Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. It opened on May 16, 1975, adjacent to the local Anheuser-Busch brewery and other-related AB developments including the Kingsmill Resort complex. The park is themed around the history and culture of old-world Europe. It is owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group.The park was originally called Busch Gardens: The Old Country, reflecting the European theme. In the early 1990s the park was renamed Busch Gardens Williamsburg. In 2006, the name was changed to Busch Gardens Europe, to once again reflect the European theme. Similarly, Busch Gardens Tampa was renamed to Busch Gardens Africa at the start of the 2006 season. Starting in late 2008, the park has been gradually returning to the Busch Gardens Williamsburg branding.

Overview

Busch Gardens opened on May 5, 1975. The park features a combination of roller coasters and Broadway style shows. This park is laid out as a large circle that crosses the path between Banbury Cross, England and Heatherdowns, Scotland. A left turn at this crossroads leads to Italy/San Marco, while a right turn leads to Killarney, Ireland. Guests may also follow the path straight into Heatherdowns, Scotland. Beyond Heatherdowns, the walkway leads down a steep hill containing thirteen flights of stairs with slanted landings. At the base of this hill is the Rhine River Cruise boat ride. The path beyond the boat ride continues up an equally steep hill and stairs leading to Rhinefeld, Germany. Even though the Rhine River Cruise is one of the mildest rides in the park, its location is not accessible to strollers, wheelchairs or ECV Mobility Carts. The park's operating season originally ran from mid-March until the end of October. In the 2009 season, the season will be extended to the end of December for Christmas-themed attractions and shows.

Awards

The park traditionally receives high accolades in the international Golden Ticket Award, hosted by Amusement Today. In 2006, the park placed in Best Food, Best Shows and Cleanest Park. It took the top place in the category Best Landscaping. Busch Gardens has over several years received recognition from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), most prominently taking the Applause Award for "management, operations and creative accomplishments that have inspired the industry with foresight, originality and sound business development" in November 2002. Busch Gardens Williamsburg was voted as the "World's Best Theme Park" in both the 2006 and 2007 Theme Park Insider Awards. The ride Curse of DarKastle won the 2005 Theme Park Insider Award for "World's Best New Theme Park Attraction."

Conservation

Jack Hanna's Wildlife Reserve houses a variety of wild species including gray wolves and bald eagles. Busch Gardens is partnered with SeaWorld (also owned by Busch Entertainment Corp.) in the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which offers guests the opportunity to contribute to wildlife conservation. The Rhine River Cruise's Boats are battery powered to cut back on power generation and prevent water pollution. In addition Busch Gardens and Water Country USA both use insects rather than pesticides in the park's commitment to organic gardening. All brochures, maps, show guides, and all paper products in the restrooms are made from recycled material.

Special events

Busch Gardens hosts a "Summer Nights" concert series featuring performances by nationally known rock and country artists such as artists like Eddie Money, Peter Frampton, Grand Funk Railroad, and The Guess Who. During Howl-O-Scream, which begins the middle of September and runs through the end of October, the park and many of its attractions are transformed during Halloween.

The park also periodically offers special rates or packages for certain members of the US military. The current program, entitled Here's to the Heroes, was initiated in February 2005 and has been extended through the 2009 season. Active duty, active reserve, ready reserve, or National Guard service members, along with up to three direct dependents, are granted one day's free admission to Busch Gardens Williamsburg or one of Anheuser-Busch's other parks.

Christmas Town

Announced on December 4, 2008, Busch Gardens will be holding a special Christmas event named "Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration" starting on November 27, 2009 and lasting through December. Events will include special holiday-themed dining opportunities, unique shopping experiences, evening Santa Claus visits, children's shows, strolling carolers, tree-lighting ceremonies and select rides including Griffon (weather dependent), Corkscrew Hill and Curse of DarKastle.

Countries

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is divided into ten organized areas called hamlets. The hamlets are themed after six European countries.

Two attractions provide transportation around the park. The Skyride gondola lift transports guests between the Banbury Cross, Aquitaine and Rhinefeld hamlets; while replica steam trains transport guests between the Heatherdowns, Festa Italia, and New France hamlets.

Banbury Cross (England)

Banbury Cross is fashioned after England, complete with stereotypical red telephone booths and common English architecture. A variety of shops await guests in this small hamlet. Guest Services windows are located next to the turnstiles of the Main gate. Stroller, wheelchair and ECV Mobility Cart rentals are provided on the right side of Banbury Cross just inside the entrance. A simulacrum of the famous St. Stephen's Clock Tower (Big Ben) is the central element of this area. Banbury Cross also includes The Squire's Galley, serving breakfast and lunch, as well as a funnel cake shop, ice cream shop, and candy store. The Globe Theatre, a double-sized replica of William Shakespeare's performance home, is the most prominent attraction in the area, currently featuring Sesame Street presents Lights, Camera, Imagination!, a 4-D film. The theater previously featured the films "Pirates", starring Eric Idle and Leslie Nielsen, R. L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse, and Haunts of the Old Country. Prior to the 4-D films, the theater hosted a variety of live shows. Banbury Cross also contains the skyride station nearest to the Main Gate. The Aeronaut (first leg) of the skyride departs to Aquitaine, France, while the Zeppelin (third leg) skyride arrives from Rhinefeld, Germany.

Heatherdowns (Scotland)

Heatherdowns is a quaint Scottish hamlet situated at the top of the hill on the path leading from Banbury Cross, England. It is the second of Busch Gardens' European hamlets. The central attraction in this area is the Loch Ness Monster. When this coaster premiered in 1978, it was the tallest and longest looping coaster in the world. It is the only roller coaster with interlocking loops currently in operation (until it was removed in 2003, Orient Express at Worlds of Fun also had interlocking loops). Tweedside Train Station offers a 20 minute ride through the park with additional stops in Festa Italia and at the central train station, Caribou, in New France. The Label Stable gift shop is located adjacent to the train station and offers a variety of Anheuser-Busch gift items. Heatherdowns is also home to Clydesdale horses, identified with the Anheuser-Busch brand since 1933. Other points of interest include Pigs in a Kilt, a counter service walk-up.

Sesame Street Forest of Fun

Opened on April 3, 2009, Sesame Street Forest of Fun at Busch Gardens features four new family-friendly rides, including a Zierer junior roller coaster named Grover's Alpine Express, a log flume, a rock-n-tug type ride, a shot-n-drop ride, and wet and dry play areas all themed to Sesame Street and Sesame Street characters.

Killarney (Ireland)

Formerly known as Hastings, England, this section of the park was re-themed in 2001 as Ireland, the newest country in over 20 years. The most prominent attraction in this section of the park is the 4-D simulator Corkscrew Hill, in which riders travel in miniature through old magical Ireland. This area also prominently features Emerald Beat, an engaging celebration of Irish dance, showcasing world class performers. Grogan's Grill offers Irish cuisine in this area. Outside the gateway next to Dining with Elmo, the walkway makes a sharp left turn and begins a long, moderately steep climb toward Aquitaine, France. Several animal sanctuaries and an animal performance theater are situated along this path.

San Marco (Italy)

When Italy/San Marco was opened, it completed the outer circle walkway around Busch Gardens. Part of the park's expansion included a high pedestrian bridge across the Rhine River into Oktoberfest, Germany. The bridge currently houses a salute to the various branches of the US military. San Marco is based upon Renaissance era Italy. Escape from Pompeii is a Shoot-the-Chutes ride transporting guests to a 1920s dig of the ruins of Pompeii. The ride features prominent fire effects and a fifty-foot plunge. A prominent feature within San Marco is Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions. This garden features Italian statues and flowers set amid rides based on sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, including The Flying Machine, a circular ride, Da Vinci's Cradle, a magic carpet-type ride, and The Battering Ram, a swinging Viking ship. The Little Balloons and the Little Gliders are children's attractions based in Da Vinci's Garden. Also in the area is Ristorante della Piazza, featuring Italian cuisine and allowing guests to watch "Festivale Italiano." During the summer, sounds of the Starlight Orchestra can be heard while dining.

Festa Italia (Italy)

Festa Italia is themed around a fair celebrating Marco Polo's return to Italy from his famous visit to China. The most prominently featured ride in this section is Apollo's Chariot, a Bolliger and Mabillard Hypercoaster with a drop. Also in the area is Roman Rapids, a river rapids raft ride which uses ancient Roman architecture and sculpture to drench riders. Coin-operated squirt guns are mounted on the rails alongside the viewing area of Roman Rapids so that nonriders can make a wet ride even wetter. Also included in this section are Turkish Delight, a spinning teacup ride, Tradewinds, a circular speed ride known as a himalaya, and Elephant Run, a children's ride. Train passengers from Tweedside and Caribou stations can load and unload here. Festa Italia also features numerous food vendors and carnival games.

Rhinefeld (Rhineland Germany)

This section is based upon Germany. The main attraction of Rhinefeld is a Bolliger and Mabillard inverted coaster, known as Alpengeist. Alpengeist is themed to a runaway ski lift in the German Alps controlled by the Alpengeist, and features six inversions. The third leg of Busch Gardens' skyride arrives and departs from this section. Also in Rhinefeld is Land of the Dragons, a large children's play area featuring a playground, five rides, and seasonal shows.

Oktoberfest (Bavarian Germany)

Like Rhinefeld, this section is based on Germany. Oktoberfest celebrates the German festival of the same name. The main attraction in Oktoberfest is the Curse of DarKastle. This dark ride is themed to a castle frozen in time by mad Ludwig himself. Oktoberfest also features a variety of flat rides including bumper cars, the katapult (a scrambler flat ride) and the waveswinger, along with other kiddie rides. Oktoberfest is also home to a large assortment of carnival-style games. Das Festhaus is a large, air conditioned eating facility where guests can purchase authentic German food or American classics. While eating in Das Festhaus, guests can experience This is Oktoberfest, an upbeat show featuring German singing and dancing, or listen to a brass quartet, playing a variety of well known tunes and German folk songs. This section of the park formerly hosted The Big Bad Wolf, one of the first successful suspended roller coasters. The Big Bad Wolf was closed on September 7, 2009.

Aquitaine (France)

Centering around the quaint French village of Aquitaine, this section is based upon France. It is home to many French boutiques and one of the park's skyride stations, where the first leg of the skyride arrives from England and the second leg departs for Rhinefeld, Germany. The Royale Palace Theatre in France hosts numerous shows throughout the season with a main feature during the summer months, Kinetix, summer concert series in the late summer, and themed show for Howl O' Scream in September and October. The Le Mans Raceway family car ride, an original park attraction, was removed to make room for the Bolliger and Mabillard roller coaster Griffon, which has a tall 90° drop. Griffon was set to open on May 25, 2007, but opened May 18. Griffon is the tallest drop coaster in the country, and only outshines its sister coaster Sheikra, at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, by a mere .

New France (French Canada)

This is the only non-European themed region. It is based on French colonial Canada. It consists of a hub of Canadian-themed shops with a colonial tone throughout the area. Rides in New France include the Busch Gardens Railway departing from Caribou Station and Le Scoot Log Flume, featuring a plunge through a saw mill. New France also houses the Canadian Palladium Theater, which features the new show Goin' Country. A predominant feature in this area is the Trappers Smokehouse which has a outdoor grill centrally located. Trappers Smokehouse offers grilled and smoked items such as chicken, ribs, and beef brisket.

Roller coasters

Existing (listed by first year)

• Loch Ness Monster (1978 — present)
• Alpengeist (1997 — present)
• Apollo's Chariot (1999 — present)
• Griffon (2007 — present)
• Grover's Alpine Express (2009 — present)

Defunct (listed by closing year)

• Die Wildkatze (1976 — 1983)
  • Replaced by Big Bad Wolf
• Das Kätzchen (1976 — 1984)
• Glissade (1975 — 1985)
  • Replaced by Wild Maus
• Drachen Fire (1992 — 2002)
• Wild Maus (1996 — 2003)
  • Moved to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as Cheetah Chase
  • Replaced by Curse of DarKastle
  • Opened as the Wild Izzy as a tie in to the Izzy, mascot of the 1996 Olympic Games, for which Budweiser was a sponsor.
• Big Bad Wolf (1984 — 2009)
  • Park officials are reviewing several expansion concepts to replace the Big Bad Wolf which are widely rumored to include a new country with a flying coaster, however nothing is official and there is no planned announcement at this time.

Animal Attractions

Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve

Along with various birds that inhabit Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve, major attractions here are the bald eagles and wolves. Eagle Ridge is a 3,000+ foot area set aside for housing and rehabilitating bald eagles and providing education to visitors. Wolf Haven is a viewing area where guests may observe one of Busch Garden's pairs of wolves. One pair is on exhibition at a time. Busch Gardens also provides Wolf Valley for those wolves not on display. Over of natural habitat is intended to ensure the animals' health and well-being.

Clydesdales

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is home to several of the world famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. You can see these beautiful horses at their stables in Heatherdowns/Scotland, across from the Tweedside Station. You can also see the Clydesdales grazing in two pastures while riding on the train. Also, just recently the donkey named Zipper, who lead the Clydesdale horses when they walked, was retired by his owner. In his place, another Clydesdale was brought in. Silver and Raz, two dalmatians can be seen in the field at the stable.

--As of October 2009 the Clydesdales will no longer be at Busch Gardens because of the sale of the park to the Blackstone Group in October of 2009.

Parking and transportation

At the park

At the park, special parking areas are provided for persons with special needs or disabilities, recreational vehicles, and groups arriving by buses and motorcoaches. Trams provide shuttle service to and from entrance gates from outlying parking areas.

Within the park itself, three steam locomotive powered trains operate on a loop of track, providing transportation between the Heatherdowns, Festa Italia, and New France themed areas. Additionally, a skyride provides transportation between the Banbury Cross, Aquitaine, and Rhinefeld themed areas.

References

Sources

• Busch Gardens Williamsburg web site
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg Howl-o-Scream official website.
• Busch Gardens Williamsburg Christmas Town official site.
• Roller Coaster Database entries for Busch Gardens Williamsburg

External links

• Official home page
• Here's To the Heroes website