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/

 

[warfelg]

Ok, so in my few days out of town, I had quite a bit of time for research and thinking. Maybe not the best thing in the world but it happened. So here's my rambling post on a bunch of things related to Project 2021:

~ I dug into the financials. Over a 3 year span all the CF parks that added a Giga-coaster have seen a financial up tick, and on an open operating time saw in increase of visitors. Giga's do add to a parks portfolio but it's not as immediate as you think.

~ Like I mentioned before; when it comes to "will a giga fit?" it all comes down to how are the turns. The turn radius of the first turn is very tight because of the height, while MF is not as tight, and I-305 is the widest. I'll work on giving an image to show the variance of the birth on them. Scale up Skyrush to giga-scale and you could have a great blend hybrid.

~ KCSA is well within their rights to make their voice heard as part of the project. I am unhappy in the manner that some of their members chose to do so. To me it very much came off as "we can tell you what to do" and 'not in my back yard'. I think that they could have gone through a much more diplomatic way of expressing their displeasure.

~ I kinda like the location, but like MMXX I'm worried about dead-ending. They need to take a few years off from major additions to fill out these newly (re)-used areas. Some flats, stands, theme elements, bridge connecting them. If I could get a 'dream' thing here, I would like to see a second sky ride to transport from Festhaus Field to Festa Italia. Using transport, I could walk in, ride Nessie, train from Scotland to Italy, rise Tempesto and Apollo, Skyride to Project 2021, hoof it to Bolt, current sky ride to England and back to France, then go Griff, hoof it to Alpie, back to Invadr, and ride the train back to Tweedside. That's very little walking to hit up all the coasters.

 

[PhantomJB93]

If BGW is creative (and I know there is skepticism on that right now as far as themeing goes) there is no reason a hamlet can't eventually be built in FP through and around a giga. It's not like other huge coasters in the park completely block off and dead end everything in their footprints.

 

[Lcucu3]

Have your say: Is BGW’s festhaus park attraction a Giga?

Voice your opinion on the poll: Is BGW’s festhaus park attraction a Giga?

linkto.run

Just a poll about what you all think project 2021 is

 

[GrandpaD]

I really think they'll have to be creative so as to not have another Drachen Fire dead end. That's one of my concerns about an "all eggs in one basket" giga. Sure, you can talk about a bridge, but based on the speculated layout of MMXX, it would be a very long walk. New skyway? Maybe but doubtful in the short term. And we've already addressed a train station, but even if it was feasible, it would be just one way anyway. I guess that's why I'd hope to see at least a couple of attractions back there.

 

[tursiops]

I really like the idea of another loop. Personally

 

[Zachary]

Last weekend I was able to confirm the location of three of the four new soil testing areas. Last week's post has been updated with a new map showing the locations of all three. Direct link to the update.

PS: Click on the top-right or bottom-left points if you want to see photos of the stakes. The top-left point doesn't have a photo because it's only visible from Verbolten.

 

[Logang]

I can very much see the 4th testing spot being back towards the boneyard.

 

[Conan233]

I know the jury is definitely still out on whether BGW would get two significant attractions within two years but it really does make a fair amount of sense. After looking through SEAS annual report and 10-k, I found some pretty cool information. I'm going to bullet it below for ease of review.

Seaworld Portfolio = 12 Parks

5 Parks in Florida (Open Year Round),
2 Parks in California (Open Year Round)
2 Parks in Texas (Seasonal)
2 Parks in VA (Seasonal)
1 Park in PA (Seasonal)

2. Seaworld Revenue = $1.372B - In the financials, SEAS states that 57%, 17%, and 13% of total revenues are generated in Florida, California, and Virginia, respectively.

Total Revenue SEAS	1,372,290,000.00
State	Percent	Amount
Florida	57%​	782,205,300.00
California	17%​	233,289,300.00
Virginia	13%​	178,397,700.00
Other (TX & PA)	13%​	178,397,700.00

If I were SEAS, I'd be doing everything in my power to generate more from VA. It's crazy how much business they do in VA especially considering how both parks are seasonal. One additional stat that SEAS will forever love is the fact that Hampton Roads is so transient...at any given time, the Hampton Roads area has nearly 85k active duty troops + families. Total DoD + active = 150k. Always new customers....Yes, San Diego has some military presence, but nothing like Hampton Roads.

VA is a money maker and on the surface, in a less saturated market than most of their parks...They should definitely give us two good rides in two years. If so, I can promise them I'll keep buying! hahaha

 

[basseyfish]

I mean look what they fit griffon into..
Also what if this is just a way taller raptor or something with shops and stuff back there

 

[Lcucu3]

RMC has said before that raptor is up to 200, Trex is designed for gigas and up. So if this is an RMC, we’re likely looking at the first Trex coaster. Seems unlikely though

 

[Jahrules]

But the first RMC TREX would surely make for a large amount of attention

 

[Lcucu3]

We don’t even know if this is a giga in the first place. Chances are a Giga isn’t going to happen, especially after Madrid was scrapped and they open MMXX. An Intamin quad-launch and a giga in back to back years would be almost unheard of in terms of rapid expansion

 

[Jahrules]

We don’t even know if this is a giga in the first place. Chances are a Giga isn’t going to happen, especially after Madrid was scrapped and they open MMXX. An Intamin quad-launch and a giga in back to back years would be almost unheard of in terms of rapid expansion

We're already in uncharted territory.. so nothing is impossible.

 

[mountaineers]

Heck, If 2021 is a giga then I'm betting on a non-ride attraction for 2022. Say, something along the lines of a full size Neuschwanstein castle above the Rhine river docks.

 

[Logang]

Are we really about to go into 2022 now...? ?

 

[tursiops]

I know people love throwing out ride manufacturers and ride styles as huge draws, but I'm really not sure that resonates with the average park goer. I am pretty sure outside the enthusiast circle things like Trex mean nothing. Most people think something looks fun or not. That's not to say I don't hope we get something awesome and unique, I'm just not convinced the average person knows much about specifics.

 

[Icer]

It's worth noting that though yes, project Madrid was "scrapped", they followed up scrapping a possible 315 foot addition involving festa field by a possible 355 foot addition in festhaus park.

I see the back to back attempts at planning high that the park is really wanting to go vertical here, and we can expect something big soon. I wouldn't think much of it if Madrid just died peacefully, but this successor can't be just a coincidence.

 

[Lcucu3]

Don’t get me wrong - I very much so hope this is a Giga. Just want to keep expectations in check

 

[BGWnut]

To piggyback on Ice's point the fact that after scrapping Madrid makes it seems like the park is really interested in getting a coaster or something really tall.yes they cancelled Madrid and replaced that ride with MMXX and rather quickly filed for this height waiver.

I see 2 likely scenarios.

1. The park was planning on a Giga in Festa Field that crossed the Rhine and went to Festhaus but the manufacturer they wanted couldn't deliver what they wanted in 2020 so they went a different direction with Festa Field and shifted their Giga plans to a later project.
2. The park was planning a Giga in Festa field that crossed the Rhine that they cancelled for MMXX after corporate decided to commit $150 million per year to new attractions, rides and shows. The park decided hey we can get two new coasters in quickly let's do something smaller in 2020 and go all out 2021.

I think 2 is the more likely scenario personally. I know that MMXX is a big deal but if this ride reaches that 355 ft height then this will be a truly insane ride.

 

[Jahrules]

I know people love throwing out ride manufacturers and ride styles as huge draws, but I'm really not sure that resonates with the average park goer. I am pretty sure outside the enthusiast circle things like Trex mean nothing. Most people think something looks fun or not. That's not to say I don't hope we get something awesome and unique, I'm just not convinced the average person knows much about specifics.

While I agree that the average public doesn't care it's RMC, I was more thinking along the lines that the Trex concept looks so different than anything else out there; that alone should attract a lot of attention.