All of the Busch Gardens Locations | Easily Explained
Busch Gardens is one of the most popular theme park companies in the world, known for its family-friendly environment and thrilling rides.
In this guide, we will cover all of the Busch Gardens locations, and explain what each one has to offer.
How Many Busch Gardens Are There?
There are a total of two Busch Gardens parks, both located on the East Coast of the United States, specifically in Tampa, Florida, and in Williamsburg, Virginia.
For over six decades, Busch Gardens has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, and amazing family-friendly themed areas.
Although both parks are both under the Busch Gardens brand, each park is different and offers its own unique twist.
1. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa is the original Busch Gardens Park, having opened in 1959.
This massive 335-acre park features a total of 28 attractions including 10 roller coaster rides, 2 water rides, and 12,000 animals.
Park Layout
Busch Gardens Tampa is Africa themed, with 11 different sections of the park including:
- Serengeti Plain
- Morocco
- Congo
- Egypt
- Edge of Africa
- Pantopia
- Nairobi
- Jungala
- Stanleyville
- Sesame Street Safari of Fun
- Bird Gardens
One of the most popular areas of the park is the Serengeti Plain.
Visitors can tour the 65-acre natural habitat in an open-air vehicle for 30 minutes, and see amazing animals in person including giraffes and zebras.
If you're lucky, you may even get the opportunity to feed a giraffe.
Best Ride
There are so many great rides at Busch Gardens Tampa, but the best one is by far Iron Gwazi.
Showcasing speeds of up to 76 miles per hour, and a devastating 200+ ft first drop at 91 degrees, Iron Gwazi gives riders all that they can handle.
If you're a thrill seeker, this is the ride for you.
Iron Gwazi is a hybrid coaster, having both a steel track and a wooden frame.
This gives riders the best of both worlds in the sense that the ride is smoother than a regular wooden coaster but is still rough enough that you still get the wooden coaster feel.
Concerts During the Food & Wine Festival
This park offers something that not many other parks in the world offer, as they routinely host concerts during the Food & Wine Festival (typically occurs March-May).
Some popular artists and groups that have played and/or are scheduled to play this year include:
- Elvis Crespo
- Tenille Arts
- Jeremy Camp
- Air Supply
- Walk the Moon
- Gabby Barrett
- Mitchell Tenpenny
It's important to note that the Food & Wine festival and concerts are included with admission.
2. Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is another massive park, even larger than Tampa spanning 422 acres.
The Williamsburg park features a total of 52 attractions, including 9 roller coaster rides, and 3 water rides.
It is also home to more than 30 species of animals such as Gray wolves and Clydesdale horses.
This park would open 16 years after Busch Gardens Tampa, in 1975.
Park Layout
Unlike its counterpart, Busch Gardens Williamsburg follows a European theme, with 10 different villages of the park located around 6 countries including:
- Germany
- France
- New France
- Ireland
- Scotland
- England
- Italy
- Fiesta Italia
- Oktoberfest
- Sesame Street Forest of Fun
Busch Gardens also offers its own version of the Food & Wine Festival offering specialty wine, liquor tastings, live music, entertainment, and world-class shows.
Best Ride
Although Pantheon is the newest ride at the park, it has quickly become the most popular ride.
Reaching speeds of up to 73 miles per hour, a vertical angle of 95 degrees, and 2 inversions, it's easy to see why.
In addition to that, Pantheon will take riders on a unique experience in the middle of the ride, by almost reaching the top of a hill, only to begin going backward.
If you've never experienced high speeds while going backwards, it's an experience that you'll want to tell everyone afterwards.
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