Busch Gardens: Williamsburg

About Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Originally known as Busch Gardens: The Old Country, this 100-acre park opened in 1975. The park was later named Busch Gardens Williamsburg before changing to the current name, Busch Gardens Europe, in 2006. Of course, the biggest theme is the reconstruction of European villages, but there are also more than 40 rides, shows, and animals to enjoy. Busch Gardens Europe received the distinguished honor of “World’s Best Theme Park” by Theme Park Insider readers in 2006.

Rides

• Aeronaut Skyride – Not so much a ride as a way to travel, this skyride travels between Banbury Cross, Rhinefeld, and Aquitaine areas, over part of the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster.
• Apollo’s Chariot – A theme park favorite and rated among the top 10 steel coasters worldwide, this amazingly smooth coaster ride features an initial drop of 210 feet as well as eight other drops. Riders experience maximum speeds of 73 mph over one-mile of track.
• Roman Rapids – This river ride offers park visitors a trip through ancient Rome via raging rapids.
• Loch Ness Monster – A Busch Gardens mainstay, Loch Ness reaches 60 mph, with plenty of loops and a tunnel.
• Alpengeist – An inverted coaster features speeds of 67 mph and six chilling inversions.
• Le Scoot – The classic family flume ride.
• Griffon – The newest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Europe, Griffon boasts a 70 mph, 205 foot, 90 degree initial drop, plus loops, rolls, and a water splash.
• Curse of DarKastle – A simulator ride that takes riders through 11 rooms in three and a half minutes, as they watch a spectacular 3-D computer generated story of King Ludwig.
• Land of the Dragons – A part of the park just for kids, featuring children’s rides, a three-story treehouse, Ferris wheel, and small flume ride.
• Escape from Pompeii – An adventure-themed water ride, with fire effects and a final fifty-foot drop.

Animals

Busch Gardens Williamsburg not only offers rides, entertainment, and food, but there are also plenty of animal exhibits to thrill visitors, including:

• Eagle Ridge – This exhibit offers an exciting look at American bald eagles.
• Pet Shenanigans – Birds, dogs, cats and other animals provide live entertainment.
• Lorikeet Glen – An aviary for guests to walk through and explore.
• Jack Hanna’s Wild Reserve – A wooded area featuring birds and grey wolves.
• Clydesdale Horses – The famous Anheuser-Busch horses can be visited at their stables.

Entertainment

Throughout the park, there are plenty of live shows to entertain guests, including “This is Oktoberfest,” “American Jukebox,” and “Emerald Beat.” A Pirates 4-D show can also be viewed in the English hamlet of Banbury Cross. Or take in the acrobatic thrills, music and dancing of Kinetix.

Dining

With a decidedly different European theme, the dining at this theme park is top notch, bringing together a variety of European tastes in one location. Dine on snacks and meals from England, Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland, and Germany. Beer lovers will enjoy a visit to the Brewmasters Room for a free tasting of Anheuser-Busch beers.

Loch Ness Monster

Visitor Tips

This popular theme park destination can get crowded quickly, but you can follow these tips to minimize wait times:

• Make Curse of DarKastle your first destination in the morning; long lines form quickly, especially in the afternoon hours. If you are unable to beat the crowds, try visiting the ride after 8:00 p.m.
• Ride enthusiasts also recommend visiting the Big Bad Wolf coaster early on because it has a slow moving line.
• The Loch Ness Monster typically has short lines, so you can jump on this coaster almost any time of day.
• On a hot day, Corkscrew Hill offers an air-conditioned line, providing a nice break from the heat of mid-afternoon. Of course, there are plenty of water rides that will also cool you off.

Tickets

Busch Gardens Europe is open from late May through Labor Day, as well as weekends from March through Halloween. Tickets cost $57 for basic admission, but you can take advantage of discounts by purchasing tickets in advance of your visit. Purchase online eTickets in a number of package options, including season passports. Additionally, a variety of dining certificate choices are available to making eating in the park easy and affordable. Always read the fine print associated with online tickets to ensure that there are no restrictions.

Contact Information

For more information about Busch Gardens Europe, visit the official website at BuschGardens.com, call 1-800-343-7946, or write to:

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
One Busch Gardens Blvd.
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8785