Busch Gardens Tampa Bay facts for kids
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A view of the Serengeti Plains in 2006
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| Location | Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 28°02′16″N 82°25′18″W / 28.0379°N 82.4216°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | June 1, 1959 |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
| General manager | Neal Thurman |
| Theme | Africa Asia |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attendance | 3,210,000 (2021) |
| Area | 335 acres (136 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 29 as of 2023 |
| Roller coasters | 10 |
| Water rides | 2 |
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a huge animal theme park in Tampa, Florida, United States. It covers 335-acre (136 ha) and is designed to look like Africa and Asia. The park opened on June 1, 1959, and is owned by United Parks & Resorts.
This park is famous for its many exciting roller coasters and thrill rides. Some popular ones include SheiKra, a Dive Coaster that drops straight down, and Cheetah Hunt, which is super fast. You can also find Iron Gwazi, a cool hybrid coaster, and Falcon's Fury, a giant drop tower that tilts you face down!
Besides rides, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is also a big zoo. You can see over 200 different kinds of animals from around the world. It’s a great place to learn about wildlife and have an amazing adventure.
Contents
Park History: How it Began
Early Days: Brewery and Gardens (1957–1959)
Busch Gardens started because of a brewery! In 1957, a company called Anheuser-Busch decided to build a beer brewery in Tampa, Florida. The owner, August Busch Jr., wanted to add beautiful gardens around the brewery. He thought these gardens would attract people and make the area more welcoming.
Construction of the brewery and gardens happened in 1958 and 1959. The brewery opened in March 1959. Then, on June 1, 1959, Busch Gardens officially opened to the public. It was free to enter! The gardens covered 15-acre (6.1 ha) and had lots of plants and trees.
Early attractions included a bird show, a bird sanctuary with flamingos, and areas for eagles and cockatoos. There was also a "Hospitality House" where guests could try free beer. This original area later became known as the "Bird Gardens."
Growing Bigger: African Animals Arrive (1959–1968)
Busch Gardens was very popular, so Anheuser-Busch decided to expand it. In 1959, they announced a $5 million expansion. They added a cool geodesic dome in 1960 and a giant escalator called the "Stairway to the Stars" in 1961. This escalator took guests to the brewery roof for great views.
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In 1962, big plans were made to add different themed lands. They wanted an African veldt (a wide-open grassland) with real African animals. This was a huge step towards becoming an animal theme park. By 1965, the "Wild Animal Kingdom" opened, featuring animals like cheetahs, elephants, lions, and rhinos.
A monorail ride, called the Skyrail, opened in 1966. It took visitors on a 7,000-foot (2,100 m) journey through the African veldt. This was the first time guests had to pay a small fee for a ride.
New Areas and First Thrills (1969–1975)
In 1969, a new zoo area called "Boma" was added. Anheuser-Busch wanted Busch Gardens to stay popular, especially with Disney World opening nearby. They planned a big $12.6 million expansion.
A big change happened on July 31, 1970: Busch Gardens started charging an entry fee. It was $1.25 for adults and 50 cents for kids. This helped fund more exciting additions. The park also moved its main entrance.
New attractions included the Trans Veldt Railway in 1971, a train ride through the animal habitats. An "African village" (later called Stanleyville) opened in 1972 with more animal exhibits and shops.
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The park's very first thrill ride, a log flume, opened in the Stanleyville section in June 1973. A gondola lift called the Skyride also opened in 1974, connecting different parts of the park. By 1975, Busch Gardens had over 800 animals. A new Morocco-themed village opened as the park's main entrance.
The Dark Continent Era (1975–1989)
In late 1975, Busch Gardens launched a new theme: "The Dark Continent." This name was chosen to make the park stand out. The African veldt became the Serengeti Plain, and the Moroccan village became Marrakesh.
The park's first true roller coaster, Python, opened on July 1, 1976. It was a steel coaster with corkscrews. A new area called Congo opened in 1977, which included Python and other rides.
In 1979, a big expansion called Timbuktu was announced. It would connect the Congo and Nairobi sections and include new rides and a dining hall. Another steel roller coaster, Scorpion, opened in Timbuktu on May 16, 1980.
The exciting Congo River Rapids ride opened in 1982. By 1983, the park added more rides for younger children. The "Dark Continent" name was slowly phased out in 1983, and the park returned to being known simply as "Busch Gardens."
In 1984, the Phoenix, a looping ride, opened in Timbuktu. A large theater, the Moroccan Palace Theater, opened in 1986 for big shows. For the park's 30th anniversary in 1989, a new water ride called Tanganyika Tidal Wave opened. It had a 55-foot (17 m) drop! A koala exhibit and a Clydesdale horse stable were also added.
New Thrills and Animal Homes (1990–1999)
In the early 1990s, Busch Gardens continued to add more attractions. A motion simulator ride called Questor opened in 1991. A large chimpanzee and gorilla exhibit, Myombe Reserve, opened in 1992.
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A major new roller coaster, Kumba, opened in the Congo section on April 21, 1993. It was a huge steel coaster with seven inversions, reaching speeds of 60 mph (97 km/h). In 1994, the Dwarf Village was replaced by a new kids' area called the Land of the Dragons.
In 1995, the Anheuser-Busch brewery on the park property closed. This freed up 17-acre (6.9 ha) of land for future park expansions. The park also started offering a safari tour through the Serengeti Plain.
The Egypt section opened on May 16, 1996, with a recreation of King Tut's tomb. It also featured Montu, a massive inverted roller coaster. Montu was the world's longest and tallest inverted coaster when it opened!
In 1997, the Edge of Africa animal exhibit opened. This 15-acre (6.1 ha) area in the Serengeti Plain allowed guests to see crocodiles, hippos, lions, and more. A new simulator ride, Akbar's Adventure Tours, opened in 1998.
The dueling roller coasters, Gwazi, opened on June 18, 1999, on the site of the old brewery. This was a wooden roller coaster with two tracks that raced each other. The park also started its first family-friendly Halloween event, Spooky Safari.
Changes in Ownership and New Rides (2000–2009)
In 2000, Busch Gardens introduced the "Fun Card" for Florida residents, offering year-long park access. A new safari attraction, Rhino Rally, opened on May 23, 2001, where guests rode in Land Rovers through animal habitats. The park also launched Howl-O-Scream, a scarier Halloween event.
In 2003, the park updated its Timbuktu area and introduced a new 4D film theater. A new habitat for white rhinos also opened. A new logo was introduced for the park.
In 2004, the park announced SheiKra, a 200-foot (61 m) Dive Coaster. It opened on May 21, 2005, becoming the tallest roller coaster in Florida and the first of its kind in the United States. SheiKra was later updated in 2007 to have floorless trains.
In 2006, the park briefly marketed itself as Busch Gardens Africa. The Python roller coaster closed in 2006 to make way for a new area. In 2007, the park's long-running bird show ended and was replaced by an animal show called Critter Castaways.
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A new 4-acre (1.6 ha) section called Jungala opened on April 5, 2008. It featured up-close animal encounters with Bengal tigers and orangutans, plus a "mini space shot" ride and a play area.
In 2009, there was a big change in ownership. Anheuser-Busch InBev, a new company, decided to sell the Busch Entertainment parks. The Blackstone Group bought them on October 7, 2009. This meant Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was now part of the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment family.
Modern Era: New Rides and Experiences (2010–Present)
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Under new ownership, Busch Gardens continued to grow. The Sesame Street section, called Sesame Street Safari of Fun, opened on March 27, 2010. It replaced the Land of the Dragons and featured re-themed rides and interactive play areas.
A new kangaroo exhibit, Walkabout Way, opened in 2010. In 2011, the park opened Cheetah Hunt, a launched roller coaster with three launches, and the Cheetah Run animal exhibit.
The Animal Care Center opened in 2012, allowing guests to watch veterinarians care for animals. The park also started its "Christmas Town" event in November, transforming the park with lights and holiday shows.
In 2013, the Timbuktu section was re-themed into "Pantopia." This vibrant new area opened with Falcon's Fury in September 2014. Falcon's Fury is a 335-foot (102 m) drop tower that tilts riders 90 degrees to face the ground before dropping!
The wooden roller coaster Gwazi closed in February 2015 due to high operating costs. A new spinning roller coaster, Cobra's Curse, opened in the Egypt section on June 17, 2016.
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In 2018, free beer samples returned to the park. A new triple-launch roller coaster, Tigris, opened on April 19, 2019.
The biggest news came in 2019: Gwazi was being rebuilt into Iron Gwazi, a hybrid wooden-steel roller coaster. It was supposed to open in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida caused delays. Iron Gwazi finally opened on March 11, 2022, becoming North America's tallest hybrid coaster.
In 2023, the park opened the Serengeti Flyer, a thrilling Screamin' Swing ride.
Park Layout and Main Attractions
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is divided into different themed areas, each with its own unique rides and animal exhibits.
- The Serengeti Express is a steam train that takes you around the back of the park. It stops at Nairobi, Congo, and Stanleyville.
- The Skyride is a gondola lift that carries guests between the Edge of Africa and Stanleyville, offering great views.
Morocco
This is the park's main entrance, designed to look like the country of Morocco.
- Gwazi Gliders is a small hang glider ride.
- Myombe Reserve is a 3-acre (1.2 ha) home for western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees.
- Moroccan Palace is a beautiful theater that hosts amazing shows, like the ice skating show Turn It Up! The Hottest Show On Ice.
- Iron Gwazi is a hybrid wooden-steel roller coaster. It's North America's tallest hybrid coaster and the world's fastest and steepest!
Sesame Street Safari of Fun
This area is perfect for younger kids and is themed after Sesame Street. It used to be called Land of the Dragons.
- Telly's Jungle Jam is an interactive play area.
- Rosita's Djembe Fly-Away is a fun swing ride.
- Bert & Ernie's Watering Hole is a water play area.
- Air Grover is a children's roller coaster.
Stanleyville
Named after a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this section has some big thrill rides.
- SheiKra is a 200-foot (61 m) floorless roller coaster with a 90-degree vertical drop. It was the first vertical dive coaster in North America!
- Stanley Falls Flume is a classic log flume ride with a 43-foot (13 m) drop.
- Tigris is a thrilling triple-launch roller coaster.
Congo
This section is themed like the jungles of Congo and features two popular rides.
- Kumba means roar in Swahili. It's a 143-foot (44 m) steel roller coaster with seven inversions. It's been a park favorite since 1993.
- Congo River Rapids is an exciting river rapids ride that opened in 1982. You can also see a Komodo dragon exhibit here.
- Ubanga Banga Bumper Cars is a classic bumper cars ride.
Jungala
Opened in 2008, Jungala is a 4-acre (1.6 ha) area for families. It has close-up animal encounters and fun activities.
- Orangutan Outpost is a tree-top platform where you can watch Bornean orangutans.
- Tiger Lodge and Tiger Trail are observation areas and trails where you can see tigers.
- Kulu Canopy is a habitat for white-cheeked gibbons, flying foxes (fruit bats), and false gharials.
Pantopia
This colorful section was originally called Timbuktu. It was re-themed in 2014.
- Scorpion is a steel roller coaster with one vertical loop. It's the oldest operating roller coaster at Busch Gardens.
- Pantopia Theater is an indoor theater that hosts animal shows.
- Caravan Carousel is a classic carousel ride.
- Falcon's Fury is an amazing drop tower that drops you at 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). It's the tallest free-standing drop tower in North America!
Nairobi
Named after the capital of Kenya, this area is home to many animals.
- Animal Care Center is a 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m2) facility where you can watch the park's veterinarians at work.
- Elephant Interaction Wall allows you to see the park's Asian elephants up close.
- Serengeti Flyer is a tall, intense Screamin' Swing ride that opened in 2023.
Edge of Africa
This smaller section is also known as Cheetah Hunt Plaza.
- Cheetah Hunt is a fast launched roller coaster with three launches and a unique "Windcatcher Tower."
- Cheetah Run is an animal exhibit next to Cheetah Hunt where you can see cheetahs.
Egypt
This area is themed like an Egyptian marketplace.
- Cobra's Curse is a spinning roller coaster that opened in 2016.
- Montu is a 150-foot (46 m) inverted roller coaster with seven inversions. It's named after an Egyptian god of war.
Animal Habitats
Busch Gardens is a leading zoo with over 200 species of animals.
Animal Care Center
This facility lets visitors see animal treatments and X-rays. It's also where the TV show The Wildlife Docs is filmed.
Bird Gardens
This is the original section of the park, opened in 1959. It's a free-flight aviary with over 500 tropical birds.
- Walkabout Way is an Australian-themed area where you can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies.
- Lory Landing is an open aviary where you can interact with lorikeets and even feed them nectar.
Edge of Africa
Opened in 1997, this walk-through area lets you observe African animals up close. You can see Nile crocodiles, meerkats, lions, spotted hyenas, hippos, vultures, and lemurs.
The Serengeti Plain
Opened in 1965, this 65 acres (26 ha) habitat was the first of its kind to let animals roam freely. It's home to many African animals, including Grévy's zebras, reticulated giraffes, white rhinos, and common ostriches. You can see them from the Serengeti Express train.
Special Events
Busch Gardens hosts many fun events throughout the year!
- Food and Wine Festival (March & April): Enjoy concerts by popular bands and try different foods and wines from various vendors.
- Summer Celebration (Summer months): The park stays open later with live music, party zones, and a fireworks show.
- Howl-O-Scream (September & October): The park transforms into a spooky Halloween event with haunted houses and scare zones. It's one of the top Halloween events in the U.S.!
- Christmas Town (November & December): The park is decorated with millions of Christmas lights. You can enjoy Christmas-themed shows, play in "Snow World," meet Santa, and see characters from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
- New Year's Eve Celebration: Ring in the new year with live music, thrill rides open late, and a fireworks display.
Awards and Recognition
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's roller coasters have won many awards!
- Montu was ranked as high as #2 among steel coasters in 1999.
- Kumba was ranked as high as #4 among steel coasters in 1998.
- SheiKra was ranked as high as #13 among steel coasters in 2006.
- Cheetah Hunt was ranked as high as #29 among steel coasters in 2011.
- Iron Gwazi was ranked as high as #29 among steel coasters in 2022.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has also been recognized for its beautiful landscaping.
Images for kids
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The monorail with the Old Swiss House in the background in 1977
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