originally posted on 9/23/2022 1:19:00 AM
Image: Courtesy of Busch Gardens. View full-sized image.
With technology allowing for increasingly long-range
predictions, visitors to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) may want to
arrive prepared with winter coats, scarves and snow boots for the 2023 season.
The forecast is already calling for a raging storm on the grounds of King
Ludwig’s resurfaced, abandoned fortress, and brave souls will be called upon to
board snowmobiles and embark on an expedition to uncover the secrets behind Virginia’s
meteorological phenomenon.
DarKoaster: Escape The Storm, billed as the
world’s first all-indoor straddle coaster, will be supplied by Intamin
Worldwide and will utilize the park’s iconic Curse of DarKastle building that
has been closed since the dark ride was removed following the 2017 season.
While no specific details have been released regarding what riders will encounter
behind the walls, the coaster is expected to pay homage to the beloved
attraction with subtle theming nods obvious to Busch Gardens Williamsburg fans.
With Pantheon, the park’s multilaunch thriller,
having debuted for the 2022 season, DarKoaster will be juxtaposed in
back-to-back years. “DarKoaster will be an exciting and unique addition
to our world-class lineup of coasters,” said Kevin Lembke, Busch Gardens
Williamsburg’s park president. “Featuring four launches along 1,400 feet of
track, riders will traverse most of the circuit twice for an adventure covering
a total of 2,454 feet of twisted steel. Due to its indoor setting and 48-inch
height requirement, the attraction will be “a ride for the whole family to
conquer… throughout the year.”
Keen-eyed coaster enthusiasts will note the snowmobiles
in the rendering provided by Busch Gardens Williamsburg closely resemble the
jet skis riders board on SeaWorld San Antonio’s Wave Breaker: The Rescue
Coaster, leading to speculation that DarKoaster will utilize a
similar ride experience and perhaps even feature common mechanical components. Trains
are expected to be five rows of two.
Track is in place for DarKoaster.
Photo: Clint Novak. View full-sized image.
Considering the entirety of the coaster’s structure and
track already having been assembled inside the former DarKastle building, the
truth will likely not be known until it starts welcoming its first adventurers
in 2023 (at the time of this publication, an opening date has not been
announced).
When DarKoaster debuts, it will join a
much-acclaimed lineup of coasters in Amusement Today’s 2022 Golden
Ticket Awards winner for Most Beautiful Park, including Alpengeist, Apollo’s
Chariot, Griffon, InvadR, Pantheon and Verbolten.
It is also worth noting Busch Gardens Williamsburg is the home of Loch Ness
Monster, for which an event held to commemorate its opening in 1978 served
as the venue for the formation of ACE. The park will reach a coaster count in
the double digits (10).
— Rob Ascough
#ACENews