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/

 

[Drachenwolf]

Hasn't anyone learned anything about height waivers, gigas, and the likelihood of BGW getting one?

Especially the year immediately after adding a new expensive roller coaster?

(I hope I'm wrong on this one, FWIW, buuut... yeah)

 

[GrandpaD]

Hasn't anyone learned anything about height waivers, gigas, and the likelihood of BGW getting one?

Especially the year immediately after adding a new expensive roller coaster?

(I hope I'm wrong on this one, FWIW, buuut... yeah)

Umm, have you read this thread?

 

[Drachenwolf]

Umm, have you read this thread?

Not entirely, no.

 

[Logang]

I think BGW was hesitant to work with Intamin because of their early track record of rides breaking down. B&M's usually never have as many problems, and they were already working with them after the failure that was Drachen Fire. They didn't want another repeat of that. Why change what isn't broken? Now that intamin is better, they are open to their ideas.

 

[BGWnut]

Hasn't anyone learned anything about height waivers, gigas, and the likelihood of BGW getting one?

Especially the year immediately after adding a new expensive roller coaster?

(I hope I'm wrong on this one, FWIW, buuut... yeah)

All of that has been discussed at length but it is certainly feasible that BGW will be building another huge coaster in in 2021.

Biggest one being that regardless of prior history with SEAS committing $150 Million to new rides, shows and events every year that it is certainly feasible for BGW to get coasters in back to back. Every major SEAS park(BGW, BGT, SWT, SWC and SWO) are all building coasters in 2020. That would make 3 straight years for SWC and back to back years for BGT. With the investment they are making it seems reasonable that at least one of the SEAS parks will build another coaster in 2021.

As far as what you mean about height waivers and the Gigas you will need to elaborate.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

If this giga comes then they move to put up Sesame Place in the following years good lord that is rapid growth for BGW.

 

[Thomas]

There needs to be somewhere for all the DC and NoVA crowd to go... SFA and KD aren't proving to be good candidates right now.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

The DC and NOVA crowd also has Hershey and SFGAdv in easy driving distance as well as Knoebels but I imagine most of them don't know what Knoebels is tragically.

 

[Thomas]

Williamsburg is worth investing in, IMO. It has the hotel infrastructure already in place. Plus, there is more to do nearby with the historic sites and VA Beach than Hershey.

 

[GrandpaD]

But Hershey has chocolate...and Williamsburg has...uh...pancakes.

 

[Zimmy]

and DONUTS! Don't forget the donuts. Cause some of them are really good!!!

 

[b.mac]

The DC and NOVA crowd also has Hershey and SFGAdv in easy driving distance as well as Knoebels but I imagine most of them don't know what Knoebels is tragically.

Hershey is about 120 miles from DC while GAdv is 180 miles. GAdv doesn't have much of a vacation getaway atmosphere as BGW does, which is why more Virginians opt to stay in-state instead of driving to NJ.

Also, no tolls for either of them. Meanwhile NJ can set you back anywhere from $8 to $28 depending on the route you take.

 

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

Hershey is about 120 miles from DC while GAdv is 180 miles. GAdv doesn't have much of a vacation getaway atmosphere as BGW does, which is why more Virginians opt to stay in-state instead of driving to NJ.

Also, no tolls for either of them. Meanwhile NJ can set you back anywhere from $8 to $28 depending on the route you take.

tolls are optional...

 

[Jahrules]

But the tickets that come with non-payment of tolls are not optional... Unless you like to spend time in prison..

 

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

But the tickets that come with non-payment of tolls are not optional... Unless you like to spend time in prison..

you ever try using that no-tolls option in your nav app?

I promise you that tolls are the last thing people consider when they are choosing which park to go to. If you care that much about them you'll spend the extra 30 mins and go around them.

Regardless I don't see how any of this is relevant to FP project as BGW isn't going to start pulling all those people south magically with a new coaster. Hershey KD and Kennywood are all working on big new rides, right there with BGW

 

[Jahrules]

Sure, but in most places that aren't the road to OBX, avoiding tolls add an unreasonable amount of time to the trip. Good on you though if you have the time to do that.

 

[Icer]

Hershey is about 120 miles from DC while GAdv is 180 miles. GAdv doesn't have much of a vacation getaway atmosphere as BGW does, which is why more Virginians opt to stay in-state instead of driving to NJ.

Also, no tolls for either of them. Meanwhile NJ can set you back anywhere from $8 to $28 depending on the route you take.

From the perspective of a DCer myself

Everyone goes to Hershey. Some people go to BGW/KD (usually a similar number of people who have been). Some people go to GAdv (less than BGW/KD). Nobody goes to SFA, despite it being the "closest".

 

[Applesauce]

you ever try using that no-tolls option in your nav app?

I promise you that tolls are the last thing people consider when they are choosing which park to go to. If you care that much about them you'll spend the extra 30 mins and go around them.

While it has no real relevance to the thread, I can tell you flat out that, tolls are a thing people take into consideration, and is not the last thing they consider. Maybe not everyone thinks about it, but there's many people who do. My family and I don't go north simply because of tolls, despite having family in the north. And it's one of the first things that rules parks like Hershey and Great Adventure out. (That and it being like a 6-7 hour drive.)

And a lot of people, despite relying on GPSs, aren't comfortable taking a side road or an out of the way course just to avoid tolls. GPSs lie all the time, getting on a main interstate makes that easier so you aren't out in the middle of nowhere wondering where the hell you are. So just because it's not something you personally consider, doesn't make it the majority.

 

[GrandpaD]

 

[b.mac]

From the perspective of a DCer myself

Everyone goes to Hershey. Some people go to BGW/KD (usually a similar number of people who have been). Some people go to GAdv (less than BGW/KD). Nobody goes to SFA, despite it being the "closest".

That was my exact experience living in DC from 2011-2014. Most who went to BGW spent 2-3 days there, KD was an all day trip, and no one brought up SFA.

Though when there was a Parkfans day there I met Gavin, Shane, and Thomas by taking the Silver/Blue Lines. I will never wish that experience on anyone, ever.

EDIT: Staying on topic though. If this coaster is going to be as big as people want it to be BGW better be doing Griffon 2007 levels of marketing for it.