Don’t Sleep on This Swingin’ Old Suspended Coaster
The Big Bad Wolf is the perfect example of why I love Busch Gardens Williamsburg. And it’s not even the park’s best roller coaster, but it does give you an experience that would be nearly impossible to find anywhere else. A suspended terrain coaster that flies through a Bavarian village then dives to a river. Try finding that in the Coaster Capital (Cedar Point) or in California (state with most coasters). The Wolf is Located in the Rhineland (Germany) section of the European-themed park. After dropping off of the short lift hill the train seems to be suddenly be possessed with an intense amount of speed that comes out of nowhere. It still surprises me every time I ride it. Maybe it’s common for suspended to seem faster than they are but it makes 45mph feel a lot faster. As you swing through the village (built just for the ride) you can see lights on in windows and other props that add to the effect of a village in fear of the wolf.
Next the train comes out of the village, slows to a crawl and then hits the next lift. The second, much longer lift used to have speakers with wolves howling unfortunately I noticed they had been removed on my last visit. Big Bad Wolf feels pretty isolated even though it’s right there in the park. This is thanks to BGW having so many trees and the rolling topography. Finally, you crest the second hill and dive towards the Rhine River. Right above the river you swoop to the left, take a few more swinging turns and you’re back at the station.
So why only a seven? The ride is a little rough and may be showing it’s age some. It also feels a little short even though it’s much longer than a lot of rides. Also, on a night trip through the village I wasn’t as blown away as I used to be, though I couldn’t put my finger on why. Still as
you fly through the village you can see candlelight windows and those great little theming touches. Overall, the Wolf is still way more inventive and interesting than your average steel coaster. I wish more coasters were themed this well. Final Grade – 7.5 (Good-Approaching Great)
Want to know how good a 7.5 is? Check out my Coaster Rating System.
What’s Your Take?
Have you ridden Big Bad Wolf? Leave a comment below.
Coaster Critic 
25 responses to “Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Williamsburg”
This coaster really surprised me. Having been nothing but bored on every Arrow suspended I've ever ridden.I remember turning to my wife and saying, "why do they even bother with the restraints?" I came to realize why they were originally in the design. This ride simply didn't trim as much as its cousins. It may have been the closeness of the scenery but it felt much faster. RIDING IN THE FRONT ROW OF THE LAST CAR after the second lift is insane. Going through the turn at the top of the lift at full speed then swinging beyond 180 degrees narrowly missing the supports the first time was one of the highlights of my coaster riding career (Cedar Point is my home park). I really enjoyed this.
After many rides on Big Bad Wolf I rode Steel Dragon at Cedar Point last year and was pretty disappointed. So, I had the opposite experience that you had. I'll get to ride Top Gun at Kings Island this weekend so I'll have another suspended coaster on my resume.You're right though. It's probably safe to assume that Arrow broke the mold on suspended coasters when they made Big Bad Wolf. It's the best of its kind.Thanks for stopping by.
I have managed to ride all three this summer. I'll give Big Bad Wolf first place … good ride, good theming and I love flying over the water at high speeds. Top Gun was a good ride, but after you leave the station, the theming stops. Iron Dragon has become an old friend and is what we ride when we want to slow down for a few minutes.
Oh HELL yeah! There is nothing about this coaster that I don't love! The feeling of flying, riding sideways down the track, pulling up my feet because it really really feels like this time they ARE going to hit something, and (oh, baby!) that last, delicious drop, with the turn and preview of What! Is! Coming! Ah yes, plummeting towards the water is the highlight of this ride when the sun is up, and the flight through the village is IT BABY! when the sun is down. I rode this with my stepmother in '93, and as she got off the ride, she vomited all over her expensive new shoes. 🙂 That is a memory I treasure. I can NOT wait until my daughter is old enough to take on this ride! She's an adrenaline junkie already (at 4) and will LOVE it!
Oh, by the way, I miss the wolves howling, too. In the beginning, the kids who ran the ride would give the standard "keep arms and legs inside the car at all times" safety chat, and follow that with a dramatic "and thanks for traveling (pause) at the speed…of…FRIGHT! as the car pulled away. Last time I went, that had been stopped. A small touch, but I miss that, too.
I think the first half of the ride needs to be removed. Well they did a really good job with the houses there and stuff. But experienced the worst headbanging of my life! Those sharp turns were everything but thrilling in my book. Overall after that the ride was really good. You get like a minute up the life hill to shake of the headache in your brain. Then you make a slight turn then you go to the Rhine River. I really loved the Rhine River Part, seeing all the people watching us. And if your in the front row its really special. The sharp turn wasnt as bad as i thought it was going to be. But when your entering the station, there was still alot of headbanging. If i had to change one thing about this roller coaster, i would totally demolish everything before the second life hill. Now some people have other opinions but thats just what i thought about the ride
This is a classic ride. It's really one of the best, even after so many years! 😛
and it's closing down 😦
i heard that they are closing it down. i never got to ride it besides youtube and i wont be able to but i will miss it. it looked like a great ride an love all of the pictures that i seen from this ride. you til mid august ride it if im correct
I will always remember this ride as the ride that woke me up right when i walked into the park…followed by a headache
its really closing down??? why ?? ill miss it 😦
yep…they said it's "reached its service life". Which is a bunch of bull.
Real reason: Inbev took over AB, is famous for its cost-cutting measures, and wants to do away with an old coaster that on paper, is very expensive to run. Additionally, BBW is in a perfect spot for access to the old Drachen Fire spot, which the park has unsuccessfully tried to develop before (with DF).
Conclusion: Inbev blows, BG is not making a smart decision given the accessibility of the coaster to the very young and very old, and the BBW is simply irreplacable.
BG will have only 3 coasters for an extendable period of time, now. Visitorship WILL go down.
I just don't understand this call…
Busch Gardens was smart though to add that Sesame Street thing. I mean since Big Bad Wolf is going soon, that was the only "kid ride" before it opened. At least they are getting rid of it at a pretty decent time
Maybe, but I believe the Big Bad Wolf was less of a "little kid" ride and more of a necessary bridge between, let's say, the new "coaster" in Sesame Street and Griffon. There is a LOT of people that come to theme parks and can't handle Alpengeist, Griffon, and even Loch Ness, and found BBW to be the perfect middle ground.
I believe BG is starting to feel the pressure from coaster fans everywhere- there is a "gathering" of supporters planned for Thursday in front of the ride. We'll see where this goes…
It would be nothing sweeter than BG being forced to keep the ride for a little bit longer because of public pressure.
Sign the petition!
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/BBWSave
Goodbye BBW We'll miss you!
It is the final day so I'll post my review.
The pre-lift is fun, and you feel kind of high up. The first lift is short, but in the back seat, you are yanked over. The sharp corners are awesome, and very forceful, especially compared to another beast at CP. The final drop- just epic. The trn afterwards is so forceful that the transition afterwards threw me forewards. The final turn towards the station is the 2nd best part of the ride. I was almost 90 degrees going twenty mph. The ride is sort of rough, with the occasional headbang, but I'll take the intensity over Dragging Iron's smoothness.
9/10- Great ride, sad to see it go.
I love this coaster. My first ever real coaster! Good Bye Big Bad Wolf!
Goodbye Big Bad Wolf, your deserve more than you have been given. Say hey to Drachen Fire for me.
1984-2009
I just heard about the closing today. What a shame. It was a fun coaster, and the first one my daughter ever rode.
Yes. Sadly, Big Bad Wolf is officially now a defunct roller coaster. After my visit to Busch this past weekend, I learned more about why the Big Bad Wolf has closed. Read more about why the park decided to close it and see a video of the final train in this post: A Legend Reaches Its Expiration Date
Coaster Critic, you rock! Thanks for keeping us abreast of each and every situation. Long Live The Big Bad Wolf in the bows of rollercoaster heaven.
HEY GUYS! LOOK AT THIS! VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL BBW LOVERS
http://behindthethrills.com/index.php?option=com_…
i like this ride a lot. i didn't have the chance to go on the version at cedar point, so this was my 1st ride on this type of coaster
I went on this ride when it first came out in 84 . I was very impressed & loved how fast you felt you were traveling & how smooth a ride it was, also how close to the water you get on the turn. I bought the t- shirt for the ride with the picture of an insane looking wolf with huge fangs !!! I live in Flordia now & have a year round pass for Tampa Busch Gardens since down here you can go on rides all year round. I still have that T-shirt & it still fits, I worn it at the Tampa Busch Gardens in 2007 & everyone was asking where that ride is in the park in Tampa & had to explain that this is in Williamsburg Virginia !!!!!!
This wasn't the first coaster I ever rode, but it was the first one I ever loved.