Friday, December 1, 2023

Here’s what Finnegan’s Flyer looks like two months ahead of its opening date

The massive legs of Finnegan's Flyer will feature elaborate theming. A painter works on some of those details here. (WYDaily/Courtesy Busch Gardens)
The massive legs of Finnegan’s Flyer will feature elaborate theming. A painter works on some of those details here. (WYDaily/Courtesy Busch Gardens)

A new ride in the Ireland section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg is coming together in two different parts of the country, just a couple months ahead of the park’s opening date.

A video posted recently by a Busch Gardens public relations Twitter account gives an update on the project outside of Killarney.

Finnegan’s Flyer — a “screamin’ swing” — will send riders up to 80 feet in the air and reach up to 45 mph.

The ride is set to open in May. Busch Gardens Williamsburg opens March 23.

The video shows a large, square concrete foundation set into the hillside with two blue-green air tanks underneath to power the ride.

RELATED STORY: New thrill rides coming to Busch Gardens, Water Country USA next year

In an interview in the video, Suzy Cheely, Busch Gardens senior leader of design and engineering, said some parts of the ride are being manufactured in Utah.

Cheely said the site was “anything but flat,” and it was challenging to build with a stream next to the ride site.

In another post March 1, Busch Gardens showed two photos of the construction at the ride manufacturer, S&S Sansei in Logan, Utah.

Some parts of the ride are being painted, while other parts have been fabricated and are ready for installation.

More photos can be found on the Busch Gardens website. The website also features photos of Water Country USA’s new cutback water coaster.

RELATED STORY: Here’s how Water Country USA’s new coaster is shaping up

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

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