Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. It opened on May 5, 1975, adjacent to the local Anheuser-Busch brewery. The park is themed around the history and culture of old-world Europe.
| Previously known as Busch Gardens: The Old Country - 1974 to 1992 Busch Gardens Williamsburg - 1993 to 2005 | |
| File:Busch gardens logo.gif | |
| Location | Williamsburg, Virginia  |
|---|---|
| Opened | May 16, 1975 |
| Owner | Anheuser-Busch |
| Slogan | “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” |
| Operating season | March - October |
| Area | 250 acres |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 25 |
| Roller coasters | 5 |
| Water rides | 3 |
| Website | [1] |
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.
Busch Gardens Europe attracts nearly 2.5 million guests annually. The park operates from mid-March until the end of October.
Overview
Busch Gardens Europe opened on May 5,1975. The park features a combination of world class roller coasters and Broadway style shows for all ages. This park is laid out as a large circle that crosses the path between Banbury Cross, England and Heatherdowns, Scotland. Travel on this circle is either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on which attractions are to be seen first. A left turn at this crossroads leads to Italy/San Marco, while a right turn leads to Ireland. Guests may also follow the path straight into Heatherdowns, Scotland. This walkway then croasses the park's railroad, then 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 then 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 ECVs.
Awards
Busch Gardens Europe has been voted the world's Most Beautiful Theme Park for sixteen consecutive years and named the world's Favorite Theme Park for the fourth year in a row by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.
Also the park received high accolades in the international Golden Ticket Award, hosted by Amusement Today, in Best Food, Best Shows and Cleanest Park. It also took the top place in the categories, Best Landscaping and Most Beautiful Park.
In 2003 Busch Gardens was awarded the Applause Award in honor of the park's "management, operations and creative accomplishments that have inspired the industry with foresight, originality and sound business development."
Busch Gardens Europe was voted as the "World's Best Theme Park" in the 2006 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
Busch Gardens is dedicated to wildlife conservation and animal care. Jack Hanna's Wildlife Reserve houses a variety of wild species including grey wolves. The Eagle Ridge is a sanctuary for injured bald eagles that are rehabilitated until they recover.
The Rhine River Cruise's Boats are battery powered versus the usual fuel burning motors to cut back on power generation and prevent water pollution. In addition Busch Gardens and Water Country USA both use insects rather than pestcides in the park's commitment to organic gardening.
Busch Gardens Recycles 500 tons of materials annually. All brochures, maps, show guides, and all paper products in the restrooms are made from recycled material.
Material Recycled Breakdown:
- Batteries - 2 tons
- Cardboard - 225 tons
- Drink containers (Aluminum, glass, plastic) - 12 tons
- Light bulbs - 1.5 tons
- Miscellaneous material - 40 tons
Countries
Shows, restaurants, shops, and roller coasters are divided throughout the park into organized "hamlets" themed after promiment European countries. The skyride transports guests between Banbury Cross, Rhinefeld, and Aquitaine. Replica steam trains transport guests between Heatherdowns, Festa Italia, and New France. Currently, Busch Gardens Europe is divided into nine hamlets representing six different countries.
Banbury Cross (England)
Upon entering Banbury Cross, guests are transported into 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 rentals are provided on the right side of Banbury Cross just inside the entrance. The famous St. Stephen's clocktower 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 theater, a double-sized replica of William Shakespeare's performance home, is the most prominent attraction in the area, currently featuring Pirates 4-D. Banbury Cross also contains the nearst skyride station 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. Riders .
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 Virginia. 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. Tweedside gifts is located inside the train station. Heatherdowns is also the home to the world famous Clydesdale horses. Other points of interest include Pigs in a Kilt, a counter service walk-up.
Killarney (Ireland)
Formerly known as Hastings, England, this section of the park was rethemed in 2001 as Ireland, the newest country in over 20 years. The most promiment attraction in this section of the park is the 4-D simulator Corkscrew Hill, in which riders are shrunken into miniature size to travel through old magical Ireland. This area also prominently features shows including the Irish dancing show Emerald Beat and the thrilling family show Secrets of Castle O'Sullivan. Grogan's Grill offers realistic Irish cuisine in this area. Outside the gateway next to Castle O'Sullivan, 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 last link in 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. 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 picture-perfect Renaissance-style rides. The Flying Machine,a circular ride, Da Vinci's Cradle, a magic carpet-type ride, and The Battering Ram, a swinging Viking ship, all utilize the forces of gravity and laws of motion to send riders on a variety of thrills. They are also based on Da Vinci's sketches. The Little Balloons and the Little Gliders are children's attractions based in Da Vinci's Garden. Also in the area is Restorante Della Piazza, featuring Italian cuisine and allowing guests to watch the long-running Holiday in Roma show or listen to a Starlight Orchestra performance while enjoying their meal.
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 210-foot 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 have been mounted on the rails alongside the viewing area of Roman Rapids so that nonriders can make a wet ride even wetter! Turkish Delight, a spinning teacup ride, Tradewinds, a circular speed ride, and Elephant Run, a children's ride, add to the fun of this section. 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 the Curse of DarKastle, a motion-based dark ride themed around Ludwig II of Bavaria. It debuted in 2006 with enhanced animation and a new ride experience. It features simulated shattering ice, hot/cold transitions, a simulated freefall, and the juxtaposition of physical sets and 3D screens. The second and third legs of Busch Gardens' skyride arrive and depart 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)
Along with Rhinefeld, this section is also based on Germany. Oktoberfest celebrates the German festival of the same name.
The roller coaster in this section is The Big Bad Wolf, one of the first suspended roller coasters. The park maintains that the coaster moves at the speed of fright, which has been clocked in the area of 40 mph. Some experts dispute this claim.
Oktoberfest also features a variety of flat rides including bumper cars, the katapult (a scrambler flat ride), the waveswinger, along with other kiddie rides. Oktoberfest is also home to a large assortment of carnival-style games. Das Festhaus is the largest eating facility in North America where guests can enjoy authentic German food or American classics. While eating in Das Festhaus, guests can also experience "This is Oktoberfest," an upbeat show featuring German singing and dancing.
Aquitaine (France)
Centering around the quaint French village of Aquitaine, this section is based upon France. France is home to many quaint French shops and one of the park's skyride stations, where the fist 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, summer concert series in the late summer, and themed show for Howl O' Scream in September and October. With the removal of the Le Mans Raceway family car ride, the new roller coaster Griffon ,which is now open, will really bring in the crowds. Bolliger and Mabillard have been contracted to construct this new roller coaster which has a 205-foot tall 90o drop. Griffon was set to open on May 25, 2007, but opened May 18th and is currently operating for riding at the world's most beautiful Theme Park.
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. The second-largest attraction here lies on the border of Rhinefelf and New france.Alpengeist, one of the tallest and fastest inverted coasters in the world, built by Bolliger & Mabillard sits in a remote ski resort-themed area, "Alpengeist" means Ghost of the Alps. Griffon, which is now open to the public, has a drop ten feet higher than Alpengiest. "Griffon" evokes the power of the lion and the eagle, in a mythological adventure guarenteed to thrill guest with it's first intial plunge at 90 degrees. Rides in New France include the Busch Gardens Railway departing from Caribou Station and Le Scoot Log Flume, featuring a 50-foot drop. New France also features the Canadian Paladdium Theater. This theater housed American Jukebox in 2006.
Roller coasters
Existing
Griffon is Busch Gardens Europe's third roller coaster in ten years. It had a soft opening on Mother's Day, May 13th, 2007, but is still advertising the official opening date of May 25. Griffon had what is being called a "Sneak Peek Week" May 18th - May 24th. Griffon will be a floorless dive machine constructed by Bolliger & Mabillard. It will stand 205 feet tall with a 90o first drop. It will feature two Immelman loops, one vertical drop, one 87o drop, a splash zone, and an airtime hill. Griffon will be the second dive coaster in America (the first being SheiKra at Busch Gardens Africa), the first floorless dive coaster in the world, the tallest dive coaster in the world, and the only dive coaster in the world with two inversions.
Defunct
- Drachen Fire
- Glissade
- Wild Maus: Has since been relocated to Busch Gardens Africa as Cheetah Chase
- Die Wildkatze
- Das Kätzchen
- Das Winderblind
Animal Attractions
Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve
There are various kinds of birds that inhabit Jack Hanna’s Wild Reserve. A big attraction here are the Bald Eagles and Wolves.
Eagle Ridge
Eagle Ridge houses injured and rehabilitating bald eagles and provides education to visitors.
Wolf Valley
In order to provide more room for Busch Garden's Grey Wolves a new habitat called Wolf Valley has been constructed in front of Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve. Wolf Valley is where the bald eagles were kept on display until 2005.
Clydesdales
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is home to the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. These magnificent horses are located at the stables between Barnbury Cross and Heatherdowns.