Cheetah Hunt

Cheetah Hunt
Company type	Steel launched roller coaster
Industry	Amusement ride
Founded	May 27, 2011; 15 years ago
Founder	Mark Rose (conceptualized)
Headquarters	Tampa, Florida, United States
Products	Roller coaster attraction
Parent	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster situated at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Crafted by Intamin and conceptualized by Mark Rose, it debuted on May 27, 2011, coinciding with the unveiling of the Cheetah Run exhibit. The attraction boasts three LSM launch sequences and a single inversion, reaching a peak height of , achieving speeds up to , and featuring a track that spans .

Positioned within the Edge of Africa area, Cheetah Hunt intricately winds through the Serengeti Plain. The introduction of the Cheetah Run exhibit replaced the former Budweiser Clydesdales stable, offering an habitat along with a sprint track. The coaster's layout incorporates the previous monorail station and sections of the Rhino Rally water course. Upon its debut, it earned widespread praise and secured second place for Best New Ride in 2011 at the Golden Ticket Awards.

History

The development of what would become Cheetah Hunt spanned seven years from initial concept to completion. Mark Rose, vice president of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, led the design process. Inspiration was drawn from a scene in Return of the Jedi featuring speeder bikes racing through Endor’s forests, as well as SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta, which integrates animal habitats with ride experiences. Although a traditional lift hill was initially considered for speed generation, the decision shifted to using a LSM system due to vertical space limitations.

Several manufacturers, including Bolliger & Mabillard, were evaluated before selecting Intamin for their advanced technology and compatibility with the park’s vision. In early phases, the coaster was named "Cheetaka," trademarked in April 2010 by parent company SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, but this name was later discarded because it proved difficult to pronounce and lacked clear descriptive meaning.

Construction commenced in early 2010 within the Edge of Africa section, necessitating adjustments such as rerouting the Serengeti Express railroad and suspending operations of the Skyride gondola. A marketing teaser campaign launched mid-2010 shared ride information through videos and updates. By October, foundational work was finalized, and shortly before publicly unveiling details on October 13—including a new "Cheetah Run" habitat—a second trademark for "Cheetah Hunt" was filed. Temporary walkways were established to manage visitor flow during building activities.

Vertical assembly began in November 2010; by December, supports for the figure-eight feature were erected alongside track installation, including the initial launch segment. In February 2011, the park announced an opening slated for late May; coaster trains arrived that same month, with track installation concluding by mid-March. Safety walk-throughs took place in late March, followed by testing phases employing water dummies in April.

Cheetah Hunt officially opened its doors on May 27, 2011. To prevent confusion with this new attraction, another coaster named Cheetah Chase at a different park was renamed Sand Serpent.

Ride experience

The journey begins with a 30 mph LSM launch directly from the station, progressing into a broad left-hand turn followed by a gentle descent leading to the second launch. This subsequent launch propels riders up to 60 mph as they ascend a 102 ft figure-eight structure known as Windcatcher Tower. Riders then traverse multiple helixes before plunging 130 ft into a trench. The ride continues over the Skyride via an airtime hill and includes its sole inversion—a heartline roll. After completing this barrel roll and passing through the brake run, the coaster remains close to the ground navigating banked turns designed to simulate "near misses." The third and final launch then accelerates riders back up to 40 mph en route to the station. The return segment features additional airtime moments and hills that change direction before reaching the concluding brake run.

Characteristics

Originally situated in the Crown Colony Plaza area, which is now incorporated into the Edge of Africa section, Cheetah Hunt draws its theme from the cheetah animal. The vicinity is adorned with concrete and driftwood sculptures of cheetahs, including a prominent rock-formed cheetah statue within the queue line. The environment combines architectural influences from African, Egyptian, and Moroccan cultures. The queue itself is styled to resemble a ruined temple. This coaster spans 13 acres within Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Cheetah Run

To enhance the Cheetah Hunt experience, the park launched Cheetah Run, an animal exhibit that replaced the Budweiser Clydesdales interaction zone. Positioned next to the coaster's primary launch area, this exhibit offers visitors glass-enclosed viewing sections where they can observe cheetahs sprinting along a dirt track, accompanied by educational touchscreen displays. The habitat covers , featuring rock formations, a waterfall, grasslands, and themed ancient ruins. The cheetahs reside in a nearby repurposed stable building.

In preparation for the exhibit, five cheetahs were brought in February 2011 from White Oak Conservation Center near Jacksonville, Florida, as well as from South Africa. During the construction phase, efforts were made to acclimate the animals to surrounding noises to ensure their comfort. Cheetah Run officially opened alongside the roller coaster on May 27, 2011, with a total of 14 cheetahs on display.

Track

Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster manufactured by Intaride LLC, Intamin's distributor in the United States. The track features green rails supported by gold-colored beams, reflecting the natural habitat of cheetahs. Its station occupies the former monorail station building and is shared with the Skyride gondola system; it utilizes a two-train loading configuration. Notably, Cheetah Hunt is one of only two coasters worldwide to incorporate a Windcatcher Tower element.

The steel track measures 4,429 feet in length and extends into Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Serengeti Plain as well as the defunct Rhino Rally water canyon zone. The layout includes four trenches that allow the coaster to travel beneath both the Serengeti Plain and a pedestrian bridge, along with segments that cross over Skyride gondolas. The maintenance area is situated on a lower level beneath the station building.

Trains

The trains are painted yellow and decorated with a cheetah print pattern; each train’s front car is shaped like a cheetah’s head. Cheetah Hunt operates five trains total, each consisting of four cars arranged two across in two rows, allowing 16 riders per train. The station design supports simultaneous loading of two trains. Riders are secured by over-the-shoulder restraints, and the trains exert forces up to 4.0 g-forces during the ride.

Incidents

On February 12, 2014, one train carrying 16 passengers became stalled between the first and second launch sections atop a banked crest. Efforts to reverse it were unsuccessful, leading Tampa Fire Rescue personnel to evacuate guests using a cherry picker and ladder amidst poor weather conditions. All riders were safely rescued without injuries. The ride was closed for maintenance inspection on the following day.

Reception

After announcing the roller coaster, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with changing its name from "Cheetaka" to "Cheetah Hunt," urging Busch Gardens to revert it; however, the park declined to alter the name.

Overall reviews of Cheetah Hunt were positive. Sean Daly from the Tampa Bay Times described it as less intense than SheiKra and Montu, noting its "three head-snapping launches" but also mentioning certain sections felt "curiously slow." He highlighted the final launch for delivering an unexpected stomach-flipping sensation. Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel praised its scenic tower feature, twisting maneuvers, and smooth ride experience with comfortable restraints, calling it "definitely a fun one" despite not being extreme. Staff from Attractions Magazine complimented its combination of launches, airtime moments, and "zig-zag motion."

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride 2011
Position	Template:Center

External links