Cheetah Run

Cheetah Hunt

Company type	Steel launched roller coaster
Industry	Amusement ride
Predecessor	Budweiser Clydesdales stable (site)
Founded	May 27, 2011 (2011-05-27) in Tampa, Florida, United States
Founder	Mark Rose (designer)
Fate	Operating
Headquarters	Tampa , United States
Area served	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay visitors
Key people	Mark Rose (VP of design and engineering)
Products	Roller coaster attraction
Owner	SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
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 designed under the guidance of Mark Rose, it debuted on May 27, 2011, coinciding with the opening of the Cheetah Run exhibit. This coaster incorporates three LSM launch segments and includes a single inversion, reaching a maximum height of , achieving speeds up to , and spanning a track length of .

Positioned within the Edge of Africa area, Cheetah Hunt winds its course through the Serengeti Plain habitat. The introduction of the Cheetah Run exhibit replaced the former Budweiser Clydesdales stable, featuring a enclosure alongside a sprint track. The coaster’s path cleverly utilizes parts of the previous monorail station and sections of the Rhino Rally water ride. Upon its debut, Cheetah Hunt received favorable critiques and secured second place for Best New Ride in 2011 according to the Golden Ticket Awards.

History

The concept to completion span for the roller coaster, later named Cheetah Hunt, extended over seven years. Mark Rose, vice president of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, was responsible for its design. Inspiration stemmed from a speeder bike chase scene in Return of the Jedi as well as from SeaWorld Orlando’s roller coaster Manta, which integrates animal exhibits with ride experiences. Although a traditional lift hill was initially contemplated, Rose chose an LSM launch system to attain desired speeds without requiring excessive elevation.

Several manufacturers were evaluated during development, including Bolliger & Mabillard, but ultimately Intamin was selected due to their advanced technology and compatibility with the park’s vision. Early in its planning phase, the project was known as "Cheetaka," trademarked by parent company SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, but this name was later discarded because it was difficult to pronounce and lacked clarity. Construction commenced in 2010, involving modifications such as relocating the Serengeti Express railroad track and suspending operations of the Skyride gondola.

A promotional campaign launched late in 2010 unveiled key aspects and ride footage to generate excitement. By October 2010, foundational work was complete, allowing vertical construction to begin shortly thereafter. Just prior to officially announcing the attraction on October 13, the park filed a trademark for "Cheetah Hunt," which was revealed alongside plans for a new "Cheetah Run" habitat. During construction, temporary walkways were installed to redirect visitor traffic.

By December 2010, major structural supports and track segments—including those for the initial launch—were in place. The park announced an opening date set for late May 2011; coaster trains arrived on-site in February, with track installation concluding by March. Safety inspections involved "walk-through tests" to verify clearance compliance before trial runs using water dummies commenced in April. Cheetah Hunt officially welcomed guests on May 27, 2011. To prevent confusion between attractions, another coaster named Cheetah Chase was renamed Sand Serpent following this launch.

Ride experience

The journey begins with an LSM launch directly from the station, propelling riders into a broad left-hand curve followed by a gentle descent leading into the second launch segment. This subsequent acceleration boosts riders up to a peak speed of as they ascend a figure-eight structure known as Windcatcher Tower. The course continues through multiple helixes before descending into a trench area and crossing over the Skyride via an airtime hill preceding the ride’s sole inversion—a heartline roll. After exiting the barrel roll and passing through the brake zone, the train stays close to ground level navigating short banked turns amid rock formations designed to create simulated near-miss sensations. The third launch then accelerates riders back up to en route to the station. The return segment features additional airtime moments and hills that shift direction before concluding at the final brake run.

Characteristics

Initially situated in the Crown Colony Plaza section, now incorporated into Edge of Africa, Cheetah Hunt draws its inspiration from the cheetah animal. The themed environment showcases statues of cheetahs crafted from concrete and driftwood, including a prominent rock-formed cheetah statue within the queue area. The architectural design merges elements from African, Egyptian, and Moroccan styles, with the queue resembling a ruined temple. The roller coaster occupies an area of within Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Cheetah Run

To enhance the Cheetah Hunt experience, the park launched Cheetah Run, which took the place of the former Budweiser Clydesdales interaction zone. Positioned near the primary launch point of the coaster, this exhibit offers visitors glass-enclosed viewing sections to observe cheetahs sprinting along a dirt track, complemented by interactive educational displays. Spanning , Cheetah Run features naturalistic rock formations, a waterfall, open grasslands, and themed ancient ruins. The cheetahs are housed within what was previously a stable building.

In preparation for the exhibit's opening, five cheetahs were transferred in February 2011 from White Oak Conservation Center near Jacksonville, Florida, as well as from South Africa. During the habitat's construction phase, efforts were made to acclimate the animals to ambient noises in their surroundings. The exhibit officially opened on May 27, 2011, coinciding with the debut of the roller coaster and showcasing a total of 14 cheetahs.

Track

Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster produced by Intaride LLC, Intamin’s distributor in the United States. Its track is painted green with gold supports to reflect its cheetah-themed environment. The station is housed in the former monorail station building, which it shares with the Skyride gondola system, and utilizes a two-train loading configuration. Notably, Cheetah Hunt is one of only two coasters incorporating a Windcatcher Tower element.

The coaster’s layout extends into Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Serengeti Plain and crosses over the now-defunct Rhino Rally water canyon area. The design includes four trenches that allow the train to pass beneath both the Serengeti Plain and a pedestrian bridge while also traveling over Skyride gondolas. The maintenance bay is positioned on a lower level within the station building. The steel track length is approximately 4,429 feet.

Trains

Each train is painted yellow adorned with cheetah print patterns and features a front car shaped like a cheetah’s head. Cheetah Hunt operates five trains; each train consists of four cars arranged two across in two rows, accommodating 16 riders per train. The station allows for simultaneous loading of two trains. Riders are secured with over-the-shoulder restraints, and trains subject passengers to forces reaching up to 4.0 g-forces.

Incidents

On February 12, 2014, a train carrying 16 guests came to a halt between the coaster’s first and second launches while on a banked crest. Efforts to reverse the train were unsuccessful, leading to intervention by the Tampa Fire Rescue Department, who evacuated passengers using a cherry picker and ladder amid inclement weather conditions. All guests were safely rescued without injury. Following this event, the ride was closed for maintenance checks on the subsequent day.

Reception

After the roller coaster was unveiled, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the renaming from "Cheetaka" to "Cheetah Hunt," urging Busch Gardens to reinstate the original title. However, Busch Gardens opted not to alter the name.

Overall, Cheetah Hunt was met with favorable feedback. Sean Daly of the Tampa Bay Times observed that it was less intense compared to SheiKra and Montu, describing certain moments as "curiously slow" despite featuring "three head-snapping launches," and applauded the concluding launch as an unexpected "stomach-flipping surprise." Dewayne Bevil from the Orlando Sentinel praised its picturesque tower, serpentine turns, and gentle curves reminiscent of slalom skiing, noting the ride's smoothness, comfortable restraints, and labeling it as "definitely a fun one," although not overly extreme. The team at Attractions Magazine highlighted its effective combination of launches, airtime, and zigzag elements.

Awards

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

See also

• 2011 in amusement parks
• iSpeed, Intamin LSM Launch Coaster at Mirabilandia
• Maverick, Intamin LSM Launch Coaster at Cedar Point
• Verbolten, Zierer family launch coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg