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/

 

[nick]

Hopefully it's a 350' escalator to nowhere.

Stairway to Heaven —> Led ZEPPELIN —> Zeppelin —> German

It all adds up in my book.

 

[warfelg]

Hopefully it's a 350' escalator to nowhere.

I hear the trip back down is a doozie.

 

[Murphy]

Hopefully it's a 350' escalator to nowhere.

Insert Simpsons GIF here

 

[BGW Family]

Coaster Nation has picked up the permit news.

 

[Zachary]

Coaster Nation has picked up the permit news.

The entire second part of their story is wrong, just FYI. The land disturbance permit has not seen any park-involved movement since March 2020.

By my analysis, the FAA waiver extension is the only sign of life in the public record thus far.

 

[horsesboy]

The entire second part of their story is wrong, just FYI. The land disturbance permit has not seen any park-involved movement since March 2020.

By my analysis, the FAA waiver extension is the only sign of life in the public record thus far.

wasn't that also the shortest time frame permit?

 

[Zachary]

wasn't that also the shortest time frame permit?

As in, its one of the last steps before construction? Yes.

As I understand it, there are other prerequisite approvals that, as far as we know, are still expired and will need to be taken care of first.

 

[horsesboy]

As in, its one of the last steps before construction? Yes.

As I understand it, there are other prerequisite approvals that, as far as we know, are still expired that will need to be taken care of first.

Thanks I was thinking it had the shortest active window when originally approved but that doesn't sound like it's the case.

 

[Zachary]

The Land Disturbance permit was never approved. Right soon after the park initially requested it, COVID happened and all progress ceased. We've seen nothing in the public record to suggest BGW has actually begun pursuing it again.

 

[BGW Family]

They were certainly making a jump in conclusions, in my opinion.

 

[horsesboy]

So interesting concept idea but what if they build this thing and the relocate the boneyard is there room there to fit in a Festa style dead end expansion with a couple new flats and use the coaster as a gateway draw?

 

[Jonesta6]

Unless the plans change dramatically, it doesn't seem like there'll be all that much room to fit much more there.

However, with some reworking and a plan to extend the guest path down the existing service road, I could easily see a mini-hamlet back there with shops/dining and maybe a small flat (Der Wirbelwinchen?).

Of course, I'd really like to see something that isn't an extension of Germany as this could be a relatively cheap way to introduce a new country without having to do a whole lot more to redevelop the existing infrastructure.

That would also presume that there's enough existing utility connections and the ability to negate any environmental impacts (storm water runoff for instance) for these things to happen. And the big one, power - having 2 launch coasters side-by-side may drain enough juice from the grid that unless they find a way to add more there's a good chance there just won't be enough to go around.

 

[Zachary]

Relocating the picnic area and putting something there makes more sense to me. The walk to Drachen Fire's station is already ridiculous. Pushing further back behind Festhaus Park would just compound the problem.

 

[Jonesta6]

Relocating the picnic area and putting something there makes more sense to me. The walk to Drachen Fire's station is already ridiculous. Pushing further back behind Festhaus Park would just compound the problem.

True, but if you can get a constant stream of people there for Lumberhack then it's not inconceivable. If RPT was constantly overflowing I'd almost think they could figure out how to make another permanent outdoor theater there (one that would be quick to make warm and cozy for year-round cold weather operations) given they've successfully used the space for concerts in the past. Though with the sound of LSMs and screaming guests on the coaster, that may not be as feasible.

 

[halfabee]

Relocating the picnic area and putting something there makes more sense to me.

Like a train station?

 

[ControlsEE]

Happy 200 pages btw...

 

[Jonesta6]

Like a train station?

Maybe if they don't ever plan to run the Alpen Express again without having to either skip that stop or reverse the direction of travel... But pretty sure there's a whole thread dedicated to the idea.

Though that did give me a dumb idea of using a mine-train type ride vehicle on the DS track - it'd definitely be unique.

 

[metalman]

Seeing Velocicoaster makes me think of what could be done utilizing the Darkastle building to ride in, out, and around with a rollercoaster. It’s probably to far of a stretch from there to the Drachen Fire land, but engineers can make anything possible, right?

 

[Memles]

Seeing Velocicoaster makes me think of what could be done utilizing the Darkastle building to ride in, out, and around with a rollercoaster. It’s probably to far of a stretch from there to the Drachen Fire land, but engineers can make anything possible, right?

I don't mean to repeat this in every thread where someone imagines a new use for the Darkastle building, but beyond the ride's age/upkeep/low ridership the other benefit of removing it was being able to keep seasonal elements for Howl-O-Scream/Christmas Town standing throughout the year, limiting the time necessary to switch between events and helping facilitate what has now become a full-scale year-yound schedule. That building is not an empty shell: it's a part of the park's larger infrastructure.

 

[kulthus]

What we really need is a 355 foot tall Dippin Dots stand or a 355 foot tall Coke advertisement. Hey, maybe both? A guy can dream.