WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Get ready for a new attraction at Busch Gardens!
Their newest ride, Finnegan's Flyer, officially opened to the public on Friday. It's a "screamin' swing" that features two pendulum-like arms, seating 32 riders that fly progressively higher with each swing.
The swing reaches more than 80 feet in the air and swings at about 45 miles per hour.
Finnegan's Flyer is Busch Gardens' Ireland village, adjacent the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster.
"We love the name and how it naturally fits into our Ireland village. It visually grabs your attention," said Suzy Cheely, the senior leader of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA. "This ride is huge. The swings go back and forth, increasing in height until you go beyond 90 degrees. As you swing back and forth, you catch more airtime, which is similar to a roller coaster. That may be unexpected, so people may be getting more of a thrill than they think."
On May 3, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A state senator was even in attendance.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg President Kevin Lembke said that the Finnegan's Flyer was one of his favorite rides in the park. He said the weightlessness and the full swinging motion really makes the experience thrilling, but not too scary.
Jonathan Smith, the SeaWorld Corporate Director of Rides and Engineering, said the process to create Finnegans Flyer took almost 15 months. He said a lot went into the planning process, like where to put the ride, what it would look like, and what kind of experience it would offer.
The big swing is family-friendly. The height limit is only 48 inches, which means younger kids can even enjoy it. However, "only the bravest will prevail."
Water Country USA is also expecting to open a new ride this season, Cutback Water Coaster. It will be Virginia's first hybrid water coaster and the only RocketBLAST® coaster on the East Coast. The water slide will merge with unique technologies – a water jet propulsion system and exhilarating saucer feature. With the RocketBlast technology, Cutback will drive bigger boats, at higher speeds, and move riders up longer, steeper inclines.