Gwazi to close at Busch Gardens? Fact or Rumour?
Perhaps Central Florida’s most charismatic roller coaster is soon destined to make the headlines.
If rumors are true, this bone shaking ‘woodie’ (wooden structure design) is about to be turned into matchsticks any year soon.
While it is only rumors, and nothing yet confirmed by Busch Gardens, the Gwazi is only down to one train.
The Tiger train and track appears to be permanently closed now, leaving only the Lion side open to guests as a cost cutting exercise most likely.
So what is the likely future of Gwazi?
Further rumours reported on the Screamscape website in April of 2013 point to Gwazi giving over to a brand new ‘speed coaster’ some time in 2015 or beyond and that the recently purchased Gwazi trains (one of which, the Tiger is reported to be loaded onton transportation sleds) may be headed to Busch Gardens Williamsburg as the ride gear for a new wooden attraction over there.
A new investment at Busch Gardens is a distinct possibility, on the back of the recently introduced and popular Cheetah Hunt long and ‘mild but wild’ coaster.
A hefty investment would also reflect an ongoing commitment to the region’s tourism industry by Blackstone, the owners of SeaWorld. There’s no lack of investment going on there, and rightly so if SeaWorld and Busch aim to stay in the limelight amidst huge developments already in the pipeline at the neighboring Universal and Disney parks.
In reality, Busch has its work cut out. An additional one million visitors would lift Busch from the bottom of the Orlando area theme park attendance list and elevate it above SeaWorld (2011 figures).
Not an easy task with so much activity at the Ocean based theme park!
Get Gwazi while you can!
In our opinion, this rumour has legs. No sense in taking a train, crating it up and shutting down 50% of a giant beast of a ride that sprawls across a vast portion of a park’s real estate. Yes, our personal opinion is that Gwazi will click and clack around this monstrous and adorable wooden track for the last time in 2013.
Although this Rickety Rackity ‘old’ wooden roller coaster looks destined to run the rails no more, be assured that Busch Gardens will put a fair amount of effort into grabbing those headlines, and of course extra gate entrance dollars!
Goodbye Old Friend!
