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]

Realistically how much of that final height would be used for the FAA lighting pole?

Depends. Is the light going to be minimum height off the track (12’ IIRC) or vanity height (think Empire State Building spire)?

 

[BGWnut]

If BGW doesn’t use the full height on this height waiver I think they are going to have future issues.

I agree. Especially after cancelling Madrid and not making it clear that they weren't using the full height anymore. I think as long as they are within 20 feet the City won't be that upset with them. If it's something like Pantheon from Madrid where they went from 315 to under 200 feet then the park will have a hard time with their next waiver.

 

[warfelg]

I agree. Especially after cancelling Madrid and not making it clear that they weren't using the full height anymore. I think as long as they are within 20 feet the City won't be that upset with them. If it's something like Pantheon from Madrid where they went from 315 to under 200 feet then the park will have a hard time with their next waiver.

I think the main issue is what KM residents brought up. If BGW put the board through having to deal with that to just not use it, I think that KM residents have a leg to stand on in the future with height waivers. If BGW does use most of the height, and this is a success, and it's not that disruptive, the park and the board have a legit reason to tell any future KM complaints to shove it.

 

[JohnD]

Launch up to a 200ft top hat, drop into a launch valley and up to a 340ft top hat.

An elevated launch track would presumably require a different type of under-support than plain track?

 

[GrandpaD]

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.

Could be. But the distance from the last "footer" and high point location is pretty short, about 100ft. Granted, it could already be running very fast at this point. Red Force measures 185ft from the time it starts the incline to vertical up the top hat.

 

[FoozMuz]

The launches do not need to be flat stretches of track, obviously. From what I can tell they can be placed on any vertically pivoting piece, like pantheon launches will be.

 

[GrandpaD]

I'm not sure where you're saying the launches are on Pantheon. From what I've seen the first is that flat track before the San Marco helix. The remainder is the long flat straightaway between the spike and the top hat. Where's the vertical pivot you're speaking?

 

[FoozMuz]

Between the spike and tophat, after the switch track, should be a dip and airtime hill with lsms on them, such as the asterix animation or copperhead strike. You can see the profile of the dip and entry into the airtime hill in the footers now.

Project 2022: Pantheon

DoEs aNyOnE hAVe a cRaNe dEgReE?! XD

parkfans.net

 

[GrandpaD]

I get it... But I was referring to going virtually flat to vertical and not a subtle airhill. Look at Red Force and the launch stators. They end before the track starts climbing. If the green depicted is footers, I don't see there's (as I said before) room to climb to vertical 300+ft. Unless you think there's stators on the 45°-90° track.

 

[PhantomJB93]

Unless you think there's stators on the 45°-90° track.

I wouldn’t rule this out. It’s been done before (Wicked at Lagoon), it’s clearly a part of the Falcon’s Fury concept or whatever, and it’s one of the only ways I can envision BGW’s coaster working without a straight, flat launch directly into a top hat.

 

[Zimmy]

it is remarkable how much info we all seem to "know" about Project Madrid and what agreements BGW has with Intimin!

 

[JohnD]

Adam's RPA rendition offers a nice canvas for the considerations (workable space w/o filing for additional RPA variance.

 

[b.mac]

Make that a simple left turn out of the station and you got a figure 8 launcher like what I think it will be. Also permits for that uphill turn into the brakes so the ride can bleed off the 100+ mph potential speed.

 

[GrandpaD]

I wouldn’t rule this out. It’s been done before (Wicked at Lagoon), it’s clearly a part of the Falcon’s Fury concept or whatever, and it’s one of the only ways I can envision BGW’s coaster working without a straight, flat launch directly into a top hat.

Considering Falcon's Fury is, at this point, a pipe dream (no legitimate site has named a coaster company associated with it) I'll wait to see. I'm still having doubts the RPA is all footer anyway.

 

[BGWnut]

Considering Falcon's Fury is, at this point, a pipe dream (no legitimate site has named a coaster company associated with it) I'll wait to see. I'm still having doubts the RPA is all footer anyway.

Legitimate sites have reported on the project to build the Six Flags park and this coaster is discussed. They never announced a manufacturer or anything beyond the teaser video and the details and that it would be the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the world.

I'm not saying that it will never be built but everything we know if this ride stem from the official announcement of the park. I would not classify it as a pipe dream. Whether the park modifies it and the plans change who knows. That is what happened with Madrid with the exception that the park never announced the project. But you seem to be continually asserting that the ride was just cooked up by some random people and they wrote about it on their website to get clicks and that it isn't happening. I will concede that the most recent article that was shared was just a site talking about it to try to get some clicks. But the initial reporting is from legitimate sites.

 

[JohnD]

Make that a simple left turn out of the station and you got a figure 8 launcher like what I think it will be. Also permits for that uphill turn into the brakes so the ride can bleed off the 100+ mph potential speed.

Agree - out of the station and immediately into the launch hill has been discussed before and rendered. Personally, I wouldn't mind some riding prior to building up to the suspense of entering the top-hap ascent and drop. Multiple options for layout.

 

[JohnD]

For the group's use in developing concepts... a 'blank canvas' based on Adam's RPA rendition and information revealed to date. Enjoy!

 

[GrandpaD]

No @BGWnut I'm not asserting anything of the sort. Yes, there's a tie with Six Flags for that park. And, yes, they discussed the coaster because it was part of the press package. However, until I see a legitimate site point to a specific manufacturer, it's a pipe dream.

 

[thopping]

While you're getting all full of yourself BGW, know there are those of us that would trade Pantheon and this one-trick lamecoaster for a single awesome, more traditional lift hill Intamin B&M coaster that crossed the river- and back- perhaps eclipsing 300' along the way... (with a "Drachen" theme & a DF station fly-through)

There. Fixed it. ?

....

In all seriousness/fairness, I get the direction & I'm not relitigating that. I just would really be disappointed in a one trick pony, especially since I'm not overly enthused with Pantheon. Fortunately, recent data seems inconsistent with a one trick pony concept...

 

[Drachenwolf]

I wouldn’t rule this out. It’s been done before (Wicked at Lagoon), it’s clearly a part of the Falcon’s Fury concept or whatever, and it’s one of the only ways I can envision BGW’s coaster working without a straight, flat launch directly into a top hat.

Maverick (Intamin/Cedar Point)