Iron Gwazi (formerly Gwazi) is a steel-track
hybrid roller coaster at
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a animal theme park located in Tampa, Florida, United States, with the entire park landscaped and designed around themes of Africa and Asia. Owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the park opened on Ju ...
, a theme park in
Tampa, Florida
Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and ...
, United States. The ride, named after a fabled creature with a tiger's head and a lion's body, was built by
Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI or GCII) is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird at PowerPark in Finland, t ...
(GCI) as Gwazi, a wooden
dueling roller coaster
A dual-tracked roller coaster is a roller coaster that consists of two tracks. They can be configured as racing, dueling, or Möbius loop roller coasters. Some dual-track coasters operate only one track side at a time, including Rolling Thunder ...
with two separate tracks. It opened to the public on June 18, 1999. The two tracks, named Lion and Tiger, were long and high. Trains reached a maximum speed of . Gwazi replaced the former
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 2008, it has been wholly owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( AB InBev), now the world's largest brewing company, which owns multiple ...
brewery that was located in the middle of the park.
Gwazi operated both tracks until 2012, with the closure of the tiger side. Following rising maintenance costs and declining ridership, the remaining side was closed in 2015. Following the closure, the wooden structure sat dormant for several years. Replacement attractions were considered by the park, including a remodeled roller coaster, an amphitheater, and a new attraction. In 2018, the park announced plans to refurbish the Gwazi structure, with
Rocky Mountain Construction
Rocky Mountain Construction, often abbreviated as RMC, is a manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. The company is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters.
History
In 20 ...
(RMC) listed as the roller coaster manufacturer in city applications. Site preparation began in late 2018.
In 2019, plans to refurbish the ride into Iron Gwazi, a steel-tracked coaster, were announced. RMC was hired to retrofit the existing layout with I-Box track using a portion of the original structure. The refurbished attraction was marketed as the tallest, steepest, and fastest hybrid roller coaster in North America. It was originally scheduled to open in 2020 but that was delayed several times due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
and other issues. Iron Gwazi soft-opened to passholder members on February 13, 2022, and to the general public on March 11, 2022. It is high, long and has a maximum speed of .
History
Development
In October 1995,
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 2008, it has been wholly owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( AB InBev), now the world's largest brewing company, which owns multiple ...
announced the closure of its Tampa brewery, which opened during the park's inaugural year.
The brewery closed in December and was demolished afterwards, freeing up land in the middle of
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a animal theme park located in Tampa, Florida, United States, with the entire park landscaped and designed around themes of Africa and Asia. Owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, the park opened on Ju ...
.
To replace the brewery, the park chose a
wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track, which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also ...
rather than a steel because of a growing preference for antiquated attractions. The park wanted to differentiate itself from other Florida theme parks with modern ride technology.
Mark Rose, then the park's vice-president for planning and design, chose the builder for the wooden roller coaster after touring several amusement parks over 17 days.
He informally selected five roller coasters, seeking a prospective designer for a new Busch Gardens attraction, settling on
Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI or GCII) is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird at PowerPark in Finland, t ...
(GCI) for the project based on
Wildcat
The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while th ...
; GCI's roller coaster at
Hersheypark
Hersheypark (known as Hershey Park until 1970) is a family theme park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, about east of Harrisburg, and west of Philadelphia. The park was founded in 1906 by Milton S. Hershey as a leisure park for the employees of ...
.
Busch Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is an American theme park and entertainment company headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. and owns and operates thirteen recreational destinations in the Unit ...
(since renamed SeaWorld Entertainment) officials confirmed the choice and signed GCI.
The new roller coaster's name, Gwazi, was conceived with the assistance of
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...
.
The name Gwazi made reference to an African myth, after a fabled creature with a tiger's head and a lion's body, and its inner conflict.
In early June 1998, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was considering an on-site expansion for a resort to compete with other Florida amusement parks, and a projected $10 million attraction was scheduled for a 1999 opening. In mid-month, Busch Entertainment, the owner of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, filed a trademark for the name "Gwazi" with the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alex ...
. Groundbreaking began a month later,
and Busch Gardens announced it that day day. The
dueling roller coaster
A dual-tracked roller coaster is a roller coaster that consists of two tracks. They can be configured as racing, dueling, or Möbius loop roller coasters. Some dual-track coasters operate only one track side at a time, including Rolling Thunder ...
s were announced as the park's fifth coaster, the tracks themed as a lion and a tiger.
It was also announced GCI would be building the roller coaster.
''
The Tampa Tribune
''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area.
The newspaper also published a ''St. Pe ...
'' ran pictures of the hills under construction in November. Gwazi was reported to have been re-designed several times over the course of construction.
By late April 1999, it was near completion and test runs began in late May.
Operation
To promote the opening of Gwazi, park officials sold "first ride" tickets for a preview event in June 1999; of the 5,700 tickets 3,500 tickets were sold to pass-holders. Around 500 guests from
American Coaster Enthusiasts were in attendance.
Construction of the roller coaster's theming and the removal of excess wood were still being completed during the preview event.
Gwazi opened the next day, as Florida's first dueling wooden roller coaster. Gwazi was the first wooden roller coaster to open at any Busch Entertainment park.
![Gwazi (Busch Gardens Africa) 02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Gwazi_%28Busch_Gardens_Africa%29_02.jpg)
Gwazi developed a reputation for delivering a rough ride, despite regular maintenance.
The lion side of the coaster was re-tracked in 2009, and the tiger side the following year.
The last part of the overhaul included the installation of four GCI-designed
Millennium Flyer trains to replace the roller coaster's original
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry Auchey and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia ...
(PTC) trains.
Even with the re-tracking and new trains, Gwazi remained difficult to maintain and ridership kept decreasing.
At the end of the 2012 season, the tiger side of Gwazi closed and soon after, a bridge was built across its loading platform; one of its trains was relocated to the lion track.
In December 2014, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay confirmed Gwazi's lion track would close due to low attendance, operating costs, and negative guest feedback. Gwazi's last train was dispatched in February 2015.
The trains were reused on other rides at other SeaWorld park locations, including
InvadR
InvadR is a wooden roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park. Built by Great Coasters International, it opened on April 7, 2017.
History
After a three-month web-campaign on March 19, 2016, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced tha ...
at
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Williamsburg (formerly known as Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens: The Old Country) is a amusement park located in Williamsburg, Virginia, James City County near Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Located approximately ...
and
Texas Stingray
Texas Stingray is a wooden roller coaster at SeaWorld San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas, manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI) and designed by Skyline Attractions. The coaster opened in February 2020 and operated for just a few week ...
at
SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio is a marine mammal park, oceanarium and animal theme park in the Westover Hills District of San Antonio, Texas, on the city's west side. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned and operated by SeaW ...
. Wooden planks from Gwazi were reused within Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and at other SeaWorld Entertainment Parks including
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park, in Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica, it forms SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Or ...
.
Refurbishment and relaunch
When Gwazi was closed, Rose, by then the vice-president of park services, said there was no plan for the site but possible replacement attractions were being considered. A park spokesperson said engineers were discussing whether to add new elements, manufacture steel parts, or completely demolish the structure. Within three years of the closure, rumors circulated about a remodeled roller coaster, a new attraction, or an
amphitheater replacing the Gwazi structure.
During a September 2018
news conference announcing the park's ninth roller coaster,
Tigris
The Tigris () is the easternmost of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of the Armenian Highlands through the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, and empties into the ...
, officials said there were construction plans for Gwazi in 2020. The same day,
SeaWorld Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is an American theme park and entertainment company headquartered in Orlando, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. and owns and operates thirteen recreational destinations in the Unit ...
applied to trademark "Iron Gwazi". In December, updated construction-permit applications sent to the city of Tampa listed
Rocky Mountain Construction
Rocky Mountain Construction, often abbreviated as RMC, is a manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. The company is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters.
History
In 20 ...
(RMC) as the ride manufacturer of an upcoming attraction in the Gwazi area. Site preparations and construction started in late 2018 for an attraction code-named "BGT 2020". A crane was seen at the site in January 2019. The park said it would announce more information about the replacement for Gwazi in March, after the completion of Tigris.
In March, the park announced Gwazi would be replaced with a
hybrid roller coaster conversion by RMC. The new attraction was promoted as the steepest, fastest, and tallest hybrid roller coaster in North America. Permits filed in March 2019 reported the new roller coaster would be around tall. Placement of the roller coaster's track began in August. The following month, its name, "Iron Gwazi", was revealed. Iron Gwazi was reported to be tall with a 91-degree drop and speeds of up to .
During the 2019
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) represents over 6,000 amusement-industry members in more than 100 countries worldwide and operates several global attractions-industry trade shows. Its annual IAAPA Expo in ...
(IAAPA) Exposition in November, RMC unveiled the trains for Iron Gwazi.
![Iron Gwazi - Busch Gardens Tampa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Iron_Gwazi_-_Busch_Gardens_Tampa.jpg)
Media outlets were given a tour of the site in January 2020, to see how the construction had progressed. Track work for Iron Gwazi was completed in March, and testing began the next day. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, the initial opening date was missed and construction was halted at the testing phase after a week. RMC filed a
lien
A lien ( or ) is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the ''lienee'' and the per ...
against SeaWorld in May 2020 for $3.5 million out of $9 million the company says it was owed for work on Iron Gwazi, delaying further construction. As a result of the pandemic, SeaWorld Entertainment's preliminary second-quarter results included several approaches to reorganize its assets; with one plan to postpone all attractions scheduled to open in 2020 to the following year. In September, the park updated its website with a new anticipated opening date of early 2021. Two months later, the park released a
point-of-view video of Iron Gwazi.
In August 2021, Busch Gardens postponed Iron Gwazi's launch a second time, until March 2022. In January 2022, the park announced Iron Gwazi would open on March 11 that year. It hosted a media day for Iron Gwazi in February. A soft-opening for passholder members began four days later,
and the roller coaster opened to the general public on schedule.
Ride experience
Gwazi
The ride experience of both the Lion and Tiger sides of Gwazi followed paths similar to each other as dueling roller coasters. Gwazi was promoted as the first dueling coaster with six "fly-bys", in which the two roller coasters pass each other in opposite directions at high speeds, giving the impression they will collide.
Gwazi was also promoted as the largest-and-fastest dueling wooden roller coaster in the
southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...
. One cycle of each ride took around 2 minutes.
Lion
![Gwazi (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Gwazi_%28Busch_Gardens_Tampa_Bay%29.jpg)
After leaving the
station, the train moved forward before dipping into a right-handed U-turn to pass the other train. The train slightly climbed to the left then ascended the lift hill. Once at the top, the train entered a
pre-drop and turned right before descending the drop and reaching its maximum speed of near the bottom. The train banked slightly right before ascending into a left-banked turn through the lift hill of the tiger side, exiting downward, and entering a right-banked turnaround. The train then banked up into a left turn before traversing downward into the outer region of the layout, making multiple, slight-banked right turns. Afterward, the train entered a series of hills parallel to the opposite train, passing by the station before banking leftward into a downward spiral. The train descended before rising into a slight right turn, transitioning into a left turn and into the
brake run. Completing the course, the train then turned right and then a slightly left before entering the station.
Tiger
The train departed the station, moved forward into a slight right turn, then dipped into a U-turn to the left to pass the other train. It slightly climbed to the left before ascending the lift hill. Once at the top, the train entered a pre-drop, turning left before descending the drop and reaching its maximum speed of near the bottom. The train slightly banked right before ascending into a banked right turn and a drop. Continuing the banked angle, it then climbed before dipping and then climbing into a left-banked turn, traversing a series of curves before turning towards the outer region of the layout in multiple, slight-banked left turns. The train then entered a series of hills, running parallel to the opposite train, passing by the station and entering a right-banked downward spiral. It slightly descended before rising into a slight-banked left turn, moving into a right turn, and then into the brake run. Completing the course, the train turned left and then slightly right before entering the station.
![Iron Gwazi lift hill bird 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Iron_Gwazi_lift_hill_bird_3.jpg)
Iron Gwazi
After leaving the station, the train turns left, dips beneath the queue line, and turns left again to climb the lift hill. Once at the top, the train descends the 91-degree drop, and reaches its maximum speed of near the bottom. It then climbs a hill and makes an outward-banked left turn, then another descending left turn. Afterward, the train makes a banked right turn that leads into a downward
barrel roll
A barrel roll is an aerial maneuver in which an airplane makes a complete rotation on both its longitudinal and lateral axes, causing it to follow a helical path, approximately maintaining its original direction. It is sometimes described as a " ...
, and then takes an
over-banked left turn. It then continues into a series of banked turns. The train then passes through a
zero-g stall
This list of roller coaster elements contains the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation.
Introduction
Roller coaster elements are the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, or turn. ...
, climbs a small hill, then takes a long right turn. It makes one final left-banked turn before entering the brake run. Upon completion, the train makes a left turn passing the car barn, and a final right turn before entering the station.
One cycle of the roller coaster takes about two minutes to complete.
Characteristics
Wooden roller coaster
![Gwazi (Busch Gardens Africa) 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Gwazi_%28Busch_Gardens_Africa%29_01.jpg)
Gwazi's footprint covered previously occupied by the brewery.
Gwazi was Great Coasters International (GCI)'s third project. The individual wooden tracks were long
and the maximum height of each side was .
Gwazi used of treated
southern yellow pine
In ecology and forestry, yellow pine refers to a number of conifer species that tend to grow in similar plant communities and yield similar strong wood. In the Western United States, yellow pine refers to Jeffrey pine or ponderosa pine. In the ...
, two million bolts, and 4.4 million nails for tracks using , planks in eight layers.
The structure of Gwazi was able to withstand winds without riders. As opposed to some wooden roller coasters, Gwazi was not painted.
Gwazi was originally supplied with six-car PTC trains that were arranged with two seats across in two rows.
According to designer Mike Boodley, brand-new GCI Millennium Flyer trains were offered but Busch Gardens did not want to use an unproven design.
Following the 2011 season, the park replaced the PTC trains with Millennium Flyer trains.
The four GCI trains had 12 cars with a single row two seats across.
Both PTC and GCI trains could accommodate 24 riders,
and had a lap-bar restraint system.
Gwazi's trains were commonly known as Lion and Tiger. Lion trains were mainly yellow and Tiger trains were mostly blue.
Gwazi was themed around the struggle between territorial
wildcats
The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while the ...
; the
African lion and the Asian
tiger
The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus ''Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on ...
. The surrounding plaza was similarly themed for each cat; the lion side included a desert-like atmosphere and the Tiger side had landscaping and streams.
Steel roller coaster
![Iron Gwazi layout BGT (3)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Iron_Gwazi_layout_BGT_%283%29.jpg)
Iron Gwazi was designed and built by RMC using portions of the original Gwazi coaster.
Alan Schilke
Alan Schilke is an engineer and roller coaster designer based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. He first made his mark on the industry by designing the 4th Dimension roller coaster, X2 (roller coaster), X2, while working with Arrow Dynamics. Schi ...
designed the I-Box track.
Iron Gwazi occupies the same station that once housed both Gwazi tracks. Andrew Schaffer, director of design and engineering for the park, stated; "about 25 percent of the original wooden structure has been re-utilized, and 75 percent of the foundations".
An additional of lumber was added for structural support. The lift hill of Iron Gwazi uses steel rather than the wooden structure of its predecessor.
Iron Gwazi is the tallest hybrid roller coaster in the world, tied with
Zadra at
Energylandia
Energylandia is an amusement park in Poland. It is located in Zator in Lesser Poland, which is in southern Poland. It is approximately away from Kraków
Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland ...
, another RMC-built roller coaster.
The steel track reaches a total length of .
The roller coaster's theme is the
crocodile; similar to other attractions at the park themed to an animal.
The
queue area
Queue areas are places in which people queue ( first-come, first-served) for goods or services. Such a group of people is known as a ''queue'' ( British usage) or ''line'' (American usage), and the people are said to be waiting or standing ''i ...
has educational elements about the species and their conservation, with reptile-themed graphics and paint throughout.
Iron Gwazi operates with two six-car RMC trains. Each car is arranged with two seats across in two rows, accommodating up to 24 riders per train,
with lap-bar restraints.
The lead car is themed as the head of a crocodile; its trains are green, purple, and blue. The track has a purple color scheme.
Comparison
Incidents
In 2006, a 52-year-old
Palm Harbor
Palm most commonly refers to:
* Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand
* Palm plants, of family Arecaceae
**List of Arecaceae genera
* Several other plants known as "palm"
Palm or Palms may also refer to:
Music
* Palm (ba ...
man collapsed after riding Gwazi; he was rushed to a local hospital where he died. It was determined that the roller coaster, which was functioning properly, had aggravated his
high blood pressure.
In 2022, a guest riding Iron Gwazi during its preview hit their hand on a beam, prompting Busch Gardens to remove two beams. They refused medical treatment.
Reception and legacy
![Iron Gwazi lifthill BGT (2)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Iron_Gwazi_lifthill_BGT_%282%29.jpg)
Gwazi received generally positive reviews upon its debut. In a ''
St. Petersburg Times
The ''Tampa Bay Times'', previously named the ''St. Petersburg Times'' until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It has won fourteen Pulitzer Prizes since 1964, and in 2009, won two in a single ...
'' report, guest reactions to the roller coaster were positive, many taking into account its twists and turns,
air time, and smoothness.
Levin Walker, writing for ''
The Tampa Tribune
''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area.
The newspaper also published a ''St. Pe ...
'', noted among guests, Gwazi was praised for its speed and initial drop; some riders commented on the partial rattle typical of wooden roller coasters. An editor for ''Park World'', Paul Ruben, stated Gwazi had "everything a good coaster should have", and adding "it never slows down".
The opening of Gwazi in 1999 coincided with the debuts of several other major roller coasters at Florida theme parks, including
Dueling Dragons and
The Incredible Hulk Coaster at
Universal's Islands of Adventure
Universal's Islands of Adventure (also known as Islands of Adventure or IOA), originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an ...
, and the
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is an enclosed, launched roller coaster located at Disney's Hollywood Studios within Walt Disney World. Manufactured by Vekoma, the roller coaster opened to the public on July 29, 1999. It uses linea ...
at
Disney-MGM Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division. Based on a concept by ...
. Gwazi was one of several wooden roller coasters that opened in North America during a resurgence of interest in vintage-style attractions. Gwazi opened one month after the steel dueling roller coaster, Dueling Dragons.
Dueling Dragons and Gwazi were frequently compared because of their dueling feature.
Iron Gwazi was positively reviewed by critics on its debut. Sharon Kennedy Wynne, writing for the ''Tampa Bay Times'', described the it as "glass-smooth" and noted its numerous air time moments.
Dewayne Bevil of ''Orlando Sentinel'' noted Iron Gwazi's anticipation and sustained pacing.
American Coaster Enthusiasts members praised the ride's speedy maneuvers, smoothness, and its ability to be re-ridden.
Bobbie Butterfield, a writer for ''Theme Park Insider'', stated that from any seat, "Iron Gwazi is a winner", in addition to praising the roller coaster's signature "barrel roll drop" and later air time moments.
Awards
Prior to its closure, Gwazi received several placements from ''
Amusement Today
''Amusement Today'' is a monthly periodical that features articles, news, pictures and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The trade newspaper, which is based in Arli ...
''
Golden Ticket Awards
''Amusement Today'' is a monthly periodical that features articles, news, pictures and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The trade newspaper, which is based in Arl ...
. In its debut year, Iron Gwazi received the Golden Ticket Award for
Best New Roller Coaster.
See also
*
List of attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
*
Steel Vengeance
Steel Vengeance, formerly known as Mean Streak, is a steel roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The roller coaster, originally constructed by Dinn Corporation as a wooden roller coaster, was rebuilt by Rocky Mountain Construction ( ...
, a similar steel-hybrid roller coaster that was refurbished by Rocky Mountain Construction in Ohio
References
External links
*
{{Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster
Roller coasters in Tampa, Florida
Roller coasters introduced in 1999
Roller coasters introduced in 2022
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Roller coasters that closed in 2015
1999 establishments in Florida
2015 disestablishments in Florida
Hybrid roller coasters
Best New Roller Coaster winners
2022 establishments in Florida