county, as long as BGW follows the rules put forth the proper way, and the board has okayed the project that Kingsmill needs to sit down and shut up.
 
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warfelg said:
It's really disturbing to me that Kingsmill is 'bullying' the county and BGW like this to not allow them to do what's best for their own business.

Like 3 times now BGW has moved this project, even shelved it at one point, because of Kingsmill. Like at some point someone needs to man up and tell them they do not run the county, as long as BGW follows the rules put forth the proper way, and the board has okayed the project that Kingsmill needs to sit down and shut up.
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Ultimately the county will approve BGW's project. The delay is likely just to appease the residents. I would be beyond shocked if the county didn't approve BGWs request. The county cares far more about not losing revenue from BGW than some residents in Kingsmill being upset.
 
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