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:​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

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/

 

[Zimmy]

I REALLY hope the drop does not twist. Twist really negatively impact the forces. On some rides they make sense, but not one that's primary focus is its drop. i305 got that right. (changes to the profile aside)

 

[b.mac]

I REALLY hope the drop does not twist. Twist really negatively impact the forces. On some rides they make sense, but not one that's primary focus is its drop. i305 got that right. (changes to the profile aside)

If it helps you, Intamin, Vekoma, and a few other manufacturers are comfortable making full length trains do beyond vertical twist drops.

 

[GrandpaD]

If it helps you, Intamin, Vekoma, and a few other manufacturers are comfortable making full length trains do beyond vertical twist drops.

I knew they did (see MMXX) but for a giga? But, even so, it looks awful tight to drop and then do whatever between the service road crossroad and the train tracks.

 

[madmax]

I REALLY hope the drop does not twist. Twist really negatively impact the forces. On some rides they make sense, but not one that's primary focus is its drop. i305 got that right. (changes to the profile aside)

Skyrush?

 

[BGWnut]

I knew they did (see MMXX) but for a giga? But, even so, it looks awful tight to drop and then do whatever between the service road crossroad and the train tracks.

They could have more soil samples coming in some areas beyond what they have already done.

I assume when you mean turn at the top of the lift hill that you mean something like Griffon? Or do you mean something like Alpen? I think it's more likely to see the drop be like Alpen then Griffon. Personally I would love to the drop to the water that is immediately followed by a large over banked turn that brings the ride back towards FP.

 

[GrandpaD]

I'm pretty sure @kingadam had documented the soil samples as @Zachary highlighted as the impact area in the last front page story. I recall some in the DF area soon after the Madrid rumors (and a certain member's "plan" revelation/retraction). Everything seems to stop at the tracks.

Actually more like the MMXX plan (up and then turn right and down). If the high point is the service road crossroads, it seems to me the only room for a drop is toward the tracks from that (supposed) height. If the lift is parallel to the Verboten building, that is. Straight down to the river? I don't see room to do it from the projected high point.

 

[mountaineers]

One thing to consider is that any testing that was done for Drachenfire or Verbolten could still be used by the park.

 

[Jonesta6]

One thing to consider is that any testing that was done for Drachenfire or Verbolten could still be used by the park.

Would think that anything done for DF won't work at all since that was before the ride was built then ultimately dismantled meaning potential significant change to the ground. Not sure if they looked that far over for VB either...

 

[mountaineers]

Someone please correct me if this is incorrect, this is not my area of expertise. But i don't see why they couldn't use soil samples taked for DF construction in this planning The samples are done to determine depth of topsoil, composition of the soil, and how deep bedrock is. They are done in areas where data is needed for construction plans but not exactly where the footers will be placed hence the term sampling. Unless a footer from DF is exactly where a sample was taken then the sample should still be valid. I don't recall moving much dirt in DF construction and subsequent removal therefore they can still be of use. As for Verbolten, I was trying to say that during its planning they may have done sampling in other areas before deciding on the exact course and those could be used also.

 

[horsesboy]

Someone please correct me if this is incorrect, this is not my area of expertise. But i don't see why they couldn't use soil samples taked for DF construction in this planning The samples are done to determine depth of topsoil, composition of the soil, and how deep bedrock is. They are done in areas where data is needed for construction plans but not exactly where the footers will be placed hence the term sampling. Unless a footer from DF is exactly where a sample was taken then the sample should still be valid. I don't recall moving much dirt in DF construction and subsequent removal therefore they can still be of use. As for Verbolten, I was trying to say that during its planning they may have done sampling in other areas before deciding on the exact course and those could be used also.

There was a substantial amount of landscaping and dirt moving done in part of that area a few years back this would have changed the soil makeup. Also the reason for that work was sighted as mitigating and controlling erosion which again would effect the makeup. Also I would assume that those test are only valid for so many years and it's been quite a few since DF was built. You don't really want to go into this without being sure that could be a EXTRMELY expensive mistake.

 

[BGWnut]

I'm pretty sure @kingadam had documented the soil samples as @Zachary highlighted as the impact area in the last front page story. I recall some in the DF area soon after the Madrid rumors (and a certain member's "plan" revelation/retraction). Everything seems to stop at the tracks.

Actually more like the MMXX plan (up and then turn right and down). If the high point is the service road crossroads, it seems to me the only room for a drop is toward the tracks from that (supposed) height. If the lift is parallel to the Verboten building, that is. Straight down to the river? I don't see room to do it from the projected high point.

I understand that. I was saying that's we still don't know if there will be more than the ones we know about. They could be doing it in batches. Or the areas they are doing them in have no utilities running through them so they don't need to be marked for utility lines like these areas mentioned in the article.

I think that certainly could be possible. It would preserve the straight and create an interesting force at the beginning of the drop.

 

[Adam]

I understand that. I was saying that's we still don't know if there will be more than the ones we know about. They could be doing it in batches. Or the areas they are doing them in have no utilities running through them so they don't need to be marked for utility lines like these areas mentioned in the article.

I think that certainly could be possible. It would preserve the straight and create an interesting force at the beginning of the drop.

I agree that they could be doing more tests in the future, but even if they believe there are no utilities in the areas they are testing they are still required to submit for utility markings.

 

[GrandpaD]

I would think future soil testd might be a key to how big it may be. As it looks now, nothing is going beyond the RR tracks nor close to the Rhine.

 

[Sly4Good]

It's gonna be a waterslide y'all /s

 

[Zachary]

I would think future soil testd might be a key to how big it may be. As it looks now, nothing is going beyond the RR tracks nor close to the Rhine.

This is where the Project Madrid soil tests come into play, no? They were expressly all the way out to the river.

 

[b.mac]

This is where the Project Madrid soil tests come into play, no? They were expressly all the way out to the river.

I think people are wanting soil tests to happen on the other side of the railroad tracks, not just in Festhaus Field / down by the Rhine.

It's gonna be a waterslide y'all /s

This guy gets it.

 

[GrandpaD]

This is where the Project Madrid soil tests come into play, no? They were expressly all the way out to the river.

I missed those...I saw your impact area map but didn't see there'd been soil testing. My bad. And I agree with @b.mac.

I still go back to wondering (if it's a giga) if we're going to see a curved drop of some sort from the lift hill. As @BGWfan said, it would be cool to see a river drop but I fail to see if there's enough room to do that.

(Crazy old man idea) With that area by the picnic area testing - Might we see 2 additions? A Red Force running parallel to Verbolten building and some sort of Blitz Coaster in the remaining area.(going for KD's jugular)

 

[Zachary]

If this is a coaster, the soil testing near Drachen Fire's station screams to me that they will be reusing DF's buildings for whatever they're building.

 

[warfelg]

If this is a coaster, the soil testing near Drachen Fire's station screams to me that they will be reusing DF's buildings for whatever they're building.

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.

 

[madmax]

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.

I don’t think it’s that crazy. DarKastle would make a cool station/queue.