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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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/

 

[Nicole]

There used to be animals in that field, which many people enjoyed spotting from the train. A largely unthemed coaster may or may not be an improvement, depending on your personal aesthetics.

 

[GrandpaD]

There used to be animals in that field, which many people enjoyed spotting from the train. A largely unthemed coaster may or may not be an improvement, depending on your personal aesthetics.

Bison!

 

[bill s]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg used to innovate in ways beyond breaking tallest and fastest records. Not only were records broken but builds used to be beautiful, works of art even. Alpengeist and Loch Ness Monster are perfect examples that truly showcase what BGW is (when it comes to roller coasters), beautiful, record breaking attractions that meld wonderfully into the unique landscape and surroundings. While building these, the natural landscape is preserved but feels like the park was built around them, versus the other way around. The latest attractions built at BGW (Tempesto, InvadR, Finnegan's Flyer and Pantheon) have not proven to use the old methods of the park and are blatant disregards to the natural beauty of the park. Busch Gardens used to be known for having a large variety of world class attractions and entertainment that mixed so well with landscaping and natural beauty. If they're not careful, they may lose the most beautiful theme park awards they've been recieving for the past many years. I fear that adding "Drachen Spire" will create a huge problem in that regard. And, if what we've seen is what's happening, it will likely be a breathtaking ride. It is very original for sure but lacks in inspiration and will fit right in with the trend of latest attractions that just plop down to add another ride. Busch Gardens used to be above this and people recognized that and it's what made them special.

What about Drachen Fire or Wild Maus? They haven't been consistent. Tempesto is too small to interact with landscape, possibly why they chose it. I haven't seen Finnegan's but seems like it might fit more than most flat rides there. Not every coaster can fit a part in the Rhine valley. That approach uses more space so it limits them now.

I expect when Loch Ness is replaced, it will be an actual replacement done at least as well as the original. And if you don't think they will ever close it, why were they buttering us up with 2 coasters in a row?

 

[Zachary]

Wild Izzy is widely considered an exception due to the fact that it was sorta just supposed to be a temporary coaster added to celebrate the Olympics.

As for Drachen Fire, I'd argue that it was gorgeous.

 

[CoasterMac]

Look man, I just need Drachen Spire to get built solely to see this absurd spike structure.

 

[Nicole]

How exactly are you supposed to integrate something like tempesto or finnegans, though?

Concur. We should get rid of Tempesto.

 

[Drachenwolf]

Finnegan's fits in well. The theme sucks but it isn't a coaster so the location and interaction with surrounding terrain for a flat is great.
Tempesto is a stain on the side of a god. Pantheon is a ride that could basically be put anywhere there's a field; boring terrain usage.
This Drachen-concept is original but overall pretty wack... Scrap it for an RMC!

 

[madmax]

There used to be animals in that field, which many people enjoyed spotting from the train. A largely unthemed coaster may or may not be an improvement, depending on your personal aesthetics.

The animals are being moved one spot over.

It’s insane how you guys wanted an Intamin so badly at Bgw and now that we’re getting 2 you want to get rid of them.

 

[vacoasterfanatic]

This Drachen-concept is original but overall pretty wack... Scrap it for an RMC!

Panthron is practically an rmc with intamin track and a tophat. Let's see, outerbanks, 0 g stall, airtime Hill (in the launch), and a wall stall. Sounds pretty similar to an rmc to me.

 

[Jahrules]

0 g stall inverted airtime hill

Fixed it for you

 

[Nicole]

The animals are being moved one spot over.

It’s insane how you guys wanted an Intamin so badly at Bgw and now that we’re getting 2 you want to get rid of them.

First, where they are being moved is completely irrelevant to the point I was making, which was that any assessment of the attractiveness of the field is completely subjective.

Second, I have never once expressed any interest in having an Intamin at BGW, yet you made that comment, quoting me. In fact, I’m not sure who on this Forum both asked for an Intamin and said they wanted to get rid of both Pantheon and Project 2021. For that matter, I can think of no one who has advocated getting rid of both of them.

 

[Thomas]

I think Pantheon looks like a potential masterpiece. Doesn’t make the empty field it sits on any better.

 

[Jahrules]

For that matter, I can think of no one who has advocated getting rid of both of them.

Perhaps @Drachenwolf has come the closest to this? But I don't think he's even said that specifically; beyond called path boring, making fun of it's colors and etc.

 

[madmax]

@Nicole I wasn’t referencing you in the last statement but other users.

Every other page is just people complaining about details that aren’t that important or complaining about a ride that hasn’t even been announced. It’s exhausting to read and in times of uncertainty and stress I’d rather be excited about the future of the park (outside of financial stuff) than just whine that I’d rather have an RMC T-rex giga over a launched Intamin giga.

I’m fine with others having opinions but the same talking points about how much better this and that used to be over focusing on the now gets irritating.

 

[Drachenwolf]

Perhaps @Drachenwolf has come the closest to this? But I don't think he's even said that specifically; beyond called path boring, making fun of it's colors and etc.

Only in favor of a single true giga, or a more traditional awesome coaster (built by Intamin) that preferably crosses the river.

 

[Jonesta6]

I'd be cool with anything, including DS it seems is coming - maybe they can scope in a blitz like Maverick with the actual low to the ground heartline roll and figure out how to ensure the ride ops don't have to release the second dispatched train to the lift manually...

 

[DECoasteyGuy]

Fixed it for you

What’s the difference between a zero g stall and an inverted airtime hill

 

[Jahrules]

What’s the difference between a zero g stall and an inverted airtime hill

Nothing. Zero g stall is an RMC branded term; inverted airtime hill is Intamin's name for the same thing.

 

[halfabee]

Finnegan's fits in well. The theme sucks but it isn't a coaster so the location and interaction with surrounding terrain for a flat is great.

I realize people have different opinions on this, but I have to say Finnegan’s location and appearance still make me a little sad each time I see it. I might feel differently if I had never known the beautiful setting the park substantially destroyed to place the ride in that location.

It’s an entertaining ride and the elevation is nice. Actually checking out the elevation, though... so much plain gravel, it conjures shades of the back side of Invadr. Even with the park’s transition from corporate crown jewel to publicly traded profit generating entity, I’ll never really accept that the location and visual state of Finnegan’s had to turn out the way they did. The cost of that ride, as built, was substantially greater than just the financial outlay to build and operate it.

While 202x will be visible from all over the park, at least it won’t be situated along a major pedestrian thoroughfare.

Echoing @Zachary ’s point above: Drachen Fire was one of the most beautiful rides I have ever seen. And visually very interactive for walkers, with multiple overhead passes and the inside-the-helix viewing area. They really took the idea of a flat-field ride to a different level with the pathway configuration and landscape beautification between the Festhaus and the DF queue. That stuff does make a difference. Really a shame the ride itself fell short of expectations.

 

[GrandpaD]

Echoing @Zachary ’s point above: Drachen Fire was one of the most beautiful rides I have ever seen. And visually very interactive for walkers, with multiple overhead passes and the inside-the-helix viewing area. They really took the idea of a flat-field ride to a different level with the pathway configuration and landscape beautification between the Festhaus and the DF queue. That stuff does make a difference. Really a shame the ride itself fell short of expectations.

I know it's out of place in this thread...but for those that can't recall or don't want to search...