The Big Bad Wolf

[GrandpaD]

Old newspaper clippings -tease, announcement (of sorts), construction fine (lol).

Last one is about the opening. Note they delayed because it was too fast and had to add brakes.

 

[BGWnut]

I like the first one where it listed DaVincis cradle as a major expansion.

 

[Zimmy]

I remember the ads for it. They really pushed DaVincis cradle at the time. As I recall there was an old guy, presumably DaVinci with a wooden model, he pulled a pin and it started to rock back and forth.

 

[GrandpaD]

 

[Jonesta6]

From the Archives: In 1984 the Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens was too fast to open on schedule

On June 27, 1984, Charlie Dean, an engineer, closely inspected the Big Bad Wolf ride at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The new ride, whose cars hung suspended from an overhead track,

www.richmond.com

Not sure why this was posted today though I'm guessing it had something to do with an opening day anniversary?

 

[Mushroom]

10 years ago today, the Big Bad Wolf gave its last ride traveling at the speed of fright. Amazing how quickly the time flies.

 

[Zimmy]

I am not sure what the "Speed of Fright" actually was, but I can say it had not gone that fast in years

 

[Zimmy]

Your hate sustains me.

 

[Icer]

Maybe it was frightfully slow

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

Kids these days are spoiled by these new-fangled gigas and launched coasters.

 

[..…]

I am not sure what the "Speed of Fright" actually was, but I can say it had not gone that fast in years

The great thing about BBW was that it didn’t need super high speeds to be fun. It was a coaster that knew who it was and embraced that.

 

[Lord Robert]

Now this is a treasure trove! ?

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[Crunchewy]

I loved Big Bad Wolf. I mean I was much younger when I rode it, but I did love it. Would love to see a modern take on this type of ride. I thought that's what we were talking about at Dollywood, but it turned out that "suspended" was being misused....

 

[GrandpaD]

Fun picture posted on r/rollercoasters...

 

[Zachary]

Here's the full article (and the source of that photo):

Remembering the Big Bad Wolf, 10 years later

Hard to believe it's been 10 years since we traveled 'at the speed of fright' on Busch Gardens' Big Bad Wolf. Do you remember the first time you rode on it?

www.13newsnow.com

 

[b.mac]

Hey hey, the coaster that helped me become a coaster enthusiast.

First rode it twenty years ago during Hurricane Dennis, last rode it on its final day.

Also one of two coasters I have ridden from a park's opening time to closing time without leaving the ride vicinity. The other being Apollo's Chariot.

 

[Shane]

Hey hey, the coaster that helped me become a coaster enthusiast.

Same here, it was my first.

 

[wombat96]

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[Nicole]

I chose not to ride when I went this Howl-O-Scream. Seeing it in this condition would only sour me on it further. I'd rather give it another chance if they restore the show building.

I just realized most of my complaints about Verbolten's actual ride experience boiled down to "it kicks too much ass to be a family coaster". I was wrong to hold this against Verbolten. It's a problem with the coaster industry, every family coaster wants to be a Cheetah Hunt and nobody wants a Slinky Dog.

I know you never rode BBW so maybe that is part of the problem. The Wolf was know for it's intensity. Especially given how fast you felt you were going, it was much more akin to Cheetah Hunt than Slinky Dog.

I was shocked at how slow and mild Iron Dragon and the Bat were, when I first rode them; I was expecting a much more thrilling ride.

I think Bolt is a completely appropriate replacement for BBW, including the ridership niche it fills. They are both high intensity family coasters.

 

[aerobadger]

This was my first ever big coaster. I rode it with my dad in 1994 (or 93?). Either way, I remember sitting up front with him and after the first drop, I was scared out of my mind. I had never experienced anything like that prior to that moment (the largest ride up to that point I had been on was maybe a traveling fair-sized coaster).

I was literally freaking out during the second lift for the drop into the Rhine. After the ride, I made out like I was all tough and awesome and I remember standing by the Wolf sign marking the entrance (trying to pose like him). That night back in the hotel, I also remember scouring over a park map as it had the three coaster layouts drawn out, and I was like, “I rode that!” (in regards to the Wolf).

I miss my dad and this ride, but I’ll always have those memories.

Needless to say at the time, I also remember looking at the other two big coasters- the blue one and the yellow one, and thought to myself that there was no way I’d ever go on those. I was right about the blue one, but I was wrong about Nessie because I got her when I returned again years later. Got a purple one that year as well!