Busch Gardens Williamsburg submitted a press release today stating what many coaster enthusiasts had feared. Big Bad Wolf will be no more after this season. In fact, they gave Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) as the last day of operation for the classic coaster. ‘Wolf is arguably, the most popular suspended roller coaster in the World and it will be missed. I imagine that quite a few enthusiasts will be making trips down to Virginia before Labor Day. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
After 25 years traveling at the speed of fright, The Big Bad Wolf will take its last trip through Busch Gardens’ Bavarian village Sept. 7.
“We hate to see The Big Bad Wolf go,” said John Reilly, Busch Gardens’ general manager. “We realize The Big Bad Wolf is a guest favorite. We’re making the announcement now so coaster fans can ride one last time before it closes after Labor Day.”
The world’s first suspended roller coaster took coaster design to a new level when it opened in 1984. And while it cannot claim to be the fastest or the tallest, more than 29 million guests have ridden what has become one of the park’s most beloved thrill attractions. Legions of fans—young and old alike—often cite it as their introduction to the coaster experience.
“The Big Bad Wolf offers a thrilling ride experience coupled with aggressive ride dynamics. While it remains a safe attraction, it has simply reached the end of its service life,” said Larry Giles, Busch Gardens’ vice president of engineering and design.
Park officials are reviewing several design concepts for a new park attraction to replace The Big Bad Wolf, but no announcement is planned at this time. - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
As I said in my other post about the rumors around ‘Wolf’s removal, it will be quite a loss, but I can see where it might be a good business decision. I’m not an expert on Busch Gardens, but if the low ridership and high maintenance costs are in the equation it probably makes since to do something new with that area.
What Will Fill Big Bad Wolf’s Shoes?
With the mention of ‘a new park attraction’ and the ride’s somewhat early removal (before the season’s over) a new ride may be on its way before we know it. But what would be a good ride or roller coaster for the park to add in Big Bad Wolf’s place? Let’s take a look at some possibilities.
Finally, A Woodie in Williamsburg?
There’s been a long-running belief that Busch Gardens Williamsburg would never build a wooden coaster because of a noise ordinance created by the local Kings Mill community. I’ve never confirmed this, but there could be something to it. The sound of a wooden coaster’s rattling structure could carry for miles. If the noise ordinance issue isn’t true, then my pick would be for a terrain wooden coaster as it could fill the gap between the new Grover’s Alpine Express kiddie
coaster and the larger coasters the same way Big Bad Wolf did.
How about a more fun than intense terrain woodie with a unique layout like Raven at Holiday World? Gravity Group made an excellent terrain coaster in Ravine Flyer 2. If Busch has stayed away from woodies because of their maintenance and upkeep, then a hybrid steel structure like Ravine Flyer’s could be the answer. Waldameer’s President told me in an interview that they chose the more expensive steel structure because it would require less maintenance in the long run.
A Launch Coaster or a Flying Coaster
Looking at the Busch Gardens’ lineup, the park could also go with a launch coaster or a flying coaster to name a few other options. I just hope it’s as unique as Big Bad Wolf was. The good thing is that when it comes to Busch there’s a good chance we’ll get just that. A unique, well-themed ride that uses the park’s rolling green terrain in some way. So whatever will be put in Wolf’s place won’t likely disappoint. It will be interesting to see if the park also removes the Bavarian village that Big Bad Wolf flew through. I’d love to see them reuse that area, but they may need to remove everything for the rumored new country (section).
More on Big Bad Wolf
Read my full Big Bad Wolf review and check the on-ride video in the sidebar. Also, read about the brief history of suspended roller coasters in my Coasterology – Suspended Roller Coasters post.
UPDATE - Check out my comments from an interview I had with the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily on Bad Wolf’s retirement in “Coaster Enthusiasts Say Signs Were There on Big Bad Wolf’s End”. The article also includes quotes from Lance Hart the man behind ScreamScape.
UPDATE 9/8 – Yes. Sadly, Big Bad Wolf is officially now closed. After my visit to Busch this past weekend, I learned more about why the Big Bad Wolf has closed. Read more about why the park decided to close it and see a video of the final train in this post: A Legend Reaches Its Expiration Date
What’s Your Take?
How do you feel about Big Bad Wolf’s closing? What do you think Busch should put in its place? Leave a comment below. Images courtesy of CoasterImage.
July 25, 2009 at 03:11
This is very sad news. It was most kids first suspended coaster ( MINE TOO! ) The owners better make something that can replace it's uniqueness.
July 25, 2009 at 07:19
Well i dont think they can build a fly coaster/launch coaster in the middle of the forest. That would be a waste in my opinion. That would be so wierd if they had a launch coaster/flying coaster but no woody in the park. If they even want to think about putting in a fly coaster, they need to put in a woody. Oh and yes this was my first actual steel coaster which is actually a coaster and not just a coaster with a five foot drop
July 25, 2009 at 07:40
I recently wrote to Busch Gardens' guest relations in order to praise the Big Bad Wolf. I suspected these rumors were true when I received a very generic response not mentioning the coaster at all.
July 25, 2009 at 08:01
Wow, you really like your woody's.
July 25, 2009 at 11:51
Well yeah i havent really been on a woody for a long time…and i really want to!!!!!Well im going to Dollywood on Monday, just got a cabin to stay at!!!!!!
July 25, 2009 at 13:58
This was my first suspended coaster. This really sucks because the only other three suspended coasters left in America now are Iron Dragon, Flight Deck, and Ninja and there nothing like the Big Bad Wolf. R.I.P. Big Bad Wolf, you will forever be missed.
July 25, 2009 at 16:57
This was my actual first suspended coaster. Well my first one was Run Away Reptar at Carwinds. But that ride is pretty much a baby ride. Well this ride has a lot of memories, even though its no where near my favorite suspended coasters
July 26, 2009 at 19:27
I think that because of how high quality busch garden coasters are, a woodie is sort of impractical. Since they are all pre-fab nowadays, they don't really feel like a normal wooden coaster, but a flying coaster, or a launch coaster (my favorite) would fit in better. Plus, imagine something like Xcellerator (Which I went on for the first time today
) in the forest…having trees whiz by you increases the sensation of acceleration so much.
July 27, 2009 at 12:40
I just think it is sad … something as ground breaking and unique as Big Bad Wolf shouldn't just be thrown away. The next ride there had better be something out of this world. I just wish I had the money to get out there before BBW closes!
July 29, 2009 at 09:03
Very sad to read this one! Now my two other kids will never get to experience the Wolf like their older brother since there's no way I can get them to sprout a few inches before September to go ride it!
August 2, 2009 at 12:01
Really hate to see it go, sing the petition to try to save it! But if it HAS to go, a WOODIE terrian would be great for the once called "OLD COUNTRY".
August 2, 2009 at 16:14
Yeah they are going to take this ride out no matter what johnny no more saving it thats sad to see it go. Well…i didnt really like the ride in the first place…well it gave me a headache…..well who cares. If they were to start building another ride in its place the first thing that would come to my mind would be a wood coaster i mean perfect place. I hope they dont remove the houses out there cause that looked really cool. But yeah i woody back there in the woods would be such a good place to put it. I mean some people say they need a launch coaster or a fly coaster but i think thats crazy. They need to add a woody before they do all of that!
August 2, 2009 at 16:52
nothing can ever replace this legendary coaster. R.I.P. wolf
;(
August 2, 2009 at 20:04
think that may build a B&M flyer, but I would love to see an Intamin woodie like EL Toro…just bigger. Even an Itamin Aqua Trak would be real unique. I also wish that BG would invest in some flat rides , such as a themed power-launch tower, a large gyro swing, Screamin Swing..just to name a few. These would be great for BGE and especially for revamping the Davinchi"s Garden area. Either way, I hope its something spectacular since they are dropping their coaster count.
August 3, 2009 at 08:13
I too will miss the Wolf. And I bet they leave a hole there for awhile too. I mean how has it been since Drachen Fire closed down–years and years…and there's still nothing new where it used to be. Too bad–good thing Kings Dominion is so close.
August 3, 2009 at 14:06
You know what i think Busch Gardens needs…not counting a woody. Ive always thought they should add a drop zone in the middle of the park which you can see from all places in the park. I dont know i just love the feeling of flying down the drop zone!!!!
August 4, 2009 at 06:42
There is a LOT of people that come to theme parks and can’t handle Alpengeist, Griffon, and even Loch Ness, and found BBW to be the perfect middle ground.
I believe BG is starting to feel the pressure from coaster fans everywhere- there is a “gathering” of supporters planned for Thursday in front of the ride. We’ll see where this goes…
It would be nothing sweeter than BG being forced to keep the ride for a little bit longer because of public pressure.
August 4, 2009 at 14:35
Yeah so many people love this ride. I just heard that they were going to do this and i thought o this isnt going to end up good
August 21, 2009 at 12:51
Ive stayed at the kings mill resort community and BG is not far away. If a wooodie was built, there would probably be many complaints coming from kings mill about the noise. when i was in florida we stayed at a hotel about 2 miles from bush gardens tampa and we could hear gwazi running from the parking lot of the hotel.
August 21, 2009 at 12:51
the distance from kings mill to BGW is about the same.