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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Previous Thread:​

 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Zachary said:
Just to toss another idea out there about that long straight away: I sorta believe it's a launch. Densely-packed footers, it's location directly adjacent to the highest point area, and that mysterious building dropped in the middle of the run all point me in that direction.
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That's a possibility but...

If it was a launch would be in the ravine. I have an idea for what it is... Post it in a moment.
 
Zachary said:
Just to toss another idea out there about that long straight away: I sorta believe it's a launch. Densely-packed footers, it's location directly adjacent to the highest point area, and that mysterious building dropped in the middle of the run all point me in that direction.
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A good hypothesis. The track wouldn't follow the contours, rather the supporting struts contract-expand-contract with the topography.
 
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BG can troll us all they want, however, plans have been files with JCC on 10-2-2019 under plan number: CBPA-19-0117 with the name "Germany Expansion"

The link is here:
https://comdev.jamescitycountyva.go...e/#/plan/08a79f45-966a-47b8-adf6-e89f7fc74032

There are some documents online. I would expect more may show up within the next 30 days, however since drawings have been submitted, they are now part of the public record and subjected to Freedom of Information Act and anyone can go down to the Courthouse and get a copy of the documents and drawings.

Nice work @Zachary . Once again you are on top of everything.
 
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Re: valley launch


I think that makes a decent amount of sense (launch from station to turn/overbank to valley launch to top hat) besides seeming like it would not face the Rhine on the top which would be a decent bummer.
 
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Food for thought, picking up on Zachary's idea. Long straight launch up to top hat sending riders down and underneath Verbolten's bridge, swooping back up to Festhaus plateau. Curved in such a way to avoid the RPA zone, if that's possible.

1570194140721.png
 
JohnD said:
Food for thought, picking up on Zachary's idea. Long straight launch up to top hat sending riders down and underneath Verbolten's bridge, swooping back up to Festhaus plateau. Curved in such a way to avoid the RPA zone, if that's possible.

View attachment 18251
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I can't imagine they would cross over with Verbolten.. Not to mention, the RPA buffer extends further than what is shaded in the picture. The RPA is 100' from the edge of the water in all areas, so any other impacts to the RPA would have been shown. For reference, the green area in the image below is the RPA buffer from James City County's online GIS mapper. You can also mentally extend those shaded orange and brown areas in either direction along the bold black lines shown on the plan. They only shaded the areas that would be directly impacted by the construction of this attraction (i.e. clearing, earthwork, etc.)

RPA Buffer.PNG
 
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Just some food for thought:
That huge impervious surface likely isn’t one big footer, rather it’s a drainage spot that’s likely flat(ish) with a wall (tall side) to prevent any type of mudslide event from exposing footers.
 
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So on the JCC permit site the application and an ES&C plan is also attached. Reading through the application you can pick out a few tidbits of info. It seems like they intend to keep Lumberhack's pathways and utilize them for maintenance access to an "accessory building". They reference the maze several times which leads me to believe the hope is to keep it intact and usable after the construction. Oh and in case anyone was wondering there should be no cause for concern if the park wants to ever expand greatly as the Rhine is a 377 ft-ac BMP that is currently only being utilized to a small fraction of it's relative size.
 
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warfelg said:
Just some food for thought:
That huge impervious surface likely isn’t one big footer, rather it’s a drainage spot that’s likely flat(ish) with a wall (tall side) to prevent any type of mudslide event from exposing footers.
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Some more food for thought:
When reading through the documents on the JCC website, on page 3 the application mentions "gravel under deck (3" of gravel over synthetic filter fabric under entire deck area)" . This leads me to believe the long green box is actually an aerial crossing of the ravine. Perhaps some sort of mid course braking station?
 
Celticdog said:
Some more food for thought:
When reading through the documents on the JCC website, on page 3 the application mentions "gravel under deck (3" of gravel over synthetic filter fabric under entire deck area)" . This leads me to believe the long green box is actually an aerial crossing of the ravine. Perhaps some sort of mid course braking station?
Click to expand...

Could be. But the planner side of me looks at the severity in the slope on that area and thinks about protection from the footers getting exposed. The park would need to do something there.
 
Worst case, it's just a modern version of Superman Escape from Krypton with some curves.

Capacity would suck, though.
 
I thought I'd make a close approximation of the RPA with only the "impervious" portion and the high point noted. (About as close as these ol eyes could get it anyway)

In regards to "launch track theory" - by Google measure of the RPA is approximately 350ft (I could be off a bit). FYI, Red Force launch track is 495ft.

FPRPAOverlay.jpg
 
Adam said:
I can't imagine they would cross over with Verbolten.. Not to mention, the RPA buffer extends further than what is shaded in the picture. The RPA is 100' from the edge of the water in all areas, so any other impacts to the RPA would have been shown. For reference, the green area in the image below is the RPA buffer from James City County's online GIS mapper. You can also mentally extend those shaded orange and brown areas in either direction along the bold black lines shown on the plan. They only shaded the areas that would be directly impacted by the construction of this attraction (i.e. clearing, earthwork, etc.)

View attachment 18252
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Thank you, Adam, for this RPA rendition. If another RPA isn’t filed for 2021, this rendition essentially shows where the track can/might go.
 
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KDcoasterMAN said:
View attachment 18250

Blue = launch one
Purple = launch two
Orange = brakes

Thoughts?
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JohnD said:
Food for thought, picking up on Zachary's idea. Long straight launch up to top hat sending riders down and underneath Verbolten's bridge, swooping back up to Festhaus plateau. Curved in such a way to avoid the RPA zone, if that's possible.

View attachment 18251
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I like the general idea. They don't however quite fit what BGW told JCC at the BOS meeting about the highest point being thin and like a knife at the highest point. Both of these have the high point being at an angle which would make it much wider when viewed from KM.
 
GrandpaD said:
I thought I'd make a close approximation of the RPA with only the "impervious" portion and the high point noted. (About as close as these ol eyes could get it anyway)

In regards to "launch track theory" - by Google measure of the RPA is approximately 350ft (I could be off a bit). FYI, Red Force launch track is 495ft.

View attachment 18253
Click to expand...

Yep, totally agreed that it's not long enough to stand alone. IF that section is a launch, I think it would have to be part of a multi-part launch setup.
 
Zachary said:
Yep, totally agreed that it's not long enough to stand alone. IF that section is a launch, I think it would have to be part of a multi-part launch setup.
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Or it could be a launch in the middle of a drop..

Sorta like the plans for the Saudi coaster..
 
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