Does anyone remember much about BGE's past. I know the basics and such but I was wondering if anyone knew the stuff that most wouldn't.

well i do remember that 2 years back they had a show at the royal palace theatre during howl-o-scream called fright lights and they used a lot of fireworks.

There could be a book about Busch Gardens's past. Literally.

I remember a R/C boat hire where Apollo is now.
And a train ride at HOS that was actually good!

In Hastings there was a shooting range where Waterford Crystal is now that wasn't the most happy of places. It was kind 0f eerie with outdated figurine things that moved.

I found this on a website with stuff about Hastings... http://Website for Hastings
The Enchanted Laboratory - Mystical show with computer-animation and special effects.
Hastings Magic Lantern Theatre - Currently hosting "Rockin' The Boat" - a cruise-ship style song and dance Broadway revue.
Wizard Works - Perform your own magic.
Feathered Folles Theatre - A great show featuring some of the world's rarest and most beautiful birds.
Eagle Ridge - In cooperation with the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri; Busch Gardens is home to several American bald eagles that, because of physical injury or disability, are incapable of flight and therefore unable to survive in the wild.
Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve - Discover how adventurous learning can be at Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve. This interactive wildlife reserve area offers a fascinating and up-close look at some amazing species, including gray wolves, reptiles, lorikeets, rare raptors and exotic birds, as well as a sanctuary for American Bald Eagles


Pretty Cool,
Skyrider

Here's some pictures I found:

Gladiator's Gauntlet was a Waikiki Wave that opened in 1988 and then closed in 1993. It was apparently and extremely loud ride with sounds of crunching and screeching metal and whirring engines.





Pre-Alpengiest Lescoot:




And just a few dates:

Battering Ram: 1981

Davinci's Cradle: 1983

Festa Italia: 1987


Lastly there was also Chance Trabant(Der Blitzschnelter) and Monster(Die Schwartze Spinne) at the park in earlier years as well.

I never got to ride this Gladiators gauntlet thinger but from the looks of it, I would have loved it.



Who manufactures these Waikiki Waves?

I remember when there was an area (where Jack Hanna Reserve is now) called Thread Needle Faire. They had Medevil style shows and games there. The games that I recall were a Jacob's Ladder style game, Whack A Toad which was like the Whack A Toad game in Oktoberfest, but primitive. By primitive I mean it had wooden catapults that you hammered and the targets where 1/4 barrels set on the ground at different distances for two reasons: age group and prize size. They also had a dunking booth there. And the last game that I recall was a crossbow shoot. You actually shot a crossbow that was mounted to a large plank with a hinge so it could only be aimed toward the gaming area. The targets were burlap sheets with lions and such painted on them. I still have a couple of the Dragon Scales that they gave you when you didn't win the big prize. I have a couple of tour videos that I purchased at BG "back when" and one of them has Thread Needle Faire on it and the second one has Drachen Fire footage on it.

I think Vekoma did Waikiki Waves.

And Jack Hanna's Reserve opened in 2000

I could never remember the name of that gladiator ride. But!... I loved it as a kid!! used to ride it over and over. It was loud but fun. Sad thing is, I couldnt tell you were it was located now to save my life.

Gladiator's Gauntlet was located in Festa Italia. I think it was about where Splashus Maximus is now.

Ah, Vekoma. That would explain the noise

They need to bring it back

They could have it still stored away with Sea Dragon.

Oh, and Did you know the park was originally supposed to be in Petersburg, Va, which is about an hour away, but the city would not give them the tax breaks they wanted , so they decided to build it here in Williamsburg, which at the time was very similar to Petersburg, but smaller.

^That's very interesting, I've never heard that before Williamsburg turned out to be a much better investment, though, especially with the Virginia Beach area growing so rapidly and of course the rich history of the area pulling in the crowds

^Agreed, even though Petersburg has a historical backround that could have become very popular, Williamsburg is a much better place.

I agree. I think Williamsburg was a much better place to put the park as there is much more to do around the town which draws crowds. Virginia Beach isn't too far away either.

for those of us living in the VA beach area, it was also supposed to be opened in the area where Ocean Breeze and Motorworld now occupy. They wanted it to be there but due to Oceana they couldnt build anything overly high because of the low-flying aircraft.

Speaking of "what could have been", I recall reading AB also considered several locations in the Raleigh area of North Carolina for the park/brewery before they went to Virginia. That area doesn't really have the historical appeal, perhaps that's why they went north.

Thanks for posting the Gladiators Gauntlet pics! I remember the ride from visits to the park as a kid, though I never actually rode it.

Well...I definitely know a lot on this subject. As I've said elsewhere, I've been going to the park since I was two-years-old (now 18).

Hastings and surrounding area
-As mentioned before, there was a shooting gallery. It was a little weird...
-The Enchanted Laboratory was a show that took place in the castle. I actually participated twice. I'm not sure when the show began, but it was there at least from 1989 (since it's in the tour video my family owns) to when Hastings was replaced with Ireland. The cast members would select two kids waiting for the show to participate and help out the main character (Northrup). First time I participated I believe I was 4 or 5, and the second was when I was 7.

Here is a picture of the certificates I received from participating:

-Questor (freaking awesome) and King Arthur's Challenge (sucked :/ )
-I know there were many shows in the theater before, but Rockin' the Boat was very good while it lasted.
-Threadneedle Faire. (The two games I really remember were a ladder game and whack-a-frog.)
-Feathered Follies bird show.
-Nearby the gaming area there was a tram station that would take visitors to the Brewery for a tour. I'm guessing it was removed due to an eventual lack of participation.

Festa Italia
-The Sea Dragon. I used to ride this thing all the time when I was little. It was great.
-Also mentioned before, there were remote-control boats.

Oktoberfest/Germany Area
-Grimm's Hollow. Much smaller than Land of the Dragons of course, but fun while it lasted. I remember playing in sand near the gingerbread (?) house.
-Red Baron. Worth a mention since it was moved to make room for DarKastle.
-Drachen Fire. My FAVORITE coaster. I miss it...
-Some thrill ride that reminds me of a spider. It was located near the swings and Der Katapult. My mom says it was an alright ride, but it was likely removed because it took forever to get people on and off the ride. I have no idea what the real name of it was. This ride is also in the tour video I own.
-Random fact: BG held a competition to help design the main treehouse for the Land of the Dragons when I was in kindergarten. My drawing was one of many that was selected and once the play area was complete the winners got to go into the park before the park officially opened and play in it.

New France
-Eagle's Nest play area beneath part of the Log Flume. The only thing I can remember here is a big sort of air cushion everyone would jump on. There were also a lot of totem poles everywhere...

England
-Petting zoo.
-Haunts of the Olde Country in the Globe Theatre. Involved a little boy ticking off a witch and meeting ghosts, and turning into a dog. Fun times.
-And evidently a looooooong time ago there used to be an ice skating show inside the Globe Theatre. I never saw it of course, but it's in the 1989 tour video BG released.
-I also think I remember something involving the Muppets in the Globe Theatre...but I can't remember what on Earth that would have been. (I'm possibly thinking of that 4D Muppets show in MGM Studios, but since the theaters have a different layout I think I might be right? I definitely remember the upper floor being used for something else besides the cannons in Pirates!4D.)
-There was also a street show that would play outside the Globe Theatre involving a small band.

Park Itself
-BG used to have a dragon mascot. I can't remember the dragon's name for the life of me, but it was in my older brother's colouring book from the park, which I think was from the mid-1980s. (One of the dragon's friends was a knight. ) The green dragon mascot also appears in the tour video I keep mentioning.
-On the way out of the park on some days, crew members would be passing out samples of Owl (??? There was an owl on the package, I don't remember what the actual name is) brand potato chips or pretzels. This was done until I was about 8 year old or so (I think).

And to end my post, here are old pictures that my mom took back when I was about 3. (...Yes...I am the little girl in front of the fence. lol.)

I remember the tram from when I was a kid. I miss it

I think your talking about this ride:
Die Schwartze Spinne

^ Most likely. I wish I could find the old poster size map from the 1980s my brother owned...

I actually have a doll of that dragon whose name was Dumphrey.

^I believe that goes in This thread.

Excellent pictures and info. from Skyechan. That provided a lot of insight for me as to what Busch Gardens was like way back when.

I was talking about that dragons name.

[I found this on a awebsite that had a ton of BG's brochures from the past! This really shows you that Busch Gardens has grown!
http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/1997/bgw1997.html (The Website)

Skyrider

Skychan

• I remember when there was an ice show in the Globe. I don't think there were ever Muppets, but the time between the ice show and Haunts there was a show called Feats-too-big which was like a Cirque Du Soleil style acrobatics show.
• For the magic show in Hastings, I remember putting my head into a guiltine and it chopping an apple that was under my neck. Don't know if they were still doing that trick when you were chosen.
• Rockin the Boat was good in what is now Abbey Theatre. Do you remember Totally Television? Guess they couldn't come up with anything so they ran through tv show parodies and finished with a big Brady Bunch finale. The set was 9 boxes (like Hollywood Squares) with a rapid fire of different tv shows. (That's the best I can do from memory)
• Tournament Tables was where Grogans Grille is now. Originally it was Fish and Chips, but when people didn't buy food from there they converted it to Funnel Cakes and popcorn. The kitchen for Grogan is the same as T-Tables; all the changes came out front.
• A recent change: Muffin Man is now only Funnel Cakes and is called British Baker. Muffin Man items are in the expanded candy store that took out a merchandise shop.
• Before Festhaus: The German Ice Cream shop and funnel cake shop (everything seems to be funnel cakes) served Festhaus food. Funnel cake shop was call German Deli and sold sandwiches. The ice cream side was a beer line while the other side which was gifts in 2006 was a pizza line.

I'm sure I'm forgeting alot. I'll jot down more info when it comes to me.

I remember that one. they had some family acts from Mexico, Asia and other places. Very good show, and I believe there were muppet-like puppets in this show also, in the balcony seats (they always reminded me of the peanut gallery guys from the Muppet Show).

Quick question, where was sea dragon located?

Sea Dragon was where Apollo Chariot's entrance is. The Gladiator's Gaunlet was where the Apollo gifts is.

Here's a few pictures from 1999. (not too far back, but it's still the past)

Wasn't there a haunted fun house somewhere over in Hastings? I remember something like that when I was a kid - a moving floor, a maze of mirrors maybe?

Yes there was, it was where the Brewmaster's Club and Grogan's Pub are now and was removed when they built what was Questor at the time (now Corkscrew Hill). Anyone remember the Catapult being indoors with lights where Castle O' Sullivan is now??? Or the Trabant in Oktoberfest??

One of the things I remember was the Royal Petting Zoo behind Squires Galley. They had all kinds of mostly small animals, including where you could go into the pen with the goats and lambs and feed them.
My mom had a picture of my brother at the zoo from 1978 where a goat was eating his shirt. LOL
Anybody remember the monorail that went from the New France railroad station to the beer factory?
They used to have tours and at the end of the tour you could get 2 free beers. At the time, my wife only wanted one, so she went back and got the second one and gave it to me. Maybe I am one of the reasons they don't give the tours anymore
Also, the park entrance gate for cars was where the employees entrance is by the England parking lot (the bus lot)
Does anyone know if the Beermeister is still in the Festhaus? I have not seen him lately during performances of This is Octoberfest. Always loved doing the toast in German.

ruins of old bridge, connecting katapult to carousel

How about Stage Struck...which was in the Magic Lantern Theatre prior to Totaly Television.

There was also a shooting arcade in Hastings where Emerald Isle is.

Also, there was the Eagle's Nest over where they now line up for the Howl-O-Scream Train Ride.

Questor used to be awesome until they took it out for King Arthur's Challenge, which made just about everyone sick.

Then there was Grimm's Hollow which was where Land of the Dragons is now.

However, my favorite memory is riding LNM when they had the lifts going the proper speed for the trains to go through the loops simultaneously. It can still be done today...just not under normal operation. ;-)

you know something usually when a ride is taken out there is always something left behind but theres nothing left of le mans . yes the cars are used in holo scream but there isnt any evidence of the ride in its old location

Le Mans Bistro is still written on the side of the building next to the water brake.

That would be so cool if they started to go through the loops at the same time agian!

The only thing that I remember that's not there anymore is the King Arthur thing... it was kind of similar to Corkscrew Hill in a way... I remember the line for it was really scary like a cave or castle of some sort and me and my friend were crying the whole time... we were 6... about 1995?

Ummmm.... This might show my age..... Does anyone remember the brewery tour??? Or the monorail ride when it ran on an oval track?

How about the "Glisade" (???) roller coaster?

Certainly remember the catapult being inside where the "auction" show is now in what is now called Ireland, formally known as Hastings! I also remember the catapult being over in Fiesta Italia. Also in Hastings was the fun house.

Heck, I can remember when there was no Italy, Fiesta Italia, or Ocktorberfest!!!

Arrrrrrrgh!! I remember the days before the Loch Ness Monster! The train ride when it was 80% through the woods!

Sorry, my spelling is horrible. This thread is making me feel HORRIBLY OLD!

I remember the brewery tour and I miss it. Part of that area is now the truck entrance for the brewery.

Does anybody have pictures of Hastings? Points of interest: Shooting Range,Enchanted Lab,Questore,Katapult (which was in hastings before Enchanted Laboratory), and Turvey Manor Arcade/ fun house. Or does anybody have the old tour video BGW released a long time ago.

Pics of Questor or the Katapult would be pretty pointless as they were both inside and dark > you'de probably only be able to get pics of the signage.

I just had a quick read through this and WOW this all brings back some memories. I remember when the LMN was being built. I've got pics of myself (as a wee lil' grom) inside the 'display' car. I'll have to get some pics from my pop's collection and post em up.

There are a few things I remember that may be additions. I can't remember if it was seperate or another part of the haunted house, but there was a mirror maze in Hastings. My big sister use to always get me in tears in that thing. And at the end of the haunted house was a room full of neon colored mushrooms with strobes and blacklights and a floor full of fog. It is hands down the trippiest memory I have of BGW to this day.

There also use to be some sort of lab in the same area (probably where the haunted house use to be) that had photo-sensitive walls ans trippy camera trick rooms.

And I know it a subject of dislike around here... but I use to LOVE the Glissade. There was nothing like the feeling of being in a coaster with ZERO restraints!! I don't think that would fly today and it would probably have belts or something in it for todays safety standards... but it was a helluva feeling (even if it was a tame coaster).

Let's not forget about the Wildkatz lil' counterpart. That was my staple ride when I was 3 up until I was big enough for the real deal.

The katapult inside of 'Castle o-Sullivan' was a pretty cool ride back in the day. The eerie music, dark and gothic scenery, dimly lit experience made it a ride that drew a pretty long line. I remember waiting in line for 45mins to get on that. Yes... it was that cool.

And the show in Globe... can't remember which one... but it had a big UFO come out of the ceiling. It was all disco and showtunes. I think the UFO ended up with an ET spin on it when the movie made it big (probably StarWars before that), but I was always amazed at that. (simple things amaze children... such as large props on wires).

And although I don't remember it this way... my pops said the brewery tour monorail use to make a complete circuit. They monorail would take you behind the brewery and they would tell you more about the every so delicious beer that AB makes and sells.

Here's one for you...

Does anyone remember the large talking moosehead in Caribou Station?

Oh yeah... and what was this thing called?? I rode it a million times but can't remember it's names. It was where the Red Baron (I think that's what is there) is now (between the bumpercars and the test your strength thing).

That ride was called Der Blitzknelter. It was a Chance trabant.

In the Bgescape gallery there should be a section for past pics. I got these pictures from www.dan-walsh.com Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

For some reason I cant remember what type of ride Sea Dragon was, or what it looked like. It was located where Apollos Chariots station is. Does anyone have pictures of it? What rides were in the Grimm Hollows section, are any of them still at the park?

I did not ride Die Wilkatz at BGE, but I rode it when it was at Williams Grove in Pennsylvania.

The Sea Dragons was a Mack Sea Storm

http://www.mack-rides.com/lang-en/c140/default.html

Does anybody have pictures of the Battlements shooting gallery that used to be in Hastings?