Verbolten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Verbolten |
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| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | |
| Location | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
| Park section | Oktoberfest |
| Coordinates | 37°13′53″N 76°38′42″W / 37.231498°N 76.644919°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | May 11, 2012 |
| Opening date | May 18, 2012 |
| Replaced | Big Bad Wolf |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Zierer |
| Model | Family Launched Coaster Elevated Seating Coaster |
| Track layout | Custom terrain design |
| Lift/launch system | 2 LSM Launches |
| Drop | 88 ft (27 m) |
| Length | 2,835 ft (864 m) |
| Speed | 53 mph (85 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 3:25 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 6 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train. |
| Theme | Black Forest/Autobahn |
| Slogan | Brave the Black Forest |
| Restraints | Lap Bar |
 Quick Queue available |
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| Verbolten at RCDB | |
Verbolten is an exciting steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is a multi-launching ride built by Zierer of Germany. The name "Verbolten" sounds like the German word "verboten," which means "forbidden" in English. This name fits the ride's mysterious forest theme.
Contents
History of Verbolten
On September 17, 2011, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that Verbolten would be their newest ride. It was the park's first roller coaster to use a launch system. The ride was built where the famous Big Bad Wolf coaster used to be.
Verbolten first opened quietly on May 11, 2012. A week later, on May 18, 2012, the ride officially opened to all park guests.
The Black Forest Adventure Theme
The idea for Verbolten came from the Autobahn, which is Germany's highway system. A teaser video for the ride showed a car driving calmly on the Autobahn. Suddenly, lightning strikes, sending the car into the dark and "forbidden" Black Forest. The ride takes place inside this spooky forest.
The waiting area and the station look like a motor tour office. It is run by a brother and sister named Gerta and Gunter Schwartzwald. Part of the waiting line looks like Gunter's office. It has strange plants, monitors, and luggage from past visitors.
The station where you get on the ride looks like a garage. Riders board trains that look like long, sporty cars. There are five different colored trains. The main theme of the ride is the Black Forest and its old legends.
Inside the Black Forest Building
A big part of the ride happens indoors, in a special building. This building is designed to feel like you are driving through the Black Forest. It has three different story lines that can play, making each ride unique.
The inside of the building has painted scenes and props. It also uses special sounds and lights. These effects create a spooky and exciting atmosphere.
Currently, there are three random stories you might experience inside the building:
- The Spirit of the Forest: In this story, you hear a peaceful spirit. It tries to trick riders into going deeper into the forest. Then, the spirit turns scary!
- Lightning Storm: This story features a wild storm. It feels like the lightning and thunder are trying to destroy your car.
- The Big Bad Wolf: In this story, you see glowing red eyes. They follow your train through the forest. This is a special tribute to the old Big Bad Wolf coaster that used to be here.
Having different stories means that every time you ride Verbolten, it can be a new adventure!
Ride Layout and Experience
Your adventure begins as the train leaves the station. It gently curves to the left. Then, it enters the first launch section. This special magnetic launch quickly speeds you into the dark "event building."
Inside the building, your train goes over a small hill that gives you a feeling of weightlessness. Then, it dives into a series of fast turns. A spinning section guides the train to a stop. Here, you might see strange leaves and hear blowing sounds.
Next, the train drops into a curve and goes up another hill. It stops again on a second brake run. Here, you might see spooky branches and hear different sounds, depending on the story. The train then stops completely in darkness. After a moment, the entire section of track suddenly drops 18 feet straight down!
Once you drop, the train rolls forward and down a small dip. It then hits the second magnetic launch. This launch quickly shoots you out of the building and through an S-shaped turn up a hill. At the top of the hill, the track slows down on what looks like a broken bridge.
The train then takes a thrilling 88-foot plunge off the bridge. This drop is a tribute to the old Big Bad Wolf coaster. You make a sharp left turn along the river bank. The train then speeds through an S-curve and over a small bunny hop. Finally, it goes into a turnaround before reaching the final brake run.
Tributes to Big Bad Wolf
Verbolten includes several special nods to its famous predecessor, the Big Bad Wolf. These tributes can be found throughout the ride:
- One of the six trains is orange. Its license plate reads "WOLF X ING," which is a fun hidden message.
- One of the three stories inside the event building features glowing red wolf eyes. These eyes chase riders through the forest.
- The final big drop down to the riverbank and the turns that follow it are just like the original coaster's ending. The ride even uses some of the old concrete supports from the Big Bad Wolf.
