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:
    bgwfans.com

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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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Previous Thread:​

 
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So any guesses as to if we might see st least a Pantheon style tease at preview day?
 
I'm assuming they'll say something along the lines of "BIG plans"...

It's the obvious choice.
 
I think it'll be more like the tease that BGT gave when they announced Tigris. As in they will allude to a future plan but not as much as Pantheon was alluded to
 
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Who's Anthony Loubier?

I would have expected this letter to have been addressed to Suzy Cheely?
 
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Does anyone know if the contract for construction has been signed? In other words, I’m wondering if they are legally bound to begin construction already or not.
 
BGWnut said:
I cannot tell you how I know but the park has been making payments for two different rides to Intamin for the last year.
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I’m worried about the effects of this virus outbreak on the park, the company, and the industry.
I guarantee that the senior leadership team at SEAS is losing a lot of sleep right now.
 
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I see it a bit differently.

Coronavirus is the ultimate excuse wildcard in their (and everyone’s) hand.

Low attendance, poor performance? Coronavirus.

High attendance, better performance? Hey, they achieved that “during challenging market conditions” and succeeded even “under the cloud of national response to coronavirus.”

We will be seeing coronavirus as an excuse for all kinds of disappointments for the next year and a half, across industries. Throw up our hands, couldn’t be helped. We did everything right.
 
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rvadude85 said:
I’m worried about the effects of this virus outbreak on the park, the company, and the industry.
I guarantee that the senior leadership team at SEAS is losing a lot of sleep right now.
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Like @halfabee I don't think they are losing that much sleep over it. If anything it's giving them right to underperform and still come out looking good.

But while it's certainly possible the park could change it's mind construction should be starting pretty soon after Pantheon and like I said the park has already paid for a significant portion of 2021.
 
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halfabee said:
I see it a bit differently.

Coronavirus is the ultimate excuse wildcard in their (and everyone’s) hand.

Low attendance, poor performance? Coronavirus.

High attendance, better performance? Hey, they achieved that “during challenging market conditions” and succeeded even “under the cloud of national response to coronavirus.”

We will be seeing coronavirus as an excuse for all kinds of disappointments for the next year and a half, across industries. Throw up our hands, couldn’t be helped. We did everything right.
Click to expand...

That Coronavirus excuse may work with shareholder earnings, but it won’t help if working capital tanks or they can’t make debt payments. There‘s no telling how long this pandemic could go on, and a year plus of horrible revenue could easily tank a debt laden business.
 
Bottom Line- The timing of this virus outbreak is bad for regional parks given that we are going into Spring Break season.

But I’m glad that hear that so far no impacts on this project.

@Zachary- I don’t think we are done with this Coronavirus discussion however, I’m hoping to hear something soon from the park on revised procedures for enhanced cleaning of rides after cycles, etc. similar to what’s been reported at SeaWorld Orlando.

But I am worried for the park and the company in the short term.
 
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