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/

 

[BenWilkerson]

After seeing the videos from Maxx force at sf... I'm really hoping that we get an S&S air launch. A 355 foot air launch could be super special..

While that would be cool...after MMXX I don’t think the park would need another launch coaster. Theoretically if it was then 4 of the last five coasters added(including MMXX and Project 2021) would have been launch coasters. Just doesn’t make sense from the parks perspective.

 

[Jahrules]

Sure; but at the same time it's a completely different experience than our other launch coasters. I don't think the propulsion method is nearly as important as uniqueness of ride experience. Just my two cents.

People have been speculating about a package deal with intamin... Why not a package deal with S&S?

We know that "project Madrid" got canned. Maybe it's because S&S couldn't complete Madrid on their timeline or something.

 

[GrandpaD]

I'm not impressed with Maxx Force and similar (TTD, etc.). It's one of those "big build-up of anticipation and it's over before you know it" gimmicks.

 

[Jahrules]

The tech could scale. Maxx force is what it is due to the need for a small footprint. Presumably, scaled to 355 ft without space limitations, we'd see a much longer ride with more elements.

 

[b.mac]

I'm not impressed with Maxx Force and similar (TTD, etc.). It's one of those "big build-up of anticipation and it's over before you know it" gimmicks.

At least Maxx Force does something besides go up and down. It's kinda like S&S's simulacra of Storm Runner.

 

[Jonesta6]

The tech could scale. Maxx force is what it is due to the need for a small footprint. Presumably, scaled to 355 ft without space limitations, we'd see a much longer ride with more elements.

But there are space limitations due to the land preservation issues, RPA buffer, and the boneyard assuming it doesn't get moved.

You're going to need a lot of land available to bleed off speed from that high of a drop unless you do a TTD style ride with a long brake run

 

[cb0355]

Hello fellow BGW fanatics! It's been a while since I have posted and the recent activity concerning MMXX and this secretive 2021 project..I just had to put in my two cents and theories. See what you guys/gals think-

So, project Madrid was originally a large scale expansion / new Hamlet that would take up both sides of the Rhine River (Festhaus Park and Festa Field) with a bridge connecting the two..and a Giga that crossed the river. Correct me if I am wrong, but there was a site plan at some point that showed footers crossing the river? I could imagine the coaster starting on the Festhaus Park side and pretty much dominating that area while extending across the river and back. It could also be possible that having such a large area that dominated both sides of the river..two star attractions would be the feature of this hamlet..ie-giga coaster and a uber tall swing ride ala Windseeker. If this is a possible Intamin package...do they manufacture such ride? So...that is one theory..and perhaps due to having factors occur that made the plan unfeasible..they went another route

So, maybe...we are getting MMXX as an extension of Festa Italia (which I am kinda excite about, I just pray we get better a better theme and aesthetic look than INVADR), which is in need of a update..the area looks dated. After seeing the color scheme for MMXX( can we please get a damn name already! lol) I felt it would fit in better with San Marco..however, with Roman Rapids being it's neighbor..I see why. So...we know what Project 2020 is...but this 2021..hmmmm??

For Festhaus Park, I am not seeing a giga...I could be wrong and if so, feel free to rub my face in it. I am just thinking in terms of expansion, improving what they already have and allowing room for the future developments. I know some have commented about the "proposed" heightest point location and the long walk. Is it possible to have a pathway between Verbolten and Der Autobahn? I know there is some drop in elevation...but perhaps a ramp/stairs? If that is possible...maybe we could see an extension of the Black Forest with a tall as hell swing ride that offered a more thrilling experience...perhaps the rider makes a complete 360 rotation as the ride turns during ascension and descending. Could you imagine that? It would be pretty intense to be 300+ feet in the air while staring straight down parallel with the ground. The little swing ride that they recently took out could be moved nearby and rethemed for the tots to ride while the more adventurous in the family take on "Drachen's Spire", "Drachen Flug". "Die Flucht:, etc. With that said, with two attractions taking up some space..along with concessions, pathways, bathrooms..that would allow room for a mid size coaster to take up the area behind Verbolten's effects building and have a pathway leading around to the picnic area. I would love to see another thrilling mid size coaster..perhaps an homage to Big Bad Wolf..maybe "Wolfbane"?

I don't know I am just having fun thinking of ideas and could be way off base..however, it just seems more feasible and digestible to me for them to take a route that gives them more bang for their buck with Festhaus Park having more than 1 ride occupying that area like a uber coaster....or heck,what if they decide to surprise us all and actually make a new hamlet in Festhaus Park, call it "Barcelona" or "Pamplona" with some tower attraction and a mid size roller coaster called "El Matador".

BTW- even though we have "Finnegan's Flyer" , would a large scale pendulum ride be possible? Think "Delirium" just super tall?

 

[Jahrules]

So, project Madrid was originally a large scale expansion / new Hamlet that would take up both sides of the Rhine River (Festhaus Park and Festa Field) with a bridge connecting the two..and a Giga that crossed the river. Correct me if I am wrong, but there was a site plan at some point that showed footers crossing the river?

All of the above was pure speculation. Nothing was ever confirmed about the original scope of project Madrid. Certainly nothing indicated an expansion reaching across the Rhine.

 

[cb0355]

True, hench, why I said "my two cents and theories"...I am just taking a guess and trying to think of potential reasons it got cancelled.

 

[b.mac]

Madrid was not originally intended to be a hamlet to my knowledge, it was mostly a new coaster that would cross the Rhine in some way.

For the rumored size of the ride it was likely easier, and smarter, of BGW to modify the plans so that it could be two separate rides with less investment each instead of one attraction taking up two spots for potential expansion.

 

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

I have it on good authority that 2021 has been bought and paid for...

I know it's a small ammount of info, but I can say that it is happening. Note that delays could happen, but the next ride should be expected in FP.

 

[madmax]

I have it on good authority that 2021 has been bought and paid for...

I know it's a small ammount of info, but I can say that it is happening. Note that delays could happen, but the next ride should be expected in FP.

Was it the authority of Dippin Dots?

 

[b.mac]

Parks have put the down payment on projects only to cancel them for something else prior to delivery.

Great Adventure, Kings Dominion, Cedar Point, etc. Happens more often than you think.
_

Not denying that it's not happening, whatever the hell it may be. But usually the down payment gets put the year prior to opening, and construction doesn't start much later since everything has been "finalized."

 

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

Parks have put the down payment on projects only to cancel them for something else prior to delivery.

Great Adventure, Kings Dominion, Cedar Point, etc. Happens more often than you think.
_

Not denying that it's not happening, whatever the hell it may be. But usually the down payment gets put the year prior to opening, and construction doesn't start much later since everything has been "finalized."

this is a good point. The polar coaster for orlando is partially built already and they haven't broken ground in years. That said, FP is pretty much a lock for 2021/2022

 

[cb0355]

Polercoaster could be a interesting theory...I believe that they are designed by Intamin..who is doing MMXX and S&S who just gave us Finnegan's Flyer....the imprint that a ride that size would take up is pretty big I would imagine.Perhaps, we are getting something along those lines??

 

[Ziva]

Since polercoasters aren't actually a proven concept yet (rather infamously so), it would be a huge mistake for a park to pay for one right now. The Orlando one is really different since it's #1 goal is to build attention-grabbing attractions made for one-time rides. They can wait a few years for that and keep building up hype, and it's fine if it sucks as long as tourists are willing to try it once. But for a park? What a nightmare.

 

[Drachenwolf]

I have it on good authority that 2021 has been bought and paid for...

I know it's a small ammount of info, but I can say that it is happening. Note that delays could happen, but the next ride should be expected in FP.

this is a good point. The polar coaster for orlando is partially built already and they haven't broken ground in years. That said, FP is pretty much a lock for 2021/2022

So how much did the Starflyer cost? ?

(A Polercoaster would seem to be much wider than 'about 10 ft.')

 

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

So how much did the Starflyer cost? ?

(A Polercoaster would seem to be much wider than 'about 10 ft.')

I only mentioned skyplex because of the apparent purchase or possible purchase while the ride has not yet even broken ground. I should be clear that I have no information indicating that this is a polercoaster, in fact I would say the opposite.

 

[thopping]

I have it on good authority that 2021 has been bought and paid for...

While at the Dippin' Dots stand, did the deer say anything about the relationship of the purchase to MMXX? My (and others') pure speculation--but suspecting these attractions are two Intamins as part of a package deal, in which case, makes [sense] some funding for 2021 may have already occurred...

[edit]

 

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

While at the Dippin' Dots stand, did the deer say anything about the relationship of the purchase to MMXX? My (and others') pure speculation--but suspecting these attractions are two Intamins as part of a package deal, in which case, makes some funding for 2021 may have already occurred...

Based on the timeline I would say no, but it could have been a soft agreement