Busch Gardens Williamsburg will close its Mach Tower drop ride next month, the park announced today.
Mach Tower opened in 2011 and will close January 8, 2023. Here is Russell Meyer's opening review for the 240-foot tall drop tower from Moser.
Busch Gardens posted on its website the following statement explaining its decision to remove the attraction:
"Since opening at Busch Gardens in 2011, Mäch Tower has thrilled riders for over a decade. After review and consideration of overall guest satisfaction, we have made the decision to close Mäch Tower permanently. Now through January 8, we invite you to drop in for one more ride on this spiraling drop tower (ride availability subject to change)."
For tickets starting at $58 and 2023 Fun Cards starting at $100, please visit our partner's Busch Gardens Williamsburg tickets page.
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I did get a chance to ride it a few years ago, but yes most visits it was closed. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was the time I did get on, that it was even temporarily closed during that day, due to an active wasp nest at the top.
It’s unfortunate to lose a thrill ride, and it doesn’t exactly free up a lot of ground space for a replacement, but I can’t say it was a ride that will leave a lasting impression with me. Now Falcon’s Fury on the other hand, that is one that I will always remember, so hopefully that does not have a similar fate…
I've ridden this attraction plenty, but have also been to BGW plenty of times when Mach Tower was closed. The unreliability of this tower always made it a bit of a crap shoot as to whether it would operate on the day you visited. As with Curse of DarKastle, this came down to an attraction that was far too expensive to operate and maintain and did not draw significant interest to warrant its massive cost.
I also feel that Mach Tower was significantly inferior to nearby Drop Tower (formerly Drop Zone) at Kings Dominion (Intamin gyro drop), and that BGW never should have tried to compete with KD by installing a drop ride by an inferior manufacturer. BGW could definitely use another flat ride to replace Mach Tower, but the footprint of the ride is very small, and doesn't present a lot of options.
I never saw this attraction, too bad it's closing. I'm not sure I would be brave enough to drive it, it looks amazing.
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Both Busch Gardens' drop towers, the Moser at BGW and the Intamin prototype at BGT, have had very unfortunate runs. Seemed like Mach Tower was always broken down and I can't even remember the last time Falcon's Fury was open I think it's been closed since the spring. So good riddance to this ride it was closed all three times I went to BGW since it was built.