This morning, Screamscape tweeted some maybe-not-so-surprising news: Busch Gardens Tampa will soon close Gwazi:
Busch Gardens Tampa just confirmed it to Screamscape – GWAZI TO CLOSE SOON – http://t.co/mUTK83RqWL
— Screamscape (@screamscape) December 19, 2014
The dueling Great Coasters International (GCI) wooden coaster has been problematic since it opened in 1999, despite new trains and other enhancements from GCI.
In fact, only the “Lion” side of the coaster has been operating since the “Tiger” side closed in 2012.
Both sides of the wooden coaster were notorious for the rough (and sometimes painful) ride experiences.
The pair of 3,500-foot-long coasters stand 105 feet tall and feature a top speed of 51 mph.
What do you think about Gwazi’s possible upcoming closure? What do you think the future holds for the coaster or the plot of land that it occupies? Discuss in the comments section below.
Dose this coaster not shout iron horse treatment? I know they don’t have the money right now, but I can dream.
Jeremy – I think it’s not impossible, but I think demolition is more likely at this point. Time will tell.
Here’s my two cents, have Rocky Mountain do this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBsk6qaYX2c) to the ride, that’s all I have to say. Let them turn them into some of the sickest duelers ever built with a proper High-Five element. Now that’s a ride I’d love to see real, or get an Oculs Rift that has since been compatible with NL2.
Or you could do what was rumored to American Eagle before Goliath and convert the unused side into an iron horse and have them duel that way, being the first wood vs. steel dueler ever built.
I like both CoDAce and Jeremy’s thinking. I like the idea of Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa getting Rocky Mountain Construction renovation… hopefully Gwazi can remain a dueling/racing coaster, and not a Mobius loop coaster (Twisted Colossus)… and maybe BGT giving Six Flags Magic Mountain a run for its money.
I’m also aware of SeaWorld Entertainment, parent company of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks being in debt. It’d be a shame to see Gwazi remain SBNO (standing but not operating), similar to how Son Of The Beast at Kings Island, and Flashback at SFMM were SBNO for a couple of years, before being demolished.
If SeaWorld is mulling over selling the Busch Gardens parks, in hopes of erasing some/most of its debts… I see Busch Gardens Williamsburg being sold to either Herschend Family Entertainment or Premier Parks… and BGT to Six Flags. Not sure if Six Flags would be interested in adding a Florida theme park to its portfolio.
If BGT were to be sold to Six Flags, the “Busch Gardens” name would disappear, and be replaced with Six Flags name… as well as introduction of DC Comics Justice League and Looney Tunes characters/themes… “Fright Fest” and “Holiday In The Park” events… and water-park being renamed “Hurricane Harbor”.