Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened on March 31, 1959, and has an African theme. The park was originally tagged "The Dark Continent." The theme park is one of America's largest
zoological institutions, with and more than 2,700 animals. Attractions include:
Montu,
Kumba,
Scorpion, Edge of Africa, Jungala,
Sand Serpent, Congo River Rapids, Saga, Tanganyika Tidal Wave,
Stanley Falls, Serengeti Railway, Phoenix, Sesame Street and
SheiKra, a vertical dive coaster which opened in 2005. In 2011, the park added
Cheetah Hunt, a triple launch roller coaster. In 2014, the park added
Falcon's Fury, an
Intamin drop tower. In 2016, the park constructed
Cobra's Curse, a steel roller coaster created by
Mack Rides. In 2019, the park opened
Tigris, a steel launched roller coaster constructed by Premier Rides. In 2022, the park opened
Iron Gwazi, which is a hybrid conversion of
Gwazi by
Rocky Mountain Construction. The park is some distance away from downtown, in central Tampa, near the limits of the city of
Temple Terrace to the east of Tampa.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened May 16, 1975. With its European theme, the park was originally tagged "The Old Country." Attractions at this park include
Alpengeist,
Escape from Pompeii,
Apollo's Chariot,
Loch Ness Monster and
Griffon. Added in 2007, the Griffon coaster had bragging rights as the tallest dive coaster in the United States. The park is divided into seven sections, each themed to a different European country. On July 25, 2009, Busch Gardens announced that the
Big Bad Wolf roller coaster would be retired September 7, 2009, after 25 years of operation due to its "meeting the end of its service life". and was replaced with
Verbolten - a New Multiple Launch Coaster that opened in 2012. Newly added in 2009 was Christmas Town, A Busch Gardens Celebration, with many themed holiday attractions and shows with eight million lights and a 50-foot Light Animated Christmas Tree. Also in 2010, the 3-D ride Corkscrew Hill was replaced by
Europe in the Air, which itself was replaced by a new VR action ride called Battle for Eire in 2018. Also new for 2010 was illumiNights: A Busch Garden Encore, with many mini nightly country shows and nightly fireworks set to a special soundtrack which is available during the special event in many gift shops. In 2010, Busch Gardens announced a drop tower called the Mäch Tower which was set to open in late spring 2011 but was delayed due to train problems from Italy and opened in August 2011. It was announced in late 2022 that the tower was to give its final rides on January 8, 2023. The ride closed permanently on that same day.
Tempesto opened in May 2015, as it was part of an addition to the park's Italy section.
InvadR, the first ever wooden coaster at Busch Gardens, opened in 2017.
Pantheon opened March 25, 2022. Now operates year-round as of 2021. ==Former parks==