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/

 

[Crunchewy]

Off topic, but this joke explains perfectly why I always hated English class assignments that involved interpreting poetry and literature. Especially those for which the author was long dead so no one could ask what interpretation was correct anyway.

Poets don't like to explain their poetry, so you likely wouldn't have gotten an answer anyway. If it's open for interpretation, then thats how they wanted it. Also, sometimes I like to sound like I know what I'm talking about.

 

[PhantomJB93]

I feel like somebody with a lot of train knowledge once came on here and explained that a Festhaus Park station wasn’t really feasible. I’m too lazy to search for it but I remember reading something about the elevations and the length of track needed to safely stop the train making it difficult for whatever reason.

 

[halfabee]

Part of the explanation was that due to the degree of uphill grade in the area, one of the three engines (Alpen Express, green) could not be consistently relied upon to get started again with a full complement of passenger cars behind it, if it were to completely stop anywhere along the stretch of track that would likely host an Oktoberfest area station. That engine (pulling a full load) currently relies in part upon the momentum it builds during the run from Italy across the bridge, to make it up that grade from the Germany edge of the bridge to the area behind the Festhaus.

Part of the discussion noted theoretical options like upgrading/replacing that engine, perpetually under-loading it with passenger cars to reduce the power needs to start from a dead stop behind Festhaus Park, and reversing the trains' direction of movement around the park so that troublesome spot would be a downhill grade instead. None of the concepts seemed terribly likely to actually happen.

The above is possibly inaccurate as it's just off the top of my head. I'm sure someone has a handy link to that discussion.

Stopping at such a station would afford some terrific views of the giga coaster, should it eventually be built. (...But does "it" mean the station or the coaster?)

 

[Mushroom]

This is a cheap shot @The Quist. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has gone OVER THREE YEARS (like three and a quarter now!) without causing a SINGLE forest fire in Festhaus Park. Yes, in the time since, a train blew up and Escape from Pompeii's roof caught fire, but don't you think setting the ENTIRETY of Festhaus Park ablaze is a little much? Yeah, it may be thrilling, unique, and deadly, but maybe try for something a little more original next time? ?

Damn, this gives a whole new meaning to "Drachen Fire"

 

[b.mac]

(Festhaus Park Explanation)

That's pretty much exactly how I remember the discussion going for them keeping the track as is. I remember there was also a suggestion from someone that involved a longer route with less gradient to it that would've been friendlier for Alpen Express but I don't remember if that was in the forums itself or was apart of a private group thing when I was apart of those.

 

[Nicole]

The discussion about the long-rumored Germany train station is pretty much scattered all over the Forum. I did manage to find some relatively straightforward debate in the Germany Train Station thread, however. It mostly starts here:

Germany Train Station

The Resort Hotel one has, but the Future Park Plans thread was where the dark rides and full year operation came from. Which is also where the resort hotel and full year operation were HEAVILY debated.

parkfans.net

I remember another in-depth engineering analysis more recently, but who knows where it was.


EDIT: I found more discussion in the Busch Gardens Railway thread (a conversation which actually originated in this thread):

Existing - Transport Ride - Busch Gardens Railway

Wiki coming soon...

parkfans.net

 

[2muchpopcorn]

havent been on this website in just over 2 years could i get slight recap on whats happened since the height waiver got approved?

 

[Zachary]

havent been on this website in just over 2 years could i get slight recap on whats happened since the height waiver got approved?

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Plans New Coaster for 2021 – BGWFans

BGWFans has obtained the full footer plan for Busch Gardens Williamsburg's yet-to-be-announced, new-for-2021, multi-launched, shuttle, giga coaster.

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

Then COVID happened, everything fell silent, and now there are vague rumors that the plans could be changing.

 

[Zimmy]

Also polercoaster

 

[horsesboy]

Also polercoaster

No no no everyone knows it will be a stratosphere style building

 

[2muchpopcorn]

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Plans New Coaster for 2021 – BGWFans

BGWFans has obtained the full footer plan for Busch Gardens Williamsburg's yet-to-be-announced, new-for-2021, multi-launched, shuttle, giga coaster.

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

Then COVID happened, everything fell silent, and now there are vague rumors that the plans could be changing.

thanks!

 

[c.timber17]

Just saw this video posted on Facebook and I don’t think I’ve seen it posted in this thread yet... obviously just speculation, but an RMC TRex / single rail coaster would definitely be interesting back in Festhaus Park.

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[Jonesta6]

Just saw this video posted on Facebook and I don’t think I’ve seen it posted in this thread yet... obviously just speculation, but an RMC TRex / single rail coaster would definitely be interesting back in Festhaus Park.

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While it's certainly possible, I highly doubt the new ride won't be an Intamin of some type, likely similar to the DS designs we've already seen.

Big reasons are the prepayments the park has made and that RMC has stated they're not even selling a t-rex model anytime soon.

 

[b.mac]

As much as I love some good speculation T-Rex is just the basic enthusiast wishlist item for every park these days.

 

[Crunchewy]

I think T-Rex only offers cost savings and not a new ride experience. You’re not going to be straddling the rail like a raptor. I wouldn’t think the ride experience would be any different from an ibox.

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Yeah this is driving me nuts seeing everyone float these things. We have no idea where or when the first one will even pop up.

 

[Griffbolten]

Rather see them stick with Intamin especially considering how much of a bargain their newer coasters are going for.

 

[madmax]

The chances of this being a T-Rex are basically zero lol. It’ll either be some updated version of DS or some slightly larger version of Hyperion.

 

[ControlsEE]

I'll say it again. Why does anyone think it will be so much more grand than the original design? Let alone be from another manufacturer?

 

[Griffbolten]

I'll say it again. Why does anyone think it will be so much more grand than the original design? Let alone be from another manufacturer?

The lack of official updates have people anxious but the patience for BGW, SEAS, and Intamin to come up with something will pay off at the end. I’m confident they won’t drop the ball like with DF.