Tampa Bay, Florida, USA
July 16, 2024 – With Phoenix Rising opening in five days at Busch Gardens Tampa, we got a sneak peek of the new B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard) Family Inverted Coaster during the park’s media event today. The coaster is the first of its kind built outside of China. However, at 80 feet (24 m) tall with a top speed of 44 mph (71 km/h), this one is taller and faster than the others. It’s also North America’s tallest and longest family inverted roller coaster and the only one to feature onboard audio.
Located in the Pantopia area of the park where the Sand Serpent wild mouse coaster once stood, riders will soar above the Serengeti Plain as they feel the rush of the wind and the thrill of flying through many fun-filled twists and turns. Our favorite element is the over-banked curve that brings riders close to flipping upside down above the entrance sign. And with a height requirement of just 42 inches (1 m), it’s the perfect adventure for families to embark on together.
The coolest feature might just be the three screens in the station that display an animated phoenix that flies around before the coaster starts. The animated phoenix is different each time and matches the various colors of the banners in the queue. One of four is selected randomly: Terra (protector of the rainforests), Ignis (protector of the desert realm), Glacius (protector of the mountaintops and glaciers), or Aqua (protector of the ocean realm), and a different on-ride soundtrack is played based on which phoenix is selected.
The same coaster is being constructed at Busch Garden’s sister park in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is scheduled to open next year. However, the name and theme of that coaster haven’t been made public.
