Apollo's Chariot
| Industry | Amusement ride |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 27, 1999 |
| Headquarters | James City County, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Steel roller coaster |
Apollo's Chariot is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in James City County, Virginia, United States. Debuting on March 27, 1999, it holds the distinction of being the inaugural Hyper Coaster crafted by the Swiss firm Bolliger & Mabillard. The attraction draws its theme from the ancient Greek and Roman deity Apollo, symbolizing the sun, music, and healing.
The coaster's layout incorporates eight distinct air-time hills varying in height. Riders ascend a chain lift hill before plunging down a drop angled at 65°. Frequently featured within the top 10 rankings of Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards, Apollo's Chariot has maintained a strong reputation and lasting appeal among enthusiasts.
History
On September 5, 1998, Apollo's Chariot was unveiled as the tallest and fastest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. By January 1999, construction was nearly complete with around 20 track segments left to install. The first test runs took place in mid-February that year.
The ride officially opened on March 27, 1999, marking the debut of a hypercoaster model from Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. A formal opening ceremony was held three days later. To promote the new attraction, Italian model Fabio Lanzoni was enlisted as part of the park’s celebrity endorsement efforts. During the initial ride, Lanzoni sustained minor injuries when a goose collided with his face, attracting media coverage. In 2021, Lanzoni clarified that the bird struck a camera, which then hit him. A simulation conducted in 2024 indicated it was improbable that the goose directly impacted his face.
Characteristics
Apollo's Chariot is a Hyper Coaster engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard that leverages the natural terrain to transform a lift hill into a dramatic first drop. Achieving speeds up to , it features eight distinct air-time hills and subjects riders to forces reaching up to 4.1 Gs throughout its approximately 2-minute and 15-second ride time. The coaster operates three trains, each consisting of nine cars with four riders seated side-by-side, accommodating 36 passengers per train. This configuration allows for an estimated hourly throughput of 1,750 riders. Safety restraints include lap bars combined with elevated seating designed to keep riders’ feet off the ground.
Ride experience
Upon departure from the station, guests hear the farewell message: "Thank you and enjoy your voyage to the sun on the wings of Apollo's Chariot!" as the train climbs the chain lift hill, accompanied by its official theme music. At the summit, a brief pre-drop reduces tension on the chain before descending a steep drop angled at 65° into a water-filled ravine, reaching top speed. The journey continues with a second airtime hill featuring a drop of , followed by passage through a short tunnel. Additional elements include a sharply banked left turn dropping , an ascending helix, another drop into the mid-course brake run measuring , and several smaller drops and airtime hills before arriving at the final brake section. Throughout the entire circuit, riders experience roughly 26 seconds of airtime.
Incidents
On July 15, 2018, members of a family from Virginia Beach, Virginia were injured after an operator mistakenly activated the emergency stop button on the ride, resulting in reported concussions. In July 2019, one guest from Virginia Beach initiated legal action against Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s parent company, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, alleging serious injuries stemming from this emergency stop event the previous year.
Reception
Upon its introduction, the Daily Press lauded Apollo's Chariot for establishing "a fresh benchmark in stomach-flipping excitement," emphasizing its 26-second duration. Nevertheless, Busch Gardens Williamsburg saw attendance figures fall short of projections during the ride's inaugural year, largely due to prolonged adverse weather conditions, which led to a promotional relaunch effort in 2000 aimed at increasing visitor turnout.
In the annual Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today, Apollo's Chariot has maintained a strong presence. Initially entering the rankings at #20, it gradually ascended to reach its highest position at #4 in the years 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2012.