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:
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    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...
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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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Jonesta6 said:
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.
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You know, it's interesting... net of that entire conversation, which certainly has been explored and subsequently cited pretty thoroughly... last time I rode the train (~ 1 week ago) I tried to pay close attention to the grade behind the picnic area and Festhaus. And having done that, I think I'd have to see some data, a topo image, or hear from someone who personally has seen the same, before I really believe there is a substantial uphill grade at all once you're back there.

Drachen Spire area, yes. Festhaus? I'm, somewhat surprisingly, not convinced.

There are a lot of considerations complicating that judgment, which I should bring up in the appropriate thread. But it's slightly relevant here because it ties to Zachary's idea that the picnic area theoretically moving into the Drachen Spire field would open up that 'Haus-adjacent area. And, of course, because the eventual attraction back there, whatever it may ultimately prove to be, would be very well served by a train station.
 
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halfabee said:
You know, it's interesting... net of that entire conversation, which certainly has been explored and subsequently cited pretty thoroughly... last time I rode the train (~ 1 week ago) I tried to pay close attention to the grade behind the picnic area and Festhaus. And having done that, I think I'd have to see some data, a topo image, or hear from someone who personally has seen the same, before I really believe there is a substantial uphill grade at all once you're back there.

Drachen Spire area, yes. Festhaus? I'm, somewhat surprisingly, not convinced.

There are a lot of considerations complicating that judgment, which I should bring up in the appropriate thread. But it's slightly relevant here because it ties to Zachary's idea that the picnic area theoretically moving into the Drachen Spire field would open up that 'Haus-adjacent area. And, of course, because the eventual attraction back there, whatever it may ultimately prove to be, would be very well served by a train station.
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Just for clarification at this point, is this more for the concepts thread or the railroad thread? Just want to make sure I respond in the correct one (feel free to move).
 
Lolers said:
The question is, could either of those be seen from space? If you're going that big, you might as well make sure they can be seen from space.
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I mean obviously you'd have to do that. Gives all those astronauts something else to look at.
 
Could this be related to project 2023? Maybe looking at a 2022 opening still? It’s not Intamin, but the descriptions in the article seem to match up with what has been speculated for this coaster...
http://amusementtoday.com/2021/04/g...kveN5Zey0mBpW3K1ko0LM2gt4mDbKH134w3kSvz-KmEz4

“It is no different with the custom layout and challenging location for this coaster, which is sure to become a showcase attraction known around the world.”
 
c.timber17 said:
Could this be related to project 2023? Maybe looking at a 2022 opening still? It’s not Intamin, but the descriptions in the article seem to match up with what has been speculated for this coaster...
http://amusementtoday.com/2021/04/g...kveN5Zey0mBpW3K1ko0LM2gt4mDbKH134w3kSvz-KmEz4

“It is no different with the custom layout and challenging location for this coaster, which is sure to become a showcase attraction known around the world.”
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My guess for the Gerstlauer record-breaker is Cedar Point or Dollywood. Maybe either of the Nick Universe parks. Six Flags won't work with Gerstlauer ever since the New Texas Giant incident, and I'm not sure Cedar Fair would give a record-breaking coaster to another park.
 
Given the increasingly convoluted and narrow coaster records being invented every year, I'd advise a measure of caution with the Gerstlauer exuberance.

"Most spectrally-absorbent Vantablack paint ever applied to a roller coaster vehicle" may ultimately be less exciting than it sounds.
 
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SLC Headache said:
My guess for the Gerstlauer record-breaker is Cedar Point or Dollywood. Maybe either of the Nick Universe parks. Six Flags won't work with Gerstlauer ever since the New Texas Giant incident, and I'm not sure Cedar Fair would give a record-breaking coaster to another park.
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I saw the same video and was confused. I thought New Texas Giant was RMC or did Gerstlauer manufacture something on it?
 
warfelg said:
I wouldn’t count out Hershey to be honest. 2022 fits the even year new coaster model.
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True, Hershey has some challenging terrain at this point.

Griffbolten said:
I saw the same video and was confused. I thought New Texas Giant was RMC or did Gerstlauer manufacture something on it?
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Gerstlauer made the trains. I don't think RMC made their own trains back then.
 
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c.timber17 said:
Could this be related to project 2023? Maybe looking at a 2022 opening still? It’s not Intamin, but the descriptions in the article seem to match up with what has been speculated for this coaster...
http://amusementtoday.com/2021/04/g...kveN5Zey0mBpW3K1ko0LM2gt4mDbKH134w3kSvz-KmEz4

“It is no different with the custom layout and challenging location for this coaster, which is sure to become a showcase attraction known around the world.”
Click to expand...

If it was for BGW for a May 2022 opening, we would be seeing a lot more action right now both physically on the FP site to prepare for construction and through permits to change the attraction to Gerstlauer from what's already been filed.
 
The deal was part of a two coaster set from Intamin it seems highly unlikely that they would drop that part of the project and pickup a new manufacture this late in the game especially under the current world circumstances.
 
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