Project 2021/Drachen Spire: Intamin Multi-Launch Shuttle Giga Coaster [Cancelled]

Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!

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:
    bgwfans.com

    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 bgwfans.com
  • Most Recent Status Update:
    bgwfans.com

    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 bgwfans.com

NoLimits Model of the Layout:​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

Additional Coverage (Newest to Oldest):​

Previous Thread:​

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Click to expand...
CoasterAuditor said:
I'm glad at least one of the major chains is shopping the whole market. Cedar Fair and Six Flags have become very predictable for the most part.
Click to expand...

In 2019 Cedar Fair built
B&M Dive
Mack Multi-Launch

In 2018 Cedar Fair built
2 RMC conversions
RMC single rail
Gerstlauer Infinity

In 2017 Cedar Fair Built
GCI

Predictable? They built coasters from 5 different manufacturers in the last 3 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mushroom
Well thank you for proving me wrong with that sample size of three years. Other than the RMCs, the infinity coaster and the Mack over the last couple of years, before that it would of shocked me if they built anything other than B&Ms or GCIs in the 5 or so years preceding 2018 which is where I’m drawing my “predictable” belief from. In 2020 they’re building a B&M. I’m happy they are exploring new options in Mack, RMC, and Gerstlauer.

They built 8 B&Ms from 2010 to 2020 with rumors of another B&M coming to Kings Dominion in 2021 and CGA is expected to possibly receive a hyper at some point so from 2010-2020:

8 B&Ms
2 GCIs
3 RMCs
1 Gerstlauer
1 Intamin
1 Mack

So with 1 in 2 coasters built being a B&M I would call that “reasonably predictable.” Cedar Fair likes “safe reliable crowd pleasing” coasters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: thopping, BGWnut and Zachary
Whoa. I'm not trying to call you out for being "wrong" about anything. I think we were just looking at 2 different sets of data. The way you were talking I thought you meant here recently (mainly since this is the 2021 forum) so I shouldn't have just assumed.

I picked 3 years for 2 reasons.

1. I felt you insinuated that CF was not shopping the whole market, and I thought that they have diversified well as of recent.
2. I was assuming that you were looking at a recent 3 year period of SEAS (19,20,21) so I was trying to compare apples to apples by selecting the same time period. If we are looking at a 10 year period (2010-2020) SEAS has built:

4 Premier
3 Intamin
2 GCI
2 B&M
2 Mack
1 Zierer +1 if you count kiddie coasters
1 RMC

So in 10 years we do see a couple interesting things;

1. SEAS and CF have actually built the same number of coasters, which I found surprising
2. SEAS has utilized one more company than CF
3. CF only shops top tier companies for their coasters, SEAS seems more willing to take a risk (possibly saving a buck)

But, over the past decade, I won't argue that SEAS has spread out their investments a little more evenly and safe, reliable people eaters have been a go-to choice for CF, no doubt.

I apologize if there was a miscommunication.

PS - I just realized that I didn't take into account Oscar's Wacky Taxi so that would actually add a Gravity Group to the list.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wombat96 and Mushroom
Ha, I still remember the days when Intamin was Groan City [Population: many of us] years before Pantheon was announced. Now they are putting out some truly impressive products that SEAS wants more of on different scales for Williamsburg, which is great. The variable here is that parks are looking at what they have already installed versus what new concepts their current manufacturers are producing. IMO, B&M, the love of my life, is not innovating at the same pace as S&S, Intamin, RMC, so I think SEAS is pumping the brakes on them for a bit.

I'd love a "safe choice" B&M giga for 2021, but that's not going to happen for a variety of reasons. So we look to a number of other possibilities and see what these other players can offer. Hence these launched, high speed rides that are the antithesis of early 2010-era planning.

Shock value plays a lot into the playbook of SEAS as of late, and I'm thrilled.

Also about that Zierer comment, if they come out with a 300 foot drop track concept, that's about as top tier as it gets! ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BenWilkerson
Jonesta6 said:
So... Large-scale S&S Axis?
Click to expand...
I will be satisfied with nothing less. The return of the Wolf!

RMC T-Rex? Ah dun wan it. Dump it on La Ronde.
A giga to outdo Fury? Ah dun wan it. Dump it on Michigan's Adventure.
Aquatrax? Nah, save that for Pompeii's replacement.

I am still very pessimistic about the giant spire/shuttle thing most likely with screeching LSM launch this is rumored to be.
 
Random thoughts-questions: the section of track that goes into the ravine is heavily slopped correct? That area also seems to need a pretty solid foundation according to site plans? What if there is a loop that is in this section that launches into a spike and you then experience it in reverse? Could a section of launch track be at the base of the loop? I mean , a massive loop at the base of that kind of drop which takes advantage of the terrain (ravine) would be nice! Also visually I think it would be impressive... right by the water . What do you guys think? If Intamin is the designer, I am excited to see how they take advantage of the features this site has to offer. Pantheon really uses the “lay of the land” and I really appreciate that aspect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BGWnut
Bring Back Questor 87 said:
Ha, I still remember the days when Intamin was Groan City [Population: many of us] years before Pantheon was announced. Now they are putting out some truly impressive products that SEAS wants more of on different scales for Williamsburg, which is great. The variable here is that parks are looking at what they have already installed versus what new concepts their current manufacturers are producing. IMO, B&M, the love of my life, is not innovating at the same pace as S&S, Intamin, RMC, so I think SEAS is pumping the brakes on them for a bit.

I'd love a "safe choice" B&M giga for 2021, but that's not going to happen for a variety of reasons. So we look to a number of other possibilities and see what these other players can offer. Hence these launched, high speed rides that are the antithesis of early 2010-era planning.

Shock value plays a lot into the playbook of SEAS as of late, and I'm thrilled.

Also about that Zierer comment, if they come out with a 300 foot drop track concept, that's about as top tier as it gets! ?
Click to expand...
I have to agree about B&M. They haven't really delivered a new coaster concept since Dive machines. I love B&M though because they do just focus on a few different styles but they do them all really well. It's hard to argue with their strategy vs Intamin. They both have a ton of success and achieve it to different ways. One by having a ton of variety and the other by giving only one a few different styles.
 
Wasn't B&M formed by two former Intamin engineers... And Intamin itself was an offshoot from a European contractor of Arrow?
 
Jonesta6 said:
Wasn't B&M formed by two former Intamin engineers... And Intamin itself was an offshoot from a European contractor of Arrow?
Click to expand...
Don't know about the latter but you are correct that B&M was created by two former Intamin employees.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad