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:
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  • Most Recent Status Update:
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    Drachen Spire Height Waiver Extension Details – BGWFans

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BGWnut said:
As people have pointed out previously you clearly haven't been paying attention to anyone else's posts. There are a lot of financial reasons for BGW to build a Giga that you seem to be ignoring when you make your statement. The first being the simple fact that SEAS is spending $150 million every year on rides, shows and events. Another point along those lines of those lines is that SEAS is also in the let's try to attract as many people as possible to the parks. So while you might not think that BGW is in need of a major investment. SEAS has decided that all of their parks need substantial investments every year.

Also I think that you are overestimating how much it costs to maintain a Giga compared to a regular coaster. A ride like MMXX will likely costs the park more money to run an maintain because of launches than a Giga.

How it redefines the park I'm not entirely sure what you mean. A Giga didn't redefine Cedar Point or any of the Cedar Fair parks that have one. They have always been known for building great coasters. BGW has been known for building world class attractions that push the envelope when they opened. Alpengeist still is the world's tallest full circuit inverted coaster. Griffon was the tallest, longest and fastest Dive coaster when it was built. Apollo's Chariot was the first Hyper coaster that B&M ever built and one of the first over 200 feet ever period. MMXX will be one of the only coasters in the world with quick switch track and will be a very unique coaster. So please tell me how building a Giga wouldn't redefine BGW? Because to me it seems it's a logical coaster for them to build given their history of building coasters.

Edit: And thanks to Zimmy for pointing out Nessie. Nessie was the tallest and fastest roller in the entire world. Not just of specific style like Alpen and Griffon were. She was the tallest roller coaster that had been built at that time. Also Nessie was the first coaster with interlocking loops and is currently the only one remaining. And while we are talking about Nessie I remembered some other examples. BBW was the second suspended coaster ever built. Also Verbolten was the first coaster to have a free all drop in a coaster. I'll forgive you forgetting about that I've never Universal is trying to tell everyone that Hagrids is the first.
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Verbolten was the 1st in america, not world with the drop track
 
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So, we got an interesting nugget of information from Kevin at Cutback Media Day this morning.

He told us that there will continue to be a heavier focus on adding “conventional” attractions than hamlets and events. He also said that they planned to keep up the pace of adding at least one attraction per market per year, and that they might add as many as one attraction per park per year.
 
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I'm not sure I would describe MMXX as conventional though?

I guess you can interpret "conventional" in a few different ways..
 
I think that makes sense, but I'd still like to see a hamlet expansion eventually. Maybe that all depends on how much growth we see.
 
Jahrules said:
I'm not sure I would describe MMXX as conventional though?

I guess you can interpret "conventional" in a few different ways..
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In the context of the conversation, “conventional” very probably meant “rides.” I had explicitly asked him about events and hamlets, and he said that he was not referring to either of those.
 
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Jahrules said:
I'm not sure I would describe MMXX as conventional though?

I guess you can interpret "conventional" in a few different ways..
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I take conventional as in roller coasters and other rides. Not something along the lines of forbidden frontier sadly.
 
jonfin826 said:
I really hope they at least do an Oktoberfest expansion. Maybe I'm just turning into a crotchety old man but it seems like the park gets VERY crowded these days.
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tursiops said:
More hamlets means higher attendance cap, which means still crowded busy days! That's their ideal at least.
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New rides and coasters also do both of these as they pull people off the paths and into queues.
 
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In complete fairness, I believe the residents that were complaining are much further down Wareham's pond road than where you were.

15799
 
Yes, there are more houses much closer than the golf course but they number probably no more than 20. Anybody know if the speakers at the hearing lived on Warehams road or other areas of Kingsmill?
 
mountaineers said:
Yes, there are more houses much closer than the golf course but they number probably no more than 20. Anybody know if the speakers at the hearing lived on Warehams road or other areas of Kingsmill?
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They lived in the area where I was today. (about 1500 feet away)
 
The most vocal of the speakers, Andrew, specifically said he lives on Wareham's and listed the exact number of feet to Busch gardens from his backyard.
 
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@Jahrules A basic idea of here of my location, I'm the same distance from InvadR/Train as those houses would be from the peak of the attraction explained at the meeting. Yes the vantage point would be a little different, but what I was doing was giving some perspective.
 
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Just a quick look on Google maps shows no houses on Warehams pond road? (I could be wrong.) There are lots of houses on Warehams POINT road, but it is much further from BGW. There are houses next to Warehams pond road but not on it.
 
mountaineers said:
Just a quick look on Google maps shows no houses on Warehams pond road? (I could be wrong.) There are lots of houses on Warehams POINT road, but it is much further from BGW. There are houses next to Warehams pond road but not on it.
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Nah there are some on it. I've stayed in one back there.
 
Zimmy said:
OH THE HUMANITY! How can they expect people to putt let alone LIVE with those horrid distractions!
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It was kinda funny. So while I was sitting there I was one of the few and it’s was the group with Jessica Korda and Aryia Jutanugarn. Both of their sisters were there (Nelly Korda and Moria Jutanugarn). When Griffin let go right after Jessica putted, she came over to Nelly and said “Damn I rather be doing that.” Nelly responded that she was thinking of going. I tried to offer up my pass if they went with me.

Anyways. You can barely hear it and even the women were commenting on how it made the event fun knowing the park was right there.
 
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