originally posted on 9/30/2024
In the summer of 1984, a wolf loomed near a tiny German village nestled at the edge of the Black Forest. Every so often it terrorized this village, and the villagers called it the Big Bad Wolf. This was, of course, not really a wolf in a German village, but instead an Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. It had a top speed of 40 mph, a track length of 2,800 feet and reached a maximum height of 111 feet.
On July 24, 2009, Big Bad Wolf terrorized the town for the last time. This attack was called “Nacht des Wolfes” or “Night of the Wolf.” Following this, the villagers began to rebuild their damaged homes, and in the coaster’s place beginning in 2012, Verbolten began to give tours to visitors who wanted to brave the Black Forest. Verbolten was created by the German manufacturer Zierer, and it traverses a path similar to that of Big Bad Wolf. The villagers felt safe and began to forget about the beast that once terrorized them.
Yet the cries of the wolf could be heard every so often, and over time the villagers began to hear the cries of the wolf become louder and louder. The wolf has now returned, and it is out for vengeance, represented by a new coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. It will be North America’s longest inverted family coaster and will feature two lift hills, though the park has not made public any official statistics. Intended to be friendly to families in the same manner as Phoenix Rising at sister park Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Florida), the coaster will likely have a minimum rider height of 42 inches with a companion rider and 48 inches to ride alone.
Yet to be named, Busch Gardens Williamsburg has offered three options on which the public can vote: Wolfstrum, WolfsReign and GeisterWolf. Regardless of which is chosen, the legend of Big Bad Wolf will live on.
— Amanda Hilliard
#ACENews