Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

Busch Gardens Williamsburg posts first on-ride video from its new wooden coaster

March 20, 2017, 3:48 PM · Busch Gardens Williamsburg's first wooden roller coaster opens officially April 7, but the park is letting fans get a preview with a newly released POV video from ride testing.

InvadR is a Great Coasters International coaster, the first for the Virginia park. With a height of 74 feet and a top speed of 48 mph, the focus on this family-friendly coaster isn't big specs or hard thrills, but rather on airtime and pacing across its one and a half minute ride.

InvadR recycles the Millennium Flyer trains from the old Gwazi wooden coaster at Busch Gardens' sister park in Tampa. Gwazi, another GCI production, closed in 2015. Located in the New France section of the park, InvadR will be the park's eighth coaster — seventh if you don't count the Grover's Alpine Express kiddie coaster.

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Replies (6)

Bigwig30
Writer
James Rao
March 20, 2017 at 6:45 PM · Looks like a fun family coaster!
jeremygary
jeremygary
March 21, 2017 at 3:13 AM · Speaking of Tampa, so sad to see Gwazi just sit there and rot. Such a great collection of coasters in Tampa just begging for a woodie to round out the collection. Seemed like such a missed opportunity not to re-track Gwazi in steel. That whole front area of the park is just lifeless with no major attraction until you get around to Sesame Street and SheiKra.

Congrats, BG Williamsburg ... looks awesome!

Russtinator
Writer
Russell Meyer
March 21, 2017 at 8:50 AM · I was hoping for at least some theming in the big tunnel, but with just a little over 2 weeks before it debuts, it's looking less and less likely. The entry plaza, which was unveiled at Passholder Day on Saturday is pretty impressive, but very little of the theme has made its way onto the coaster aside from the trains.

In terms of Gwazi, it was becoming a pain for the park to maintain, and the MF trains made very little improvement to a course that required frequent re-tracking due to the humid conditions. My guess is that the park has tried to engage with RMC, but they're booked solid for the foreseeable future with at least 2 announced conversions for Cedar Fair parks (Mean Streak at Cedar Point and Hurler at Kings Dominion) and numerous other virgin projects on their calendar. Honestly, I think the park likes the open space around Gwazi in the center of the park for special events, and if the right project doesn't come along, would be happy reclaiming the space occupied by the coaster for an expanded events area.

Mr.Emery
Brian Emery
March 21, 2017 at 9:03 AM · Love the sounds of a wooden coaster....
Nice job BGW...

eltoro1951
Writer
Bobbie Butterfield
March 21, 2017 at 11:06 AM · It's really gratifying to finally have a wooden coaster at BGW. In some ways I'm a traditionalist and think that every park should have one. However, I would have been happier had they gotten one a little less family friendly and a little more extreme, or at least on the level of a GCI coaster such as Thunderhead. As to Gwazi, I was sad to see it go but am happy to see that its trains are being put to good use.
anonymous
67.141.255.214
March 22, 2017 at 6:21 PM · I will not complain about another coaster addition; hate the motion simulators, even when they are done well I still favor the traditional coasters. Even if Invadr not on the thrill level of The Beast it still looks like a good ride. BGW continues to invest in making this park one of the more desirable places to visit, well worth an annual trip to Williamsburg.

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