More Insight Into Big Bad Wolf’s Closing: “Service Life” Defined
Yesterday, the Big Bad Wolf made its final run. While on the Busch Garden’s Roller Coaster Tour over the weekend, the tour guide Zach Gray admitted he was sad to see Big Bad Wolf go just like everyone else. Like many locals his age, it was his first roller coaster. He explained that the ride was closing because it had reached “the end of its service life.” The service life term appeared in the park’s official statements, but I never really understood what Busch meant by the term.
Zach explained in so many words that based on the ride’s dynamics, design, and specific installation, the manufacturer (Arrow), set a service life for the roller coaster. He compared it to the rider height requirements set by 
coaster manufacturers that parks agree to follow. In other words, Arrow may have told Busch that Big Bad Wolf will last about 25 years. Zach also informed me that cost was not an issue. If it was simply cost then, the park would have kept Big Bad Wolf open, he stated.
The Big Bad Wolf portion of the tour was brief. The tour guide explained that Big Bad Wolf had different maintenance operations than the other coasters. It only involved a quick look at the trains from the station. I’ll have a full trip report of the Roller Coaster Tour up soon.
Coverage of Big Bad Wolf’s Final Day
BGW Fans has in-depth coverage of the Wolf’s last hours. The station was pretty lively with Big Bad Wolf chants and wolf howls. Busch Gardens promised to stay open later than normal if needed so that everyone in line could get a ride. On a night when the park was supposed to close at 9 PM, the Wolf was still running at 10:45 according to ScreamScape. Here’s a video from BGW Fans of the last train returning to the station:
Don’t Expect to See Big Bad Wolf Relocated
For anyone familiar with Big Bad Wolf’s layout, it’s pretty clear that its custom terrain-based layout couldn’t simply be disassembled and placed at another park. In addition, we won’t likely see other parks use the Wolf’s trains. Big Bad Wolf is a second generation Arrow suspended coaster. The other suspended coasters still in operation are newer generations and have slightly different specifications.
Big Bad Wolf now joins the ranks of popular (if not legendary) defunct roller coasters like Hercules at Dorney Park, Drachen Fire at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and the original Steel Phantom at Kennywood. More than anything, I will miss the ride’s exciting flight through that Bavarian village filled with scared villagers watching from their candle-lit windows. I really hope that the new ride uses the same village in some way. It would be a real waste to tear all that down. Read my full Big Bad Wolf review.
What’s Your Take?
Are you sad to see Big Bad Wolf go? Leave a final goodbye or other comment below.
September 8, 2009 at 11:41
This is a sad day. I'm from Florida and I was able to ride this ride when I was about 13 when visiting cousins in VA. It's not so much the ride I'll miss, but the great day of fun that it represented.
September 8, 2009 at 13:49
I think its a good thing that the park kept it open so that everybody who wanted to ride got to, well done to them for that(not sure if thats the usual practice over there in the US)
Shame to see this go as I also read that Eagle Fortress at Everland maybe on the way out.
Still if the park can replace it with a B & M flying coaster that uses the unique terrain it could be a top 10 coaster. Greatness could emerge from this loss.
September 8, 2009 at 14:01
ppl, just cause its closed now dosent mean its just gonna skip a season and come back… and how about the christmas thingy???
September 8, 2009 at 19:51
So long old friend, I will miss you very much.
September 10, 2009 at 17:23
If xlr8's trains went six flags magic mountain isnt it possible that the bbw trains could go to some other park.
September 11, 2009 at 06:49
Very sad to see the Big Bad Wolf go, but glad that our entire family go to experience it together a few more times last month. My 5-year-old still talks about the ride…he loved it and I'm so glad he got to experience BBW as his first "real" coaster. He's been on others, sure, but this one was IMHO his first "big" one. So long Wolf!
September 11, 2009 at 12:32
I and the entire world is so sad. What is this world coming to? I mean, first it was The King Kobra at KD decades ago, and now this. We rode the BBW in July and it was smooth as butter and looked fantastic at the young age of 25yrs old. My 8 year old is really upset. He loved the BBW. All we do now is watch it on youtube every night. Next, they'll want to tear down The Lockness Monster. And she is much older. I bet it has something to do with this health care debate. They are trying to kill the coasters, because they can't afford the health insurance on them. Okay, I digress. uggg. So long my friend, I will never forget the way you swung me, turned me, and dropped me at the end.
September 13, 2009 at 09:36
This absolutely breaks my heart. This was my first roller coaster…I rode it when I was six. I made my father "hold me in" with his hand on my knee and then made him promise to buy me a "prize" at the end. He did, and I still have that dumb BBW pin. I was lucky enough to bring my kids this year to it's 25th anniversary. Needless to say, they are sad too. Nessie is my favorite…always has been, but the Wolf held a special place in my heart as my first. They tear down Ness and I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to the park again. And I hate that…it's a GREAT park!
September 13, 2009 at 14:18
(Don't take this as fact. It is my opinion!)
1. I don't think health care has any thing to do with it. I don't think the amusement parks provide insurance on the rides. They just pay the money once they get sued.
2. I don't think Nessie is going anywhere. Because of the ride dynamics, it doesn't cost nearly as much maintain. Also, it takes up very little room and the track is in a much more acceisible spot.
3. My friend (see BBW to be Removed Post) said that BBW is going to be removed because of maitinence. Then again, he only knows what his dad tells him.
4. Next years addition will be a 30 foot half-pipe for an extreme BMX show (I know! It just makes you think Europe!
). This will go where Drachen Fire stood. My conclusion- don't expect anything since 2012.
5. I said to him the enthusiast community wants a B&M Flyer. He didn't appear to know what that was. However, he seemed to understand after I explained. You can take that either way.
6. The "launch coaster" statment in BBW to be removed post has apparently been canceled. For curious minds, it was going to be called "Autobahn". From what he discribed, it seemed like either Test Track or a Vekoma Booster Bike.
7. I was in the car with his parents on the way to BGE when he said this. He was about to tell me the plans when he asked permission. No more was said about BGE's future the rest of the trip
8. BBW deconstrution has not started yet. There is still a "ghost train" on the track. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen.
So that's what I know.
September 13, 2009 at 14:20
Just sad.
September 13, 2009 at 14:22
Oh yeah, I am the anonymous above, but I'm just letting ya'll know about the name change.
September 13, 2009 at 21:32
Totally sad. Save the wolf! Save the wolf! Save the wolf! Maybe we can call in PETA. They might help to 'save the wolf!'
September 14, 2009 at 17:27
Hey, anyone know??? I heard somewhere; or read somewhere on line that Busch Garden's new owners did not want to be in the rollercoaster/ theme park business. Anyone have any info on this? If this is true, this is sad. Busch garens rocks!
September 16, 2009 at 09:16
It sucks that Big Bad Wolf is gone, Lochness was my first coster and BBW my second and I have gone back every year for the last 22 years. I was just glad I went on Labor Day weekend and was able to go on it one last time.
October 2, 2009 at 16:26
They're replacing it with a flying launch coaster like the superman but with a launch. I'm glad they're tearing it down because it sucked and it was old.
October 3, 2009 at 04:39
yeah right. good idea, but no. NOT A FLYING LAUNCH COASTER!!!
whered u get that idea?
October 3, 2009 at 04:45
hey, keep the language G ppl!
October 3, 2009 at 05:28
Yeah a flying launch coaster? not gonna happen. I would like to see a regular flying coaster though. Maybe they could make the longest flying coaster and make it go through the village bbw went through
October 3, 2009 at 05:47
maybe it could be like the phantoms revenge type, or son of the wolf?
October 3, 2009 at 06:29
I think they should just add some enhancements and keep the village, make it a better coaster, and place the end hill on larger 'legs'….it could nearly have the same course, but make it longer and more exciting, and call it "son of the wolf." I think that would be a great idea. That way you still satisfy "us" bbw fans, yet modernize it to be a better coaster that they can have a 'good contract of maintence on.'