WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — After months of work and restoration, one of Busch Gardens Williamsburg's oldest and most iconic attractions is "resurfacing" from the depths to thrill rollercoaster enthusiasts once again!
The newly renovated "Loch Ness Monster: The Legend Lives On" had its grand reopening on Friday, May 10. Busch Gardens Members were able to get a sneak peek early ride access the weekend before.
The iconic, bright yellow coaster has been a fan favorite at Busch Gardens for over 45 years, featuring large plummets, interlocking vertical loops, and a race through a spiraling tunnel.
Busch Gardens closed "Nessie" late last year to give it a major restoration. Over 900 feet of its signature steel track has been replaced and riders "will encounter new sights, sounds, and surprises during their journey through the Scottish terrain," the theme park said in a news release.
"Loch Ness Monster has been a staple to our park since 1978, even being recognized as a registered landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts," said Kevin Lembke, President of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA in a press release announcing the ride's overhaul last October. "We are excited to continue Loch Ness Monster’s story in 2024 and beyond."
Ahead of the coaster's reopening, a "Sighting Center" opened in April that gave park-goers an in-depth history of the Loch Ness Monster through a walkthrough experience that features "archived photos, attraction milestones, and more".
As we look forward to many more years of Nessie lurking in the waters of Busch Gardens, we went back into our archives and found this story from the early 1980s when the Loch Ness Monster needed a bit of new paint:
And while we don't want to spoil all of the new additions to the Loch Ness Monster, 13News Now photojournalist Jason Walsh took a final ride on Nessie last year before it closed for renovations. Here's an on-ride view of how it used to look, but remember, things may be a bit different when you get on board now!