Griffon (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Griffon |
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Griffon's lift hill and vertical drop
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| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | |
| Location | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
| Park section | Aquitaine (France) |
| Coordinates | 37°14′4″N 76°38′51″W / 37.23444°N 76.64750°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 18, 2007 |
| Cost | $15,600,000 USD |
| Replaced | LeMans Raceway |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Dive Coaster |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Model | Dive Coaster |
| Track layout | Twister |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Drop | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Length | 3,108 ft (947 m) |
| Speed | 71 mph (114 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Duration | 3:00 |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Capacity | 1,400 riders per hour |
| G-force | 4 |
| Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 10 across in a single row for a total of 30 riders per train. |
 Quick Queue available |
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 Single rider line not available |
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| Griffon at RCDB | |
Griffon is a super exciting roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia, United States. It's a special type called a Dive Coaster, designed by a company named Bolliger & Mabillard. This ride is 205 feet (62 m) tall and zooms at speeds up to 71 miles per hour (114 km/h)!
Griffon is famous for a few cool things. It has two awesome loops called Immelmann loops. It also features a giant splashdown that sends water flying high. Plus, it was the very first Dive Coaster to have trains where your feet dangle freely, because there's no floor! Griffon first opened on May 18, 2007. People loved it right away, and it quickly became a favorite.
Contents
History of Griffon
How Griffon Was Built
Before Griffon, there was a race car ride called LeMans Raceway. On June 30, 2006, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that the raceway would close. This was to make space for a brand new attraction. Construction for Griffon started right away, with the old raceway being taken down.
The name "Griffon" was officially chosen on July 12, 2006. The park told everyone about the new roller coaster on August 23, 2006. Building the ride was a big job! On December 11, 2006, giant cranes lifted the highest part of Griffon into place. The thrilling vertical drop and the first Immelmann loop were finished in January 2007. The very last piece of track was put in place in late February.
After lots of safety tests, Griffon opened on May 18, 2007. This was actually one week earlier than they first planned!
Griffon's Records
When Griffon first opened in 2007, it broke some records. It became the tallest and fastest Dive Coaster in the world! Before Griffon, another ride called SheiKra held these records. Griffon was also the first Dive Coaster ever to have trains without a floor. This means your legs hang in the air during the ride!
Later, in 2009, another roller coaster in China took the record for the longest drop. But Griffon remains a super impressive and unique ride.
What It's Like to Ride Griffon
Get ready for an amazing adventure! First, the floor drops away, and the gate opens. Your train leaves the station and makes a quick turn. Then, you start climbing the huge 205-foot (62 m) chain lift hill. It's a slow climb, building the suspense!
The First Drop and Loop
Once you reach the very top of the lift, the train makes a right turn. It then slowly moves over the edge of the first drop. This is the scariest part! The train stops for five whole seconds, hanging right over the edge. Then, you're released down a heart-pounding 90-degree drop! You'll reach your top speed of 71 miles per hour (114 km/h) as you rush towards the ground.
Right after the drop, you zoom into a huge Immelmann loop. This loop is 146 feet (45 m) tall! An Immelmann loop takes you up, flips you over, and then sends you back down in a smooth motion. After that, the train goes into a section where it slows down a bit.
The Second Drop and Splashdown
But the fun isn't over! After slowing down, you plunge down a second drop. This one is 130-foot (40 m) tall and almost straight down. Then, you go through another exciting Immelmann loop.
Next, you'll feel a quick moment of "airtime" over a small hill. Finally, the train races into a huge splashdown area. This creates two giant walls of water, each 50-foot (15 m) high! It's a super cool way to end the ride. After the splash, the train makes a final turn and heads back to the station. The whole ride lasts about three thrilling minutes.
Griffon's Features
The Track
Griffon's track is made of strong steel. It's 3,108 feet (947 m) long, which is about half a mile! The lift hill is approximately 205 feet (62 m) high. The ride has light blue supports holding it up, and the track itself is a darker blue color.
For safety, there's a special elevator on the lift hill. This elevator can bring riders back to the ground if the train ever needs to stop on the hill. The track pieces were made by a company called Clermont Steel Fabricators in Ohio. They build many roller coasters for Bolliger & Mabillard.
The Trains
Griffon uses three trains, which are colored red, yellow, and black. Each train is made of steel and fiberglass. What's really unique is how you sit! Each train has three rows, and ten riders sit across each row. This means 30 people can ride at once! Each person has their own shoulder restraint and a seatbelt to keep them safe.
Because Griffon's trains are floorless, your legs hang freely in the air. This adds to the thrill! Riders can also feel up to 4 times the force of gravity during the ride, which pushes you into your seat during the fastest parts.
