Work Continues on Latest Busch Thrill Ride

By WYDaily Staff Monday, June 13, 2011

The wait continues.

Busch Gardens last week announced an unsatisfying update on the Mach Tower opening: There will be no more updates until the park's newest thrill ride is ready for riders.

Mach Tower is a 240-foot drop tower, which was supposed to open at a media day last month. A Busch Gardens spokesman said technical challenges were discovered during the manufacturer's initial testing, and parts had to be ordered from the Italian company that makes components of the ride.

Late last week, the park announced work is being done to open the ride as soon as possible, but it won't happen until "the manufacturer's testing is complete and all technical issues are resolved."

Construction began on the Mach Tower in February. The ride, a first for the park, will incorporate vibrating seats, a spiraling carriage and onboard audio. It will rise 6 feet per second, rotating as it rises to give 30 riders a panoramic view of the Peninsula. Once at the top, riders will pause before plummeting 60 miles per hour to the bottom.

Coaster fans are encouraged to follow Busch Gardens on Twitter and Facebook for updates.