u/godofcoasters

Over the years, Busch Gardens Tampa has had its good share of rides, and it’s alright / bad share of them, in this post, I will review most of the rides the park has formerly had.

Stanley Falls Flume: This was an Arrow Dynamics built log flume, it opened as the parks “first” ride in 1973, I am pretty sure this originally opened with a Spillway element, where water propels the log back up a hill after a drop, but there are no images I could find showing proof it existed. Sadly, the ride had given its final riders in 2025 and was torn down.

Python: This was an Arrow Dynamics built Corkscrew coaster where the ride reaches a height of around 72 feet, drops, has a turnaround, enters its 2 main corkscrews, and turns back to the brake run. This ride opened as the parks first coaster in 1976 in the Stanleyville section of the park, sadly after becoming a rough ride, Python closed in 2006 to be replaced by the play section Jungala.

Scorpion: This was a Schwarzkopf built Silverarrow, it opened in 1980 where you go up a 60 ft lift hill, dropped, and went into a near circular loop that pulled heavy forces, you meandered around the ride after that and went into a forceful helix that ended the ride. In 2024, the ride permanently closed and its plot of land still remains empty to this day.

African Queen Boat Ride / Tanganyika Tidal Wave: African Queen opened in 1977 under the name Livingstone’s Landing where you ride in a boat throughout a course. In 1989, African Queen closed to have a lift hill and drop added to it, built by Arrow Dynamics. Tidal Wave was known to soak riders nearby and sadly closed in 2016, laid empty until Tigris later replaced it.

Timbuktu: This was a themed section in the center of the park that had its main attraction as Scorpion, which is now closed. The area later became Pantopia, a park created colorful area home to some of the same rides.

Dolphin Show: This was a show where dolphins performed tricks located at the main Timbuktu building.

Crazy Camel: This was a Trabant styled flat ride. It closed around 2000 and was replaced by Sand Serpent.

Desert Runners: This was a small flat ride where you rode a motorcycle in a circle repeatedly.

Mini Train: This was a small train ride where you ride it throughout a small course, this was closed around the early 2020’s and was relocated near the Congo area of the park.

Bush Flyers: This was a small plane ride that was red and white. It closed in the early 2020’s and was relocated near the Congo area of the park.

Sandstorm: Sandstorm was a Tivoli Manufacturing built Orbiter where you spin in a circle at crazy angles, it closed in 2013 and was replaced by Falcon’s Fury. Sandstorm was relocated to Sesame Place in Philadelphia under the name Honker Dinger Derby.

Gwazi: This was a GCI built Dueling wooden coaster with over 6 near misses with the other track, it opened 1999 with good reviews, sadly over time, Gwazi became rough and throughout any enhancements attempted to be made, they didn’t work. One side closed in 2012, then the other, 2015. The ride stood SBNO for a few years before the park announced Iron Gwazi to replace it.

Veldt Monorail: This was an Arrow Dynamics suspended Monorail that went around the Serengeti of the park, it was later refurbished by Intamin and closed in 1999, and was replaced by Cheetah Hunt.

Brewery: This was the parks main building, Anheuser Busch’s brewery in the city and was well popular having a tour where you can see how everything worked, it closed in 1995 and was later replaced by Gwazi.

Rhino Rally: Rhino Rally was a Vekoma-built off-road safari adventure featuring a thrilling raft section, it opened in 2001 with exciting reviews, sadly over time, the complex water portion and vehicles became plagued with mechanical issues, and throughout any enhancements attempted, they didn't work. The water splashdown closed in 2010, then the remainder of the attraction in 2014. The ride area stood SBNO for a few years before the park cleared it out to make room for other exhibits and Cheetah Hunt.

King Tut’s Tomb: King Tut’s Tomb was a highly detailed, well-researched walkthrough attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa that opened in the Egypt section. It featured impressive replicas of the king’s burial shrines and artifacts. Sadly, over time, the attraction lost its appeal, and throughout any enhancements attempted to be made, they didn’t work. The walk-through ultimately closed in 2015, being replaced by Cobra’s Curse.

Sand Serpent: Sand Serpent (aka Cheetah Chase) was a Mack Rides built Wild Mouse that opened in 2004, the ride originally operated as Wild Izzy & Wilde Maus at Busch Gardens Williamsburg before being shipped to Tampa. In 2023, the coaster was announced to permanently close, and it was later replaced by Phoenix Rising.

Akbar‘s Adventure Tours: This was a comedic & chaotic motion simulator ride that opened up in 1998, the ride showed a homemade tour of Egypts pyramids until in 2007, when it closed.

Geodesic Dome: The gold-colored geodesic dome was one of Busch Gardens Tampa’s earliest landmarks. Officially known as the Adolphus Busch Space Frame, it was built around 1960 and contained landscaped gardens, ponds, tropical plants, and suspended bird habitats.

Bird Gardens: The Bird Gardens were part of the original Busch Gardens experience and featured landscaped pathways, tropical plants, free-flight aviaries, exotic birds, and animal exhibits.

Clydesdale Hamlet: The Clydesdale Hamlet housed the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and allowed guests to see the horses, their stables, and related exhibits up close.

Phoenix: Phoenix was an Intamin Looping Starship located in Timbuktu. Opening in 1984, the large swinging ship gradually built momentum until it carried riders through complete upside-down rotations, over time, the ride got a few different color schemes until it closed.

Questor: Questor was a Reflectone motion simulator that opened in 1991 near Crown Colony Plaza, close to the Clydesdale stables and Crown Colony House. Guests joined the fictional explorer Sir Edison Fitzwilly on a humorous adventure to recover the Crystal of Zed. It closed in 1998 and was replaced by Akbar’s Adventure Tours.

Land of the Dragons: Land of the Dragons was a children’s area featuring dragon-themed rides, climbing structures, water-play areas, and playground equipment. It was later rethemed and incorporated into Sesame Street Safari of Fun.

Curiosity Caverns: Curiosity Caverns was an educational walk-through attraction featuring cave environments, fossils, geological displays, bats, and other animals associated with underground habitats.

Pirates 4-D: Pirates 4-D was a theater attraction starring Leslie Nielsen. The film was accompanied by physical effects inside the theater, including water sprays, air blasts, moving seats, and other surprises intended to make guests feel involved in the pirate adventure.

Katonga: Tales from the Jungle: Katonga was an elaborate live stage production combining music, dance, acrobatics, large costumes, puppetry, and African-inspired storytelling. It opened in 2004 and ran in the Moroccan Palace Theater until 2009.

Critter Castaways: Critter Castaways was a family-oriented live animal show featuring trained rescue animals performing tricks and comedy routines. The production included dogs, cats, birds, pigs, and other animals.

Iceploration: Iceploration was a large ice-skating production presented in the Moroccan Palace Theater. The show combined figure skating, live performance, elaborate costumes, theatrical scenery, and animal-themed adventure sequences.

Swinging Vines: This was an Intamin Flying Dutchman swing ride located near Congo’s entrance, it was removed around the 1990’s.

Monstrous Mamba: This was a Spider type flat ride that operated right next to Python, it closed around the 1990’s.

RL Stine‘s Haunted Lighthouse: This was a 4D Film that debuted at both Busch Gardens parks, the attraction immersed the audience in a creepy Cape Cod film featuring air jets, seat buzzers, misting water, and more! It was centered around 2 ghost children cursed to wander the beach and lure anyone in the lighthouse to turn them into ghosts. The ride also included Weird Al in it, it closed in 2006.

World Rhythms on Ice: This was a live ice skating show that represented areas such as Brazil, Africa, England, and China.

Thank you guys so much for giving me more rides to add! This is genuinely such a fun project.

PS: Kumba will come when we see that it won’t open under let’s say a retrack.

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