Tempesto Explained

Tempesto
Location:Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Section:Festa Italia
Status:Operating
Year:2015
Type:Steel
Type2:Launched
Manufacturer:Premier Rides
Model:Sky Rocket II
Lift:LSM Launch Track
Height Ft:150
Drop Ft:135
Length Ft:863
Speed Mph:62
Inversions:1
Duration:55 seconds
Restriction In:54
Trains:1
Carspertrain:3
Rowspercar:3
Ridersperrow:2
Virtual Queue Name:Quick Queue
Virtual Queue Image:Quick Queue availability logo (Busch Gardens).svg
Virtual Queue Status:available
Rcdb Number:12277
Video:Tempesto Busch Gardens POV.webm

Tempesto is a steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Built and manufactured by Premier Rides, Tempesto opened on April 25, 2015.

History

On October 7, 2013, Busch Gardens Williamsburg filed permits to expand the Festa Italia section with a new attraction over 156feet. Officials had conducted a line of sight test over the Italian-themed areas. Forum member Party Rocker found evidence that the park was conducting soil tests within a 50-foot radius around the San Marco theater. Guests were greeted with an interesting sight upon walking into Festa Italia with markings shown up all over a massive chunk of a hamlet.[1]

In April 2014, rumors began to surface that a Premier Rides Sky Rocket II could be coming to the park.[2] According to the blueprints, the new attraction would be located towards the front of the park right behind Apollo's Chariot. It was speculated that the ride's name could be Tempesto or Diavolo.[3]

Construction began in August 2014 when the land was cleared. By September, several concrete footers were already poured.[4] The first track pieces arrived in November. It was confirmed that the ride would be a Premier Rides Sky Rocket II. That same month, the ride's structure started to go up. The track layout was completed in January 2015.[5]

On March 21, 2015, it was announced that the new coaster would be named Tempesto.[6] The ride officially debuted on April 25, 2015.

Ride experience

Tempesto launches out of the station up into a partial twist. The train then falls back through the station, where it is accelerated backwards into another twist. Once again, the train falls back into the station and riders are accelerated to a top speed of . It then travels up to a height of 150feet where it completes a non-inverting half-loop, a heartline roll (ranking it among the tallest inversions in the world) before exiting in a second non-inverting half-loop. It then enters a full non-inverting loop before returning to the station.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Festa Italia Expansion & Large New Attraction - BGWFans.
  2. Web site: Project 2015: Premier Rides LSM Catapult Coaster for Festa Italia - BGWFans.
  3. Web site: InSanity lurks Inside: Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Site Plans for Festa Italia Expansion.
  4. Web site: Tempesto Construction Update #2 - BGWFans.
  5. Web site: Past Tempesto Construction Updates - Attraction Chasers.
  6. News: Crocker. Robb. Busch Gardens announces Tempesto thrill coaster. March 23, 2015. CBS 6. March 21, 2015.