WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Twenty-six years. That’s how long Busch Gardens Williamsburg has gone without a major attraction in a section of the park that was once occupied by the infamous roller coaster Drachen Fire.
Well, that could change soon.
Some top coaster enthusiasts over at Busch Gardens fan site BGWFans are speculating about a new attraction arriving at the park in 2025. Based on applications filed in James City County, its location would be in Oktoberfest's Festhaus Park, the former home of Drachen Fire.
BGWFans has a long history of uncovering the latest and greatest attractions, digging through public records, and analyzing site plans down to the footers. They are coaster experts.
There was early speculation, before the pandemic, that something big was being planned for the area (something massive, in fact). But based on everything this group of coaster experts has gathered so far, including a James City County permit application filed in December, the plans have been scaled back dramatically.
BGWFans is now predicting an inverted family coaster with two lift hills and a series of banked hills and turns. However, an exciting development is speculation the new coaster’s theme could pay homage to another beloved former roller coaster - The Big Bad Wolf.
What we do know for sure, once site plans and permitting are approved construction could start as soon as early Spring. By then, we’ll have a much better idea of what’s in store for one of the most infamous sections of Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Busch Gardens isn’t commenting on plans for 2025 just yet. Right now, their focus is on renovations to the Loch Ness Monster, with the coaster expected to reopen to the public later this year.