| |
Busch Gardens Theme Park
Williamsburg, Virginia
Thirty years ago, LandMark Design Group began what was to develop
into a long-standing relationship with Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Busch
Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch and owner
of Busch Gardens-Williamsburg and Water Country U.S.A., became a
major client in Theme Park development for our Williamsburg office.
This relationship began early in 1976 when we designed and assisted
in the construction of a 2,500-space overflow parking lot for Busch
Gardens. We were then charged with master planning for the expansion
to 7,000 spaces. This project included transportation planning to
facilitate traffic movement into and out of the park, access to
the nearby Grove Interchange connection to Interstate 64 and development
of a tram system for guest movement.
In 1982, LandMark Design Group began preliminary studies for at
5,200-seat amphitheater in and effort to provide a site for concerts
and shows. This study turned into design and construction phases
with the Royal Palace Theater opening in 1983. LandMark works with
Busch Gardens annually on upgrades and new features.
Other major features on which LandMark provided civil design, processing
through James City County, structural assistance and construction
surveys include the following:
- Big Bad Wolf Coaster:
One of the first suspended roller coasters with a 2800' track
length.
- Roman Rapids:
A white-water raft ride moving 40,000 gpm of recycled water.
- Escape from Pompeii:
A 30-person water ride through a river of special effects, including
fire and fog prior to an 80' drop splashdown.
- Alpengeist Coaster:
One of the world's tallest (195'), most twisted, inverted coasters
with a 3,828' track length.
- Apollo's Chariot Coaster:
High speed hypercoaster with 4,882 feet of track length and a
210' drop.
- Land of the Dragons:
A themed area for children built around a tree house, which includes
a miniature ferris wheel, flume ride, roller coaster, net climb
and rope bridge.
|
|
| |
|
We continued our relationship with Busch Entertainment Corporation
with its acquisition of Water Country U.S.A. in 1992. The
acquisition facilitated a facelift, additional parking and
new attractions. LandMark's initial charge was development
of an additional 500 car parking expansion and the upgrading
and expansion of the Park's water system and sanitary system;
all of which took place during the first three years of operation.
Attractions for which LandMark provided civil design, processing
through York County, structural assistance, and construction
surveys include:
- Malibu Pipeline:
A unique two-person tube ride, featuring enclosed double
water flumes descending through twists, turns and drops
to a splash pool.
- Big Daddy Falls:
Colossal river-rafting ride sends you racing through a 670
foot series of twists and turns.
- Aquazoid:
World's largest special-effects family raft ride. Four-person
rafts travel through dark tunnels and water curtains, passing
laser light images and sound effects.
- Meltdown:
A four-person high-speed toboggan flume ride developing
some of the fastest speeds of any flume to date.
Client: Busch Entertainment Corporation
|
|
