Thrill seekers have plenty to look forward to this spring as the new rides at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are shaping up to be full of screams, heights and fun.
During a preview Thursday, members of the media got to see first hand how the two new rides, Finnegan’s Flyer and Cutback Water Coaster, are looking in their final stages.
While there is no official opening date for the rides, they are expected to be ready some time in May.
The Cutback Water Coaster will be the first of its kind in Virginia. The ride tracks about 856 feet with speeds up to 35 feet per second. There are five saucer portions of the ride that will coast riders around at maximum speed.
“As you look at all these elements, you wonder what’s it going to be like as you sit atop that platform and prepare for your first trip down,” said Elizabeth Ringas, communications director for American Coaster Enthusiasts. “You wonder ‘what is a water coaster? I’ve never experienced something like this’…but you’ll get to experience some of the great things we love about roller coasters brought into a water slide.”
What makes it really unique is that the water coaster sends riders uphill, said Suzy Cheely, Busch Gardens senior leader of design and engineering. This is done through a water jet propulsion system which will use the saucer feature to move riders uphill at higher speeds.
“We chose to do water propulsion,” Cheely said. “[With] this one, you get really wet. And our summers in Virginia are very hot, very humid. So, don’t worry our guests like to get wet and we’re happy to provide that for them.”
The ride will only last about a minute, but Ringas said when riders get off they’ll want to go again.
At Busch Gardens, the “Screamin’ Swing” ride, Finnegan’s Flyer, has started implementing the support legs for the ride earlier this week, said Cindy Sarko director, of consumer activation for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. Parts of the ride had previously been sent to Utah to be painted to match the Celtic coast cliffs theme.
Once the ride is completed, it will be on a square concrete foundation set into the hillside in the Ireland portion of the park, outside of Killarney. The ride will run on compressed air which will propel the swings 80 feet high at 45 mph.
“This will be a rite of passage for every kid,” Ringas said. “It’ll fulfill that childhood fun.”
Busch Gardens will open for the summer season on March 23 and Water Country USA will open on May 18, according to the Busch Gardens website.
