WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Is Busch Gardens Williamsburg about to take us on a journey through Pluto's Underworld and run messages to the gods on Mercury’s lightning fast wings?
That's what the theme park is teasing in a tweet about its newest attraction, currently under construction.
The ride has been in the works for some time. Back in 2017, Busch Gardens received a 315-foot height waiver for a ride code-named "Project Madrid." After receiving it from James City County, nothing else was said of the project.
Then earlier this year, Busch Gardens said the Madrid plans had been canceled and a new attraction had taken its place. With it came a new code name: Project 2020. No new height waiver was needed for the new ride.
The ride is being built in the Fest Italia section of the park, in an area previously undeveloped except for use for animal stables. Leaked documents obtained by Busch Gardens fansite BGWFans.com show the ride will be a "high-intensity, high-octane, high-thrill design."
But so far, there has been no official word from Busch Gardens itself.
But now as visitors slowly ascend the first drop of Apollo's Chariot, a glance to the right will clearly show construction equipment and bulldozed terrain. Project 2020 is being built.
On June 25, the park gave us the first tantalizing taste of what the attraction's theme will be. "Escape Pluto's twisted Underworld and be immortalized in the garden of the gods #MMXX" Busch Gardens tweeted with a 6-second video showing a Romanesque-banner... and even more Roman numerals: "VI XXX MMXIX"
July 30, 2019.
Since that post, the theme park has posted several more teases, all referencing Roman gods which could suggest a theme ride based around the Pantheon -- a temple of the gods.
Aside from the social media teases, nothing else has been said, but it's safe to assume much more will be revealed later this month.
Until then, Busch Gardens fans are left to speculate!
The last coaster that debuted in the park was Invadr in 2017.