Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

2010 Best Theme Park Attraction nominee: Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Griffon

February 12, 2010, 12:28 AM · Theme Park Insider readers have voted Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Griffon as the sixth seed in the Best Roller Coaster bracket of the 2010 Best Theme Park Attraction Tournament.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Griffon

This Bolliger & Mabillard floorless dive coaster debuted in May 2007 and features a 205-foot, 90-degree initial drop, followed by two Immelman loops (a simultaneous loop and roll), a second, 130-foot drop and a water "splashdown." Theme Park Insider's Russell Meyer was there on opening day, and filed this on-ride video account, which remains to this day the most-viewed video ever on ThemeParkInsider.com:

Other B&M dive coasters include SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa (which was converted to floorless cars after Griffon opened) and Oblivion at Alton Towers in England.

So let's dive into the comments, shall we? (Deepest apologies for the pun. Couldn't resist!)

Replies (10)

Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
February 12, 2010 at 3:50 AM · Griffon is an awesome coaster - fast, smooth, thrilling, and unique. While a bit on the short side, and somewhat of a one-hit wonder, it is quite a one-hit, and definitely a ride that should be sought out and experienced by coaster fanatics everywhere.
anonymous
24.162.248.231
February 12, 2010 at 6:56 AM · This is the best roller coaster. Period.
ecupirate
Scott Sanders
February 12, 2010 at 7:57 AM · I always love riding this and finding out people are on it for the first time. We always get to the 2nd drop next to Loch Ness, and I'll hear somebody say, "ZOMG there's another drop!"

Best seat is front row far right.

vg1vg2
vernon griffin
February 12, 2010 at 8:44 AM · My favorite roller coaster. ESp at night with a full moon over the James River.
bluesrider
Writer
Derek Potter
February 12, 2010 at 9:46 AM · Nice thrilling ride and all, but given a choice I'd rather ride any other coaster on this list before Griffon. One trick ponies like this one and Dragster simply don't belong on the list of greatest coasters in the country. I understand the reader rating structure determines seeding, and that we are trying to represent all types of coasters, but I just don't buy this coaster in the top 25, let alone the top 10....especially when stacked up against so many great coasters around the country. This list should be reserved for the best of the best, and Griffon doesn't have enough to fall into that category.
dacheeze247
luis gonzalez
February 12, 2010 at 1:36 PM · never been on griffon but shiekra is all dat and a bag chips. I know its a one hitter, but a one hitter can still get you really high. Every time i ride shiekra i forget why i ride anything else. This thing gives my huevos a tickle like no other. plus the bar-b-que under it is the funk.

word to your mother!

anonymous
24.90.249.214
February 12, 2010 at 9:36 PM · Just from viewing it I would try it. It looks acutually prettey boraing. It looks like you drop stop drop through some ater and sprinklers and home. It is prpabably a whole lot faster when you are riding it actualy
anonymous
216.54.1.35
February 13, 2010 at 7:37 PM · Very simple but incredibly fun ride. Sitting on the front row and stopping at the vertical for a 5 second look 200+ feet down still gets your heart going. This is the one coaster that for some reason, still has be amped when i get off the ride. Short, sweet, smooth, and packs a punch. It's also fun to wave at all the onlookers on a crowded saturday afternoon/evening at the top of the first drop.
anonymous
199.120.27.81
February 15, 2010 at 12:51 PM · good ride, not to mention that fabio was injured by a colliding goose while riding this ride
robert
Editor
Robert Niles
February 15, 2010 at 3:20 PM · Actually, that was Apollo's Chariot.

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