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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    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...
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  • Most Recent Status Update:
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    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...
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NoLimits Model of the Layout:​

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From @halfabee's comments, I do agree whatever is 2021, going that high will need support. If it's a "standard" lift hill, then an Intimidator-ish support could squeeze in. But, I wonder about a Red Force style top hat. All those one-tricks top hats have a pretty big foot prints. And, I think supports straddling VB would be some serious ugliness.

In regards to power. We can assume until the next century but they must think/know they have enough juice to run them. (Unless they've resorted to the same tact as Disney did with their Toy Story monorail train. ?)

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Jahrules said:
So basically they're building a large trebuchet to fling crap at Kingsmill?
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DangerRaide said:
Does anyone think the drop will come from the park's side, dropping toward the Rhine, resulting in another lake drop? Three in the same area is a lot, but it could turn that 355 ft height into possibly a 400 ft drop...?
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Based on topo maps from USGS, the Rhine is at 28' above sea level. With the structure being measured at 80' above sea level, that means that the max drop would be 355+80-28 which is 407'. That would be if it went down to the water's surface, which would be impossible, since the ride would have to be at least a few feet above the water. LNM gets the closest to the water and it's rails are about 3' or so, which would mean that it could be 400' and change, but will it? I guess anything is possible at this point. Keeping an eye out for the environmental impact reports will tell us if they are even getting close to the Rhine.
 
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For the food-for-thought bucket, and variant on other concepts already posted. Initial top hat drop (T1) approached from East, dropping toward 2nd top hat (T2), dropping toward the inlet. Plenty of room for additional elements near station departure and return.
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DangerRaide said:
Does anyone think the drop will come from the park's side, dropping toward the Rhine, resulting in another lake drop? Three in the same area is a lot, but it could turn that 355 ft height into possibly a 400 ft drop...?
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It is certainly possible that a drop could be higher than the the top of the hill. It is impossible to say at this point though
 
Going back to my multi-launch idea, I modified the previous version to get a 90 degree top hat at the highest point location. This isn't color-coded and it's all sorta rough and unpolished, but the purportions of the elements should be just about right. Hopefully it's all fairly self-explanatory.

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Earth/Maps can be off with measurements... it isn't always so bad. Sometimes it's quite good!

The variability is what kills me, although I don't blame Google for it.
 
Google maps should only be used for a rough estimate of a distance. It is not 100% precise and solid be taken with a grain of salt. I pointed it out in my post as well. Like @halfabee said it can be depending on what you are measuring. I think for what we are using it for it is more than sufficient.
 
I understand that. Thanks for verifying what was already verified.

My thinking is, if a lift hill were about the same angle of assent as Intimidator then what @Zachary depicted as his "second launch" could be a standard 305-type lift hill. You could follow his river drop and then ”whatever" (not at a pic to draw right now).
 
halfabee said:
Earth/Maps can be off with measurements... it isn't always so bad. Sometimes it's quite good!

The variability is what kills me, although I don't blame Google for it.
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Well simply put, satellites don't shoot every photo from directly overhead.

Or, more accurately, when the satellite shoots photos, the photos encompass a wide area. Things directly under the satellite will be distance accurate, while things shot at an angle get progressively worse. This effect is worsened by things with height to them.
 
I gave it a shot (as @Gavin requested) to do a traditional lift hill thingy. I'm an amateur, I know//

Based on my Google measurements, the hill will be have slightly less of an incline than Intimidator and get up to about 340ft.
Taking from @Zachary dive down to the river and then up with a banked turn (I can't draw curves)
Whether it's conceivable or not, ground hug alongside the train tracks (it'd be cool if a train was going by) to up a high banked curve by the station.
Drop then up to a brake...then dive to the river again...turn...air hills...turn...
Brake run alongside the VB building.
Paths are under the tracks.

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One comment: if this coaster is anything like a prototype for the Saudi megacoaster, the lift hill itself need not be 340+ ft. We could have a shorter lift (250-300?) and boost-assist up to a taller 2nd hill (340-355ish)

I'd like to see a layout that incorporates something like that.
 
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