17 Sep 2018
Eye of the Tigris: tallest launch coaster in Florida coming to Busch Gardens
BY Luke Cloherty
Busch Gardens has announced plans to open Florida's tallest launch coaster, with Tigris – a ride designed to mimic the agility of a tiger – set to open at the start of next year.
Covering 1,800ft (548m), the triple-launch steel coaster will open in Q1 2019, with the ride running through a series of looping twists with forward and backward motion. The ride will start with a 150ft (45.7m) skyward surge and an inverted heartline roll, quickly getting riders to speeds of more than 60mph (97kmph).
Tigris is being constructed in the Stanleyville area of the theme park adjacent to Jungala, which is home to its endangered Bengal tigers.
The ride – similar to parent company SeaWorld Entertainment's Mako coaster – will have a conservation element, with its queue containing educational material about the plight of wild tigers and the action conservationists are taking against it. Additionally, 5 per cent of the sales price of merchandise bought in the Tigris gift shop will be donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund’s actions to protect tigers and their natural habitat.
"This ride is unlike anything we have in our rollercoaster collection," said Stewart Clark, president and general manager of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
"Tigris is a testament to our continuing investment in the park, and to bringing new and innovative experiences to our guests."
According to Busch Gardens, a second new ride is in the works for the park's Gwazi area. More details will follow, though the operator did confirm the second ride will open in 2020.
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