WILLIAMSBURG — Busch Gardens’ newest attraction has just been announced, and it’s going to be much different than the park’s other rides.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg will open a virtual reality ride called “Battle For Eire” in spring 2018, leading park guests through a virtual reality adventure based in Ireland, according to a Busch Gardens news release.
The attraction is still in development, but the park has released some details of the future ride.
The ride will feature a “fierce fairy warrior” named Addie who will direct riders of all ages through a virtual reality world, the release said. With other characters — both good and evil — park guests will assist Addie in rescuing the heart of Eire, meaning the “magic of Ireland.”
Battle for Eire will be in the Ireland area of the park and will use 360-degree virtual reality headsets and a motion simulator to immerse riders in different world, the release said.
The virtual reality attraction will be the first of its kind in North America, according to a March 18 news release from the park.
“We are taking guests on an incredible journey,” said Larry Giles, vice president of engineering at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. “The movement of the simulator combined with interactive special effects from the VR headsets will deliver an exciting, high-energy experience, with a great storyline.”
The new ride is slated to open about a year after Busch Gardens’ newest roller coaster, the InvadR.
Read more about the ride here.