Cheetah Hunt

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Cheetah Hunt

An overview of part of Cheetah Hunt

Busch Gardens Tampa
Location	Tampa, Florida, USA
Coordinates	28°02′04″N 82°25′12″W / 28.034347°N 82.419984°W / 28.034347; -82.419984
Status	Operating since May 27, 2011
Cost	$20,000,000^[1]
Rider height	48 inch minimum
Replaced	Monorail

Statistics

Manufacturer

Intamin

Product

LSM Launch Coaster

Type

Steel - Launched

Riders per train

16

Hourly capacity

1370

Propulsion

3 LSM launches

Height

102 feet

Drop

130 feet

Top speed

60 mph

Length

4429 feet

Inversions

1

G-Force

4

Cheetah Hunt is an Intamin multi-launched roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa, Florida, USA. It opened on May 27, 2011.

History

In 2010, before the ride was officially announced, Busch Gardens Tampa began to release teaser videos. Each video contained a small, computer generated part of the ride. Each one would have a different part of the ride. At this point, the new ride was known as Cheetaka.^[2] After five videos, the ride was officially announced on October 13 by park president, Jim Dean.^[3] The new roller coaster's station re-purposed the former Monorail station.

The ride was completed in 2011, opening on May 27 of the same year. Upon opening, became the first roller coaster to have a windcatcher tower.^[4]

Cheetah Hunt was repainted in early 2022 by Baynum Painting.^[5]

Design

Elements
LSM launch from 0-30 mph in 1.8 seconds Over-banked curve LSM boost from 30 mph-60 mph in 2.4 seconds Windcatcher tower Heartline roll Block brake LSM boost from 25 mph-40 mph in 2.1 seconds Hill

Cheetah Hunt features three launches throughout the ride. Parts of the ride travel into trenches and over water, formerly occupied by the Rhino Rally tour ride.

Trains

5 trains with 4 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 16 riders per train.

Ride Experience

Immediately after departing the station the train hits the first LSM launch, which allows the train to crest the first turn and hit the second boost, which propels the ride to 60 mph, straight up into the windcatcher tower.

After circling the windcatcher tower, the ride dives into a shallow ditch, then enters a rapid series of S-curves, over-banked turns, and a heartline roll. The ride then hits the third LSM boost, launching the train through the final twisted segment of over-banked turns and drops before hitting the final brake run.