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:​

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

Accept third party cookies

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/

 

[PhantomJB93]

Considering everyone out of the loop was picturing i305 or Fury when the phrase “giga crossing the Rhine” was always thrown out, this is fascinating. Not sure it would be quite as criticized as the actual 2021 ride has been but it definitely wouldn’t have been met with universal praise. It’s cool to see how outside-the-box all of these concepts have been, BGW was really committed to doing things we’ve never seen on coasters (at least of this scale) with these projects even if they didn’t all come to light.

Probably not a hot take, Id prefer it over Drachen Spire but not over Pantheon...so I think the final outcome was for the best. If this was the proposal it’s a lot easier to see why the park split them up. Drachen Spire still fills the same “very unique launched giga” quota while allowing Pantheon to offer a much more well-rounded layout than either project.

 

[FoozMuz]

The ride would be much neater than Drachen Spire alone but its hard to imagine the incredible impact it would have on the views of that side of the park. I'm not sure a giant rhine crossing and tower over italy would really be worth it to the landscape of the park. Spire will be taller but really will sit in a much less conspicuous spot, and pantheon fits beautifully in its spot.

 

[halfabee]

If that is really what the mega dollar Rhine-crossing giga was going to be, I'm sorry but that layout just looks like such a poor and odd choice. (Forget the vid, the overhead layout tells the story well enough.) Filling much of both Festhaus Park and Festa Field with... that. Thank god they didn't build it. It absolutely makes me feel MUCH better about the choice to build Pantheon, at least.

Were it possible, I'd love to see whatever serious proposals might have been submitted by other suppliers...

 

[b.mac]

Were it possible, I'd love to see whatever serious proposals might have been submitted by other suppliers...

At least from what I understood this project from the get-go was solely with Intamin. There were multiple other proposals put through from Intamin about this project utilizing many different layouts but keeping the "300 foot tall" bit the same for the most part.

A proposal I was made aware of called for a simple top hat, whereas this layout that was leaked was more akin to Cheetah Hunt on steroids.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Is there any indication on what the maximum launch speed will be on this thing? Vague ranges are acceptable. Sorry if I missed this in an article somewhere.

 

[Zachary]

We don’t have a great estimate, no. That said, I’d be really shocked if it didn’t break 100mph—don’t know if that answers your question or not though. It should be the fastest speed you can travel on a coaster backwards in normal operations for whatever that’s worth. ?

 

[CoasterAuditor]

It's going to be way too awesome having two giga sized roller coasters in Virginia, the most intense roller coaster in the world and whatever the hell this thing is going to be. I can't wait to just casually go to a park with a 100+ launch 1 hour down the street that I have a membership to. We are really spoiled in this area for massive coasters. Making me more glad I don't live on the west coast.

 

[matthewcsoup]

idk if this has already been discussed but if these plans go thru a great marketing point is the tallest giga coaster in north america

 

[horsesboy]

idk if this has already been discussed but if these plans go thru a great marketing point is the tallest giga coaster in north america

It actually could quite possibly set a few records at least in marketing mind. Highest giga in North America, highest Launch Giga, fastest multi launch giga if we are right about more the one launch, presumably fastest multi launch period, tallest shuttle coaster just to name a few. Honestly marketing would have a field day rolling out and inventing new records for it to break.

 

[rswashdc]

idk if this has already been discussed but if these plans go thru a great marketing point is the tallest giga coaster in north america

This is an odd record to claim considering there are taller full circuit coasters. If someone built a 280' tall coaster, it would be odd to market it as the tallest hyper coaster.

 

[horsesboy]

This is an odd record to claim considering there are taller full circuit coasters. If someone built a 280' tall coaster, it would be odd to market it as the tallest hyper coaster.

It's some what odd but has been used in marketing for Furry at times so if they use it for this I give them a pass on it as it's using already used record instead of inventing one.

 

[rswashdc]

It's some what odd but has been used in marketing for Furry at times so if they use it for this I give them a pass on it as it's using already used record instead of inventing one.

Fury seems like an easier to market ride as the tallest, "real" coaster. This is harder since it's a shuttle coaster and is going to fit in that bucket of rides.

 

[Jonesta6]

I don't think the public will really be concerned about the difference of a shuttle vs full circuit in how the records are kept. I know I don't really care, especially if it's an awesome ride.

 

[rswashdc]

I think they'd be better off marketing what makes the ride unique and interesting (a'la Candymonium at HP being the sweetest coaster), vice breaking some weirdly defined record. Saying it's the tallest giga is a nice reminder that there are gigas north and south of BGW which are probably going to remain better rides even after this is built. Marketing it as riding the tail of the dragon through the sky or some other story gives it its own brand and excitement.

 

[BGWnut]

They'll probably market it as the tallest coaster in the state or the tallest coaster in the south.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Yeah I’m sure the marketing department had that stuff figured out when they decided to build this contraption. I can’t wait it’s gonna be a hell of an adrenaline rush.

 

[Thomas]

This ride will only exist as a marketing tool. It most certainly will not actually be good at anything else.

 

[Crunchewy]

So this giga shuttle coaster is the real thing? I missed this until today. I am slow. I have to say, I wish it was going backward up the giga spike. I'd much rather be facing down as it drops. Is it possible it does go backward up it?

 

[Zachary]

So this giga shuttle coaster is the real thing?

Almost certainly. Definitely was pre-pandemic at the very least.

Is it possible it does go backward up it?

Not totally impossible, but that isn’t what is displayed in the plans.

Personally I’d like to see the front half of the train face forward and the back half face backwards—I think it would really boost rerideability.

 

[Crunchewy]

Personally I’d like to see the front half of the train face forward and the back half face backwards—I think it really really boost rerideability.

Oh yeah, I love that idea.