Alpengeist

Alpengeist

Company type	Roller coaster
Industry	Amusement rides
Founded	1997
Headquarters	Williamsburg , United States
Products	Inverted roller coaster

Alpengeist is an inverted roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, this coaster embraces an Alpine mountain motif and debuted in 1997 as the tallest inverted coaster worldwide at that time. Its name translates from German as "Alpine Ghost," and the attraction is designed around the concept of a runaway ski lift. Alpengeist holds several distinctions, including the tallest complete-circuit inverted coaster globally, the highest inverted coaster in the United States, and the longest drop on a complete-circuit inverted coaster.

History

On August 30, 1996, Busch Gardens Williamsburg revealed plans for Alpengeist to open in the 1997 season, highlighting its record-setting height and speed for inverted coasters, along with featuring the tallest vertical loop on such a ride. This marked the park’s second new roller coaster within two years following Wild Maus (previously known as Izzy). To reduce noise impacting nearby residential areas, polyurethane wheels were chosen over nylon ones, and the drop was oriented away from homes in Kingsmill, Virginia. Additionally, part of the track was constructed within a ravine.

Construction commenced in June 1996, two months prior to the official announcement. The track comprises 106 sections: 7 dedicated to the lift hill, 10 for the station, and 89 forming the main layout.

Alpengeist officially began operation on March 22, 1997. It maintained its status as the tallest inverted coaster until Cedar Point introduced Wicked Twister in 2002 but remained the tallest complete-circuit inverted coaster worldwide. In 2021, Legendary Twin Dragon in China surpassed it; however, with Wicked Twister’s closure that same year, Alpengeist reclaimed its title as North America’s tallest inverted coaster. It also held the record for fastest inverted coaster until being overtaken by Volcano: The Blast Coaster at nearby Kings Dominion in 1998.

In 2022, Alpengeist underwent a refurbishment featuring newly painted light blue support structures.

Characteristics

The attraction operates with three trains, although only two are active at any given time. A team of three mechanics dedicates four months each year to completely refurbish every train. Each train consists of eight cars, each with a single row accommodating four riders, allowing for 32 passengers per train. Design elements include a front "zero car" weighing 680 kg to support larger ride elements, skis attached to each seat support beam to enhance thematic consistency, and wheel guards painted like ski helmets featuring unique designs.

Ride experience

Upon departing the station, the floor lowers as the train climbs a 167 ft chain lift hill while playing the message: "Thank you and enjoy your avalanche of adventure on Alpengeist!" The lift reaches a height of 195 ft above the river below. Following this, the track bends right into a spiraling drop measuring 170 ft, passing over The Land of The Dragons area at speeds up to 67 mph. The course proceeds through a 120 ft Immelmann loop followed by a 106 ft vertical loop. Afterward, the train speeds through a wooden tunnel before entering a cobra roll above the Rhine River near the Loch Ness Monster coaster. Exiting this element, it crosses over its entrance path, passes by Griffon, and enters the mid-course brake run. After crossing beneath the Immelmann’s exit path, it travels through another tunnel and descends into a zero-g roll adjacent to the Le Scoot log flume. A brief straight segment leads into a corkscrew inversion followed by an ascending helix and a left-hand turn directing riders into the final brake run.