Apollo's Chariot

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Apollo's Chariot
The lift hill and first drop
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Location Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Coordinates 37°14′07″N 76°38′32″W / 37.2352876°N 76.6423510°W / 37.2352876; -76.6423510
Status Operating since March 27, 1999
Cost $20,000,000
Rider height 52 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Product Hyper Coaster
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Hyper
Riders per train 36
Hourly capacity 1750
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 170 feet
Drop 210 feet
Top speed 73 mph
Length 4882 feet
Inversions 0
Drop angle 65°
Duration 2:15
G-Force 4.1
HELP

Apollo's Chariot is a steel hyper roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Opened on March 27, 1999, it is the first Hyper Coaster installation from Bolliger & Mabillard. The roller coaster uses an out and back design with a large helix. Apollo's Chariot opened in 1999 in the "Festa Italia" section of the park.

History

Apollo's Chariot was announced on September 4, 1998.[1] On March 27, 1999, the ride opened to guests. While attending the media event on March 30, model Fabio was struck by a goose while the train was descending the first drop. He was then taken to a nearby hospital and subsequently released, suffering minor cuts to his face.[2]

For the ride's 20th anniversary in 2019, the ride was repainted.[3]

Design

Elements
  • 170 foot tall chain lift hill with a 210 foot drop
  • Hill with a 131 foot drop
  • Tunnel
  • Hill with a 144 foot drop
  • Hill with a 102 foot drop
  • Hill with a 48 foot drop
  • Hill with a 87 foot drop
  • Hill with a 38 foot drop
  • Hill with a 16 foot drop
  • Hill with a 49 foot drop

Apollo's Chariot is the first hyper roller coaster ever built by Bolliger & Mabillard. While it is only 170 feet high, its first drop leads into a depression and stretches 210 feet down. The ride features a pre-drop and series of large airtime hills stretching to and from a large helix at the end of the ride.

Like many hyper coasters, most of the coaster's vibrant purple track is hidden from the park itself. The best view of the whole ride is from the parking lot, which borders the land occupied by the ride.

Color scheme

Apollo's Chariot has a purple track and yellow supports.

Trains

3 trains with 9 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 36 riders per train.

Images

References

  1. New Ride Not For Mere Mortals - Daily Press
  2. Fabio Hit By Flying Bird on Apollo's Chariot - Ultimaterollercoaster.com
  3. Stilwell, Andrew (March 28, 2019). "19 For 99: Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg". Coaster101. Retrieved May 29, 2022.

External links


Articles on Busch Gardens Williamsburg