Serving the themed entertainment community

Latest News

  • Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team
  • Mad Systems announces addition of Toni Losier to business development team
  • Museums Evolving conference goes virtual for second year in a row due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Whitney Hines joins Luci Creative as Senior Project Manager
  • David Gillig joins San Diego Zoo Global as chief philanthropy officer
  • Design Silverfish uses Christie projectors to immerse visitors in South Korean culture
  • Ocubo selects AV Stumpfl’s PIXERA media server software for Immersivus 3D art installation in Lisbon
  • Editorial: Current events and the US attractions industry
  • Home
  • Opportunity Hub
    • Leads & Opportunities
    • Webinar Calendar
    • Submit a Webinar
  • News
    • COVID-19
  • Issues
    • 2020
      • #85 – Looking forward to the future
      • #84 – Everything the industry has to offer
      • #83 – Waterparks and more!
      • #82 – Solving Problems with Innovation
      • #81 COVID-19 and beyond
      • IPM guide to AV 2020
    • 2019
      • #80 – IAAPA 2019
      • #79.5 – IAAPA Expo 2019 Preview
      • #79 Europe and Waterparks
      • #78 – Asia/Tech
      • #77 – The Best in Themed Entertainment
    • 2018
      • #76 – Year End/Trade Show Round-up
      • #75 – IAAPA 2018
      • #74 – EME/Waterparks
      • #73 – Asia and Technology
      • #72 – Dubai/Museums
      • #71 – MENA/Entertainment
    • 2017
      • #70 – IAAPA 2017
      • #69 – Game Changers
      • #68 Going Global: Technology on the International Stage
      • #67 – Experience Design: Many Faces Many Places
      • #66 Theatrical Influence and Convergence
    • 2016
      • #65 IAAPA 2016
      • #64 Waterpark, Zoo & Aquarium 2016
      • #63 Technology 2016
      • #62 International
      • #61 Museums and Expanding Markets
    • 2015
      • #60 – IAAPA 2015
      • #59 – Zoos/Aquaria and Waterparks 2015
      • #58 – Technology 2015
      • #57 – International 2015
      • #56 – Museums 2015
    • 2014
      • #55 – IAAPA 2014 / Tenth Anniversary
      • #54 – Waterparks, Zoos and Aquariums 2014
      • #53 – Technology 2014
      • #52 – International 2014
      • #51 – Museums 2014
    • 2013
      • #46 – Museums 2013
      • #47 – International 2013
      • #48 – Technology 2013
      • #49 – Waterparks 2013
      • #50 – IAAPA 2013
      • 2013 Wrap-Up
    • 2012
      • #45 – IAAPA & WWA Wrap-Up
      • #44 – IAAPA
      • #43 – Waterparks
      • #42 – Technology
      • #41 – International
      • #40 – Museums
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About
    • About InPark
    • Privacy Policy
  • IPM books
    • Screens to scenes: Christie’s visual technology
    • Tales from the Expo
    • Themed entertainment in academia
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linked
    • Youtube

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Crowdsourcing Name and Elements of First Wooden Coaster

Mar 24, 2016 Joe Kleiman Homepage Slider, News, Theme Parks Comments Off on Busch Gardens Williamsburg Crowdsourcing Name and Elements of First Wooden Coaster


Busch Gardens Williamsburg Crowdsourcing Name and Elements of First Wooden Coaster

Williamsburg, VA, USA  – Busch Gardens® has announced a new wooden roller coaster is coming to its collection of world-class thrill rides in spring 2017.  The family thriller will be the Virginia theme park’s first wooden coaster and eighth roller coaster in total – and will be designed as the world’s first “crowdsourced” ride.

In an unusual industry move, the park is announcing the new attraction much earlier than typical so that fans will be able to help “decide the ride” including opportunities to vote on attraction details, contribute to theme elements and shape the marketing campaign.  The first such opportunity kicked off today, inviting fans to select the ride’s name.

“Busch Gardens has a reputation for creating unique ride experiences, and our new family coaster will certainly continue that tradition,” said Larry Giles, vice president of engineering.  “The dynamics of a wooden coaster, combined with the many ways it will interact with the terrain and nearby attractions, will make this a one-of-a-kind thrill.”

Giles said the roller coaster will have a minimum height requirement of 46 inches for riders.  A coaster with the lower height range rounds out the park’s portfolio and has been developed in response to guest requests for a roller coaster that adults and children can ride together, he said.

“This will be a great ride for families, but make no mistake: this will not be a kiddie ride,” Giles said.  “This coaster will feature an exciting drop of 74 feet and will have nine airtime hills, the same number as Apollo’s Chariot®.  It’s going to be a wild ride.”

While the coaster’s track will be wooden, it will be supported by a steel structure.  “Riders will get the best of both worlds: the stability of steel supports with the classic feel of a great wooden coaster,” Giles said.

The ride will be located in the New France village of Busch Gardens.  It will take guests on a trek of more than 2,100 feet through wooded terrain, underground through a tunnel and in close proximity to the Le Scoot log flume and Busch Gardens Railway.  Neither of the neighboring attractions will need to close for extended periods during the construction of the new ride.

The attraction’s theme will be based on a fanciful legend related to the exploration of North America by Vikings.  The coaster will invite riders to join the battle between a band of invading Vikings, who have survived for generations looking for new territory, and the residents of the New France trappers’ village, who are fighting to protect their outpost.

While Busch Gardens historically has not announced new attractions so far in advance, the news of the new ride is part of a larger strategy by the park to involve its members and fans to a greater degree than ever before, said Dan Dipiazzo, vice president of marketing.

“Our fans are so loyal and passionate about this park, and we want to make them co-creators in this exciting new project,” Dipiazzo said.  “We still have a lot of details to finalize for this attraction, and our guests will get to weigh in and be a part of the development.”

Surveys through Busch Gardens’ website and social media channels will invite fans to “Decide the Ride,” including selecting the ride’s name and various design elements.  Dipiazzo said guests also may get the opportunity to contribute to the queue experience, participate in pre-ride video or audio segments and pitch their concepts for consumer-generated advertising to promote the coaster’s opening next spring.

The first chance for fans to participate started today, with a survey to select the ride’s name from among three contenders:  Viking Raider, Battle Klash or InvadR.  Consumers may vote once a day through April 1 at http://bit.ly/1UjthUa.  The park has committed to brand the new attraction with whichever name gets the most qualified votes.

“Honestly, it’s a big change for us, and not common in our industry, to leave so much in the hands of consumers,” Dipiazzo admitted.  “But we respect our fans.  We know they love this park and want to be part of our success.  This will be their ride as much as ours.”

In addition to crowdsourcing opportunities, Busch Gardens will share construction updates and other milestones in a special section of its website at BuschGardens.com/Project2017 and with the hashtag #BGProject2017 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Print

  • Busch Gardens, busch gardens williamsburg, crowdsourcing, new attractions for 2017, new roller coasters, seaworld parks & entertainment, wooden coasters
  • tweet
Related articles
  • SeaWorld San Diego introduces Sesame Street drive-thru experience
    SeaWorld San Diego introduces Sesame...

    Comments Off on SeaWorld San Diego introduces Sesame Street drive-thru experience

  • SeaWorld Orlando kicks off 2021 with return of Inside Look
    SeaWorld Orlando kicks off 2021 with...

    Comments Off on SeaWorld Orlando kicks off 2021 with return of Inside Look

  • SeaWorld San Antonio returns to year round operation
    SeaWorld San Antonio returns to year...

    Comments Off on SeaWorld San Antonio returns to year round operation

  • SeaWorld San Diego opens as zoo and dining experience while Orlando parks move to seven day per week operation
    SeaWorld San Diego opens as zoo and...

    Comments Off on SeaWorld San Diego opens as zoo and dining experience while Orlando parks move to seven day per week operation

More in this category
  • Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team
    Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines...

    Jan 22, 2021 Comments Off on Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team

  • Mad Systems announces addition of Toni Losier to business development team
    Mad Systems announces addition of Toni...

    Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Mad Systems announces addition of Toni Losier to business development team

  • Rock Solid: Stoneface sculpts natural environments for theme parks, zoos, aquariums and more
    Rock Solid: Stoneface sculpts natural...

    Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Rock Solid: Stoneface sculpts natural environments for theme parks, zoos, aquariums and more

  • Museums Evolving conference goes virtual for second year in a row due to COVID-19 pandemic
    Museums Evolving conference goes...

    Jan 21, 2021 Comments Off on Museums Evolving conference goes virtual for second year in a row due to COVID-19 pandemic


Quick Takes

My Tweets

Latest Issue

Leads & Opportunities

  • Cedar Fair seeks Corporate Director, Communications
    Cedar Fair seeks Corporate Director, Communications

    Dec 29, 2020 Comments Off on Cedar Fair seeks Corporate Director, Communications

    The position will lead strategy development and execution...
  • Pursuit seeks Financial Analyst, FP&A
    Pursuit seeks Financial Analyst, FP&A

    Dec 28, 2020 Comments Off on Pursuit seeks Financial Analyst, FP&A

    This role will focus on all aspects of financial planning...
  • AOA seeks Show Set Designer
    AOA seeks Show Set Designer

    Dec 26, 2020 Comments Off on AOA seeks Show Set Designer

    There will be a great deal of freedom, which will be...
  • Visualization firm THE THIRD FLOOR has openings for a variety of positions
    Visualization firm THE THIRD FLOOR has openings for a...

    Dec 09, 2020 Comments Off on Visualization firm THE THIRD FLOOR has openings for a variety of positions

    THE THIRD FLOOR is currently seeking Postvis Generalists,...
  • CineVenture seeks 3D character animator
    CineVenture seeks 3D character animator

    Dec 09, 2020 Comments Off on CineVenture seeks 3D character animator

    CineVenture develops high-end content for the global...

Top Posts

  • Walruses return to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
    Walruses return to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • SCAD THEDscapes Immersion Challenge showcases student team designs for variety of environments and venues
    SCAD THEDscapes Immersion Challenge showcases student team designs for variety of environments and venues
  • Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team
    Looking forward, WhiteWater redefines leadership team
  • Sally Brings the Animal Animatronics of Five Nights at Freddy's to Life in New Attraction Concept
    Sally Brings the Animal Animatronics of Five Nights at Freddy's to Life in New Attraction Concept
  • #85 - Looking forward to the future
    #85 - Looking forward to the future
  • Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago to open with US premiere of Immersive Van Gogh
    Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago to open with US premiere of Immersive Van Gogh
  • JRA designs new children's museum in Wisconsin
    JRA designs new children's museum in Wisconsin

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Categories

  • IPM Interviews
  • Theme Parks
  • Museums
  • Water Parks
  • Attractions
    • Haunts
    • Zoos & Aquariums
  • World markets
    • Asia
    • Europe & Middle East
    • Latin America & Mexico
    • North America
  • Technology & Media
  • Business
    • Events
    • People
  • World Expos

InPark Magazine

2349 E Ohio Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207 USA
262.412.7107
mpalicki@inparkmagazine.com

View our Privacy Policy

Copyright 2018 InPark Magazine / All rights reserved
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram