Busch Gardens Williamsburg has revealed its new attraction for next year — Pantheon.
This Intamin roller coaster will be America's fastest multi-launch coaster when it opens in the spring of 2020, featuring a top speed of 72 mph, four launches, a 95-degree drop, a maximum height of 180 feet, two inversions, and a spike track leading into a backward section - all in 3,328 feet of track and a two-minute ride. There will be two 20-person trains on the track and the four launches will be at speeds 36, 50, 61 (backwards) and 67 miles per hour, respectively.
If you want the TL;DR here, it's the Hagrid coaster from Universal Orlando with a bigger hill, faster speed... and the Harry Potter stuff swapped out for a theme of five Roman Gods: Jupiter, Mercury, Minerva, Neptune, Pluto. (Though I doubt we'll see animatronics or much in the way of show scenes here.) You can see the coaster track layout on Busch Gardens' website.
Pantheon is the latest in parent company SeaWorld Parks' all-in investment in roller coasters in 2020, joining a new coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, the record-setting RMC conversion of the former Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa, a new GCI woodie at SeaWorld San Antonio, and a B&M Dive Coaster at SeaWorld San Diego.
Buy Tickets: For discount tickets to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, visit our officially authorized Busch Gardens Williamsburg tickets page.
I really like the concept and theme here with each portion of the coaster displaying unique characteristics. My first impression is that it’s a cross between Maverick and Full Throttle, which could prove to be an incredible combination.
A return trip to Williamsburg just moved way up my to-do list for 2020.
Cue the eye-rolling Intamin hate from the uninformed. Hagrid had issues because Universal demanded something that has never been done before. Intamin, like RMC, Mack, S&S, etc, actually innovates and pushes engineering and all of those companies designs have experienced issues here and there but you don't get the same level of BS aimed at them. I'll take some front end down time for a more interesting ride experience every time. Highly doubt that the people at US parks with Intamin coasters (looking at you Knott's, CP, Hersheypark, etc) are complaining about their coasters. And look at what Intamin has been doing in Europe and China the last few years! Amazing coasters left and right! It's about time American parks pulled their heads back out and start looking to Intamin again. Hope this truly kicks off a trend and we can stop seeing so many samey B&Ms and bring back the intensity!
"Highly doubt that the people at US parks with Intamin coasters (looking at you Knott's, CP, Hersheypark, etc) are complaining about their coasters."
I can tell this guy has never worked at a major park lol. I know people that work in management at all of those parks and they ALL constantly complain about them...so much so to the point where after Kinzel retired Cedar Fair just flat out stopped buying them and Hersheypark is building a B&M Hypercoaster when they already have an Intamin!
This ride looks like a shorter but more thrilling Cheetah Hunt. Definitely a great choice for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and quite unique compared to other coasters on the East Coast. I was planning to have next year's trip run New York to Pittsburgh to hit Candymonium and Steel Curtain, but it looks like I might have to extend the start to Richmond.
@the_man Get out of my head! Lol. Not to mention the cost of maintenance upkeep. I'll welcome this coaster with open arms either way.
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We've said this before .... but 2020 is shaping to be the best year ever for new rides .. :)
Long may the trend continue !!
..... and let's not forget CP's 150th as well.