It’s Goin’ Down! – Verbolten Construction Photo Reveals Freefall Drop Track
One of the elements inside Verbolten’s mysterious ‘event building’ may have been uncovered. BGWFans has a construction photo showing what may be the rumored drop section. It’s been thought that a horizontal section of track that drops (like the one seen on Alton Towers’ Thirteen) would be the “first-of-its-kind in the U.S.” element that the new roller coaster will be able to boast. Based on these photos and the leaked schematics, it’s a pretty good bet that Verbolten will bring us our very own “freefall” drop section.
It’s been noted by the geeks that the drop may not technically be a “freefall” because it’s controlled (by hydraulics, I think) and not completely free to drop via gravity. I’m just going with the coined term for this unique element as I don’t quite know of a better more accurate one.
Also, check out this Busch Gardens Williamsburg Verbolten construction video:
What do you think of a drop section for Verbolten? Are you more excited now? Leave a comment below. Image courtesy of BGWFans.com
October 14, 2011 at 11:51
Too much media these days.Now I won't be surprised,lol.
October 15, 2011 at 03:16
Good point Dion. I'll warn people with 'spoiler alert' or something when I promote this on Facebook. Some people might not want to know what happens inside the building.
October 14, 2011 at 12:29
It looks cool. The whole theming behind it looks awesome, especially the black forest. I want to ride this very much, but I just went to Busch Gardens in June of this year, so I won't be going back for some time now, as it is a 6 hour drive and I have other parks to go to like SFOG this year.
October 14, 2011 at 14:09
As cool as Verbolten looks, I think that other 2012 coasters (X-Flight, Skyrush, Wild Eagle) have made a better impression, all though I am curious about all the "suprises" that haven't been confirmed yet. It looks like a great new ride for BGW.
October 14, 2011 at 14:23
does anyone remember drachen fyre? i'm feeling Deja vu again. BGT got Kumba, BGW got a pile of scrap. BGT got Cheetah Hunt (Cheetaka!), BGW gets this. I hope this is worth the hype. I'm looking at a 2013 trip out there.
October 15, 2011 at 03:42
It's funny you say that. I'm feeling like there's been less hype (from the park at least) than BGT created with Cheetah Hunt. It's probably because BGT could show off every bit of that ride beforehand and BGW is trying to keep details scarce. If you're talking about hype from the fans, I feel like that's a bit weaker than it was for Cheetah Hunt too.
October 14, 2011 at 14:36
I like the track.
October 15, 2011 at 03:57
If you really don't mind not being surprised, here's video of Thirteen's freefall drop track in action.
October 15, 2011 at 06:16
Cheetah Hunt had too much hype.That ride ended up being my biggest dissapointment for 2011.I was expecting much more from that ride after all the hype.So I guess I would rather be pleasantly surprised than dissapointed.
October 15, 2011 at 23:54
I just wish they could have built this around and through Big Bad Wolf. I will truly miss that little sweetheart of a ride
October 16, 2011 at 14:11
Well Busch needs to get the word out a littler better, at O have a feeling this ride is all smoke and mirror any way. At least post something on the website…I mean come on, you had a year of disappointment with the Mach Tower opening up just weeks before the last days. Oh yeah mike, what you know about poppin and droppin lol (as mentioned in your post about KI Dino Alive)?
October 17, 2011 at 04:16
At this point, with all their top-notch big coasters and no woodies, BGW really needs some sort of medium-thrill, family-oriented coaster, something to fill the gap between the Grover coaster and the big ones. It's OK if this thing isn't terribly extreme. It might even make sense to make it tamer than the BBW, as much as I loved that ride.
October 18, 2011 at 17:09
Hopefully this doesn't turn out to be as lame as Thirteen was. Thirteen was alright, but they made it out to be much more than it actually was. I thought the commercials were a lot better than the actual ride. If Verbolten can deliver the goods than I will be satisfied.
October 19, 2011 at 06:42
This looks like a pretty sweet ride, I really like the idea of a free fall section but I hope it is not the main part of the ride. I am sick of these really popular rides, with long wait lines, that last for like fifteen seconds. I want a ride that I have a little more time to enjoy.
October 22, 2011 at 17:31
The track in the building is complete – pictures at
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.ph…
Note that the helixes will be very steeply banked. My guess is there will also be some good airtime on the ride, not El Toro strength but not a kiddie ride either.
Detailed blueprints were posted at
http://bgwfans.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=868&a…
scroll down to "New Verbolten Plans" – there are three links there for graphics. Close to 90 degree horizontal banking in the building.
November 1, 2011 at 16:47
Heard via a BGW employee putting up promotional stuff at a timeshare that Verbolten is actually ahead of schedule, and should open in late March/early April (in time for high schoolers' spring break, apparently). Original target was Memorial Day weekend. It should be similar to the situation with Griffon, which opened ahead of time before the "grand opening," before all the publicity could get out there. Should make the lines a tad shorter when it opens!
Big Bad Wolf was the first coaster I ever rode but honestly it's removal isn't anything I've lost sleep over. Glad it's being replaced with something more up to date that should be a nice family ride but also a unique, solid coaster for the general public with a lot of replay value. I'm guessing it'll be Th13teen meets Darkastle meets Big Bad Wolf(with the river drop and all). Also the sketches of weird hands on bgwfans make me think the mascot will be some sort of ent/possessed tree whose branches turn into arms in the building.
December 25, 2011 at 06:11
I wish that Busch Gardens revealed updates on Verbolten's 88-foot drop down the Rhine River.