Big Bad Wolf

Watch the on-ride POV
Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy

Big Bad Wolf

Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Location	Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Coordinates	37°13′56″N 76°38′43″W / 37.232257°N 76.645333°W / 37.232257; -76.645333
Section	Oktoberfest
Status	Defunct
Operated	June 15, 1984 to September 7, 2009
Cost	$6,000,000
Rider height	42 inch minimum
Replaced by	Verbolten

Statistics

Manufacturer

Arrow Dynamics

Product

Suspended Coaster

Designer / calculations

Ron Toomer

Type

Steel - Suspended - Terrain

Riders per train

28

Propulsion

Two chain lift hills

Height

100 feet

Drop

80 feet

Top speed

48 mph

Length

2800 feet

Inversions

0

Duration

3:00

Big Bad Wolf was a steel suspended terrain roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It operated from June 15, 1984 to September 7, 2009. A train, track section, support materials, and the sign package were donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum for display.

History

Busch Gardens Williamsburg had originally signed a contract with Schwarzkopf GmbH to built the company's suspended roller coaster for the 1984 season. However, the park ultimately pulled out of the deal, forfeiting a $500,000 deposit, as the delivery of the project was delayed due to the bankruptcy of Schwarzkopf in 1983. Arrow Dynamics (then Arrow-HUSS) was subsequently hired to build the roller coaster.^[1] Originally planned to open in March 1984, Big Bad Wolf's opening was delayed. However, the ride debuted on June 15, 1984.

The coaster faced some issues during its opening year. By 1985, it was running more reliable. Big Bad Wolf operated normally for the rest of the decade and the entire 1990s.

After Arrow Dynamics went bankrupt in 2002, spare parts became harder to find. While it remained very popular throughout its life span, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced the closure of Big Bad Wolf on July 24, 2009. After 25 years, the ride officially closed on September 7, 2009, the same year Grover's Alpine Express opened.^[2] In 2012, the roller coaster was replaced by Verbolten, which reused some of Big Bad Wolf's footers on the drop.^[3] A train, some track, uniforms, and other Big Bad Wolf artifacts were donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.^[4]

Design

Elements
50 feet tall Chain lift hill Helix Block brake 100 feet tall Chain lift hill

Color scheme

Red track and brown supports.

Trains

3 trains with 7 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train. Riders were held in with over-the-shoulder harnesses.

Images

The entrance sign
View of the station

References

↑ "Theme park still planning new coaster". Daily Press.
↑ "Big Bad Wolf won't howl after Sept. 7". Daily Press. July 25, 2009. pp. A16. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
↑ "Verbolten Opening At Busch Gardens Williamsburg On May 18th".
↑ "Artifacts continue to roll into NRCMA" (PDF). Amusement Today.

External links

[1] "Theme park still planning new coaster". Daily Press.

[2] "Big Bad Wolf won't howl after Sept. 7". Daily Press. July 25, 2009. pp. A16. Retrieved January 7, 2022.

[3] "Verbolten Opening At Busch Gardens Williamsburg On May 18th".

[4] "Artifacts continue to roll into NRCMA" (PDF). Amusement Today.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]