Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s 2012 Roller Coaster – Verbolten: Brave the Black Forest Today, Busch Gardens Williamsburg officially announced their highly anticipated 2012 roller coaster. Earlier this year, some of the ride’s details had already been uncovered. The Zierer-designed steel coaster will be called Verbolten. The name’s a play on the German word “verboten” which means banned. The new coaster will be situated on the same plot of land that was home to the Big Bad Wolf. Verbolten will feature a number of launches accelerating the trains to speeds of 53 mph. The Virginia Gazette has more: The ride “offers the latest in roller coaster technology,” park president Carl Lum told a crowd gathered in Das Festhaus. “When Verbolten opens, coaster fans will feel the exhilaration of multiple launches and a few surprises that can’t be found anywhere else in the United States.” – Virginia Gazette A Few More Details on Verbolten From what I’m seeing so far, today’s announcement hasn’t been a complete one. Behind The Thrills has posted a little more information. They’ve shared that the ride will have 16-person trains with lap bars, not over-the-shoulder harnesses. Verbolten will feature two launches and a ride time of 3 1/2 minutes. There’s also a mention of special effects including a change in weather and darkness (which I would assume will happen during the ride’s indoor section). UPDATE 9/18 – So, if you’re going to have a mysterious new coaster with an indoor section packed with surprises, it makes sense that Busch Gardens wouldn’t want to release a POV or any other detailed videos. I did find this full press release: From the moment you approach the new roller coaster, you’ll feel a sense of mystery and fun. A German tourist center serves as the ride entrance and as the launching point for an autobahn touring experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. As you climb into your car for a scenic drive through the countryside, you’re quickly detoured into a harrowing family adventure filled with pulse-pounding excitement through the forbidden Black Forest. You’ll twist and turn your way through this epic adventure, plunging along the river’s edge. Luckily, your breathtaking ride leads you right back to the fun and the festivities of Oktoberfest. RIDE MANUFACTURER: Zierer (Deggendorf, Germany) TYPE OF RIDE: Multi-launch coaster SPECIAL FEATURES: Two launches, environmental theme elements, sound and light effects, high speed turns and an 88-foot final drop to the water TRACK LENGTH: 2,835 feet MAXIMUM SPEED: 53 mph RIDE DURATION: 3 minutes, 25 seconds SEATS/TRAIN: 5 trains, 16 seats per train RIDE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT: 48 inches LOCATION: Busch Gardens Oktoberfest Village – Verbolten Fact Sheet Verbolten Continues SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s Move to Family-Ish Launch Coasters Verbolten looks to be yet another launch roller coaster with a wider family coaster kind of appeal. When Verbolten opens, comparisons to Busch Gardens Tampa’s Cheetah Hunt will be inevitable. That Intamin-designed launch coaster also has a varied and adventurous (albeit not too intense) ride. SeaWorld San Diego’s Manta will be another launch coaster with some unique theming elements, but G-rated stats when it opens in 2012. When you consider these parks’ target audiences, these family-ish launch coasters are probably perfect. Especially since they have such a high quality level in terms of theming and length. Many have pointed to the dearly departed Big Bad Wolf as one of their first bigger coasters or that they took their kids on it when they ready for larger rides. Verbolten could fill the same role at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. With three B&M coasters that don’t pull any punches in the thrills department, maybe the park could use another ride that appeals to a wider audience. I have to remind myself sometimes that some people not only look in shock at Griffon, but they also skip the ride because it looks too challenging. Here’s a teaser video of Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Verbolten. Unfortunately, aside from construction videos, this may be all we’ll have to look at until the ride opens next year: What I Would Have Added: Where’s the Wood? I would have liked to have seen a wooden coaster. An incredible terrain woodie from Gravity Group or an Intamin pre-fab would have been phenomenal for the park. If rumors about woodies being too noisy for the park’s neighbors are true, then a launch coaster is probably the best kind of steel coaster that Busch could add. The B&M wing coasters (X-Flight & Wild Eagle) look cool but they probably wouldn’t offer a distinctive enough experience for the average park guest when the park already has Alpengeist a monster of an inverted coaster. What’s Your Take? Now that we have some official details, what’s your first impression of Verbolten? Leave a comment below and vote in the poll.[poll id=”54″] Go to Dollywood’s 2012 roller coaster 2012 Roller Coasters Page Go to Apocalypse at Six Flags America 20 Responses Cade September 17, 2011 Sweet. Been waiting for this announcement for what seemed like forever. If it's on Big Bad Wolf's old area, it should Reply Cade September 17, 2011 have an awesome terrain experienc! Reply The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 I'm waiting for the press release and more videos to be posted so I can add more info. Check back later. Reply Cade September 17, 2011 CC, about the noise problem with a woodie, would an Intamin pre-fab still be too loud? I have never been on one so I wouldn't know. But from all Ive heard about how cool they are, a terrain twister by Intamin really would be awesome. Thanks! Reply The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 I'm not really sure. El Toro didn't seem to rattle and may not have been quite as loud as a typical woodie, but that could have already been because it was brand new when I rode it. It doesn't matter anyway, steel coasters are probably easier to maintain and that's the way they went. I just thought I'd mention what I would have added if any type of coaster was possible. Still waiting for details…. Reply Cade September 17, 2011 Alright. Thanks for the info and quick post! Reply The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 No problem. I'll be back on tonight when hopefully there's more info to post. Thanks for reading! Reply coasterer22 September 17, 2011 This coaster sounds pretty good, but everything that Busch Gardens builds is pretty good. I can't wait until more info is announced. What really looks cool about the ride is the indoor section, but all of it should be great! Reply Quil September 18, 2011 Darn, I was Hoping to have a POV of the ride. It seems to have an interesting theme. Reply The Coaster Critic September 18, 2011 I updated my post with the press release. While I was hoping for a POV too, it makes perfect sense why they wouldn't want to show too much of what's supposed to be a mysterious ride with surprises. Besides, it'll make that first ride that much better. 🙂 Reply Quil September 18, 2011 I hope so, I think Busch (a.k.a. SeaWorld Parks) could do a great job with themeing in this ride. Still, I love to see POVs of upcoming rides. Prof.BAM September 18, 2011 Could we at least get a picture of the trains or an overhead view of the layout!? Reply Matt September 19, 2011 Interesting choice of BGW to go with Zierer rather than Intamin. Intamin is like the king of launch coasters, and they built cheetah hunt at BGT. It still looks good, and the mystery behind the ride make it seem very cool. Reply Prof.BAM September 21, 2011 BGW doesn't like Intamin Reply Jack October 19, 2011 This sounds like thr3eteen with a launch. If they market they market this like that then everyone Is gonna be disappointed. Reply Max October 19, 2011 Sounds cool, but what does Thr3eteen do after the drop? Reply MPM November 10, 2011 It goes in reverse out of the building for a little ways (probably 30 yards), stops, the track switches, and then it rolls forward into the station. Borrrrring. Seems it wouldn't be very hard for Verbolten (or any ride) to top it. Reply Jack November 25, 2011 ITS OKAY NOT BAD GOOD TRY! Reply The Beautiful Wonderland of Busch Gardens Williamsburg | The Mapless Traveler December 4, 2011 […] Lastly, there is a junior coaster in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun called Grover’s Alpine Express (adults can ride too!). A sixth coaster, Verbolten: Brave the Black Forest, is being constructed right now on the former site of the Big Bad Wolf coaster, which was dismantled in 2009. (You can read more about Verbolten on The Coaster Critic’s Blog.) […] Reply Anonymous December 18, 2011 It's disappointing that the drop is only 88 feet and that it only goes up to 53 mph… but hopefully it'll be more exciting than its details. 😛 Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Cade September 17, 2011 Sweet. Been waiting for this announcement for what seemed like forever. If it's on Big Bad Wolf's old area, it should Reply
The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 I'm waiting for the press release and more videos to be posted so I can add more info. Check back later. Reply
Cade September 17, 2011 CC, about the noise problem with a woodie, would an Intamin pre-fab still be too loud? I have never been on one so I wouldn't know. But from all Ive heard about how cool they are, a terrain twister by Intamin really would be awesome. Thanks! Reply
The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 I'm not really sure. El Toro didn't seem to rattle and may not have been quite as loud as a typical woodie, but that could have already been because it was brand new when I rode it. It doesn't matter anyway, steel coasters are probably easier to maintain and that's the way they went. I just thought I'd mention what I would have added if any type of coaster was possible. Still waiting for details…. Reply
The Coaster Critic September 17, 2011 No problem. I'll be back on tonight when hopefully there's more info to post. Thanks for reading! Reply
coasterer22 September 17, 2011 This coaster sounds pretty good, but everything that Busch Gardens builds is pretty good. I can't wait until more info is announced. What really looks cool about the ride is the indoor section, but all of it should be great! Reply
Quil September 18, 2011 Darn, I was Hoping to have a POV of the ride. It seems to have an interesting theme. Reply
The Coaster Critic September 18, 2011 I updated my post with the press release. While I was hoping for a POV too, it makes perfect sense why they wouldn't want to show too much of what's supposed to be a mysterious ride with surprises. Besides, it'll make that first ride that much better. 🙂 Reply
Quil September 18, 2011 I hope so, I think Busch (a.k.a. SeaWorld Parks) could do a great job with themeing in this ride. Still, I love to see POVs of upcoming rides.
Prof.BAM September 18, 2011 Could we at least get a picture of the trains or an overhead view of the layout!? Reply
Matt September 19, 2011 Interesting choice of BGW to go with Zierer rather than Intamin. Intamin is like the king of launch coasters, and they built cheetah hunt at BGT. It still looks good, and the mystery behind the ride make it seem very cool. Reply
Jack October 19, 2011 This sounds like thr3eteen with a launch. If they market they market this like that then everyone Is gonna be disappointed. Reply
MPM November 10, 2011 It goes in reverse out of the building for a little ways (probably 30 yards), stops, the track switches, and then it rolls forward into the station. Borrrrring. Seems it wouldn't be very hard for Verbolten (or any ride) to top it. Reply
The Beautiful Wonderland of Busch Gardens Williamsburg | The Mapless Traveler December 4, 2011 […] Lastly, there is a junior coaster in the Sesame Street Forest of Fun called Grover’s Alpine Express (adults can ride too!). A sixth coaster, Verbolten: Brave the Black Forest, is being constructed right now on the former site of the Big Bad Wolf coaster, which was dismantled in 2009. (You can read more about Verbolten on The Coaster Critic’s Blog.) […] Reply
Anonymous December 18, 2011 It's disappointing that the drop is only 88 feet and that it only goes up to 53 mph… but hopefully it'll be more exciting than its details. 😛 Reply