Cobra's Curse

Cobra's Curse
Company type	Attraction
Industry	Amusement park ride
Founded	2016
Headquarters	Tampa, Florida, United States
Parent	Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Cobra's Curse is a steel spinning roller coaster situated at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Launched in 2016 and crafted by Mack Rides, this attraction features an elevator-style lift mechanism and marked the park's first new addition since 2014's Falcon's Fury. The ride’s narrative revolves around the mythical Snake King Venymyss and the curse he placed on an ancient Egyptian civilization. It boasts a track length of , stands at a height of , and achieves speeds up to .

Positioned within the park’s Egypt area, Cobra's Curse prominently displays a large snake statue symbolizing King Venymyss at the elevator lift hill. Its trains are designed to lock and rotate through three distinct phases: facing forward, backward, and then spinning freely. The coaster has been met with predominantly favorable reviews from critics.

History

The concept for Cobra's Curse was initiated in 2014, shortly before the completion of Falcon's Fury. In February 2015, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially announced plans for a new attraction in the Egypt section, though details were not disclosed. Permit applications submitted that month referred to a project named "BGT 2016 Attraction," which involved removing and expanding concrete surfaces near King Tut’s Tomb. Construction commenced in March 2015, requiring a temporary closure of the Serengeti Railway route to accommodate the new development.

On May 8, 2015, parent company SeaWorld Entertainment filed a trademark for "Cobra's Curse." The roller coaster, produced by Mack Rides, was officially announced by Busch Gardens on May 28, 2015, with an anticipated opening slated for 2016. President Jim Dean highlighted that the ride would enhance the park’s collection of thrill experiences.

Jeff Hornick, regional design and engineering director for SeaWorld Entertainment, provided progress reports starting in July 2015. The overall construction was overseen by PCL Construction. Vertical track installation began on October 9, 2015, starting mid-layout due to space limitations. At the November 2015 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Convention in Orlando, Mack Rides presented a scale model alongside further ride specifications.

On February 17, 2016, media representatives toured the site to preview trains and thematic components. The installation of the snake statue’s "King Venymyss" headpiece occurred on February 29, 2016. Final track assembly was completed by March 19, followed shortly by public announcements. Busch Gardens released an on-ride point-of-view video on May 11, 2016, and removed construction barriers on May 28.

By early June, Cobra's Curse was nearing completion with additional updates and POV footage shared publicly. The official grand opening took place on June 17, 2016, when the coaster welcomed guests.

Theme

The storyline of this roller coaster is centered around the fictional Snake King Venymyss, an ancient Egyptian monarch who became corrupt and was ultimately deposed by his people after they destroyed his statue—the source of his power. In vengeance, the King placed a curse on anyone who attempted to reconstruct it. The current narrative follows the park’s discovery of remnants from the snake tomb and their hiring of archaeologists from the fictional Viper International Survey and Excavation (VISE) to explore the site.

Queue area

The queue is segmented into distinct zones that help unfold the ride’s storyline. The exterior section, known as the "Dig Team Living Quarters," showcases informative exhibits about different snake species. Upon entering, visitors find themselves in a room containing a 400 cubic foot habitat with four live snakes: a Bitis nasicornis, Gaboon viper, Jameson's mamba, and Anchieta's dwarf python. After wandering through corridors, guests arrive at a second chamber where projection mapping on a statue and surrounding walls delivers three visual presentations narrating the coaster’s tale. The experience concludes as guests enter the station to board the train, which then ascends via an elevator lift.

Layout

At the summit of the elevator lift, the train veers left, banking outward near the King Venymyss statue before plunging down a drop reaching speeds up to . It then banks right, crosses over the mid-course brake run, and reverses direction while rotating backward as King Venymyss intones, "Turn, turn, and face your fear." The train continues through a small helix leading to a wheel lift hill, followed by another banked descent that causes the cars to spin freely amid overbanked turns and varying forces. The track passes beneath the Serengeti Railway before entering the final brake run and returning to the station.

Location

Cobra's Curse is situated within the Egypt section of the park, occupying . Its construction necessitated rerouting the Serengeti Railway, a process that lasted approximately two months. The King Tut's Tomb exhibit was dismantled and incorporated into Cobra's Curse queue area. To improve guest amenities, new market stalls and food outlets were established nearby. A subtle homage to the previous attraction appears in adjacent restrooms: pressing a "pharaoh" button unveils a King Tut mask embedded in the mirror glass.

Statue

The coaster’s snake statue, King Venymyss, rises 80 feet tall and was assembled from nine stacked segments. A steel framework forms its core structure, while fiberglass and foam create its exterior shell. Notably, its eyes measure 3 feet across and its fangs extend 4 feet in length. The completed statue weighs approximately 30,000 pounds.

Trains

Produced by Mack Rides, the coaster employs individual spinning cars whose rotation is influenced by rider weight distribution. Each car can be locked in position and rotated via a motor installed underneath. The trains feature distinct color patterns and utilize lap bar restraints. A moving belt platform in the station enables continuous train movement for efficient loading.

Track

The 2,100-foot tubular steel track was manufactured in Germany. It is painted green with red and yellow supports on the lift hill. Its S-shaped configuration emulates a snake’s sinuous movement and includes headchopper elements interacting with nearby structures and pathways. Behind the station lies a switch-back track used for rider assistance purposes.

Reception

Prior to opening, animal welfare advocates expressed concerns about housing snakes within the queue due to their sensitivity to vibrations, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay representatives acknowledged these issues, emphasizing ongoing monitoring of the snakes and other animals while acclimating them to their environment; they also highlighted that the enclosure serves an educational role.

Following its debut, Cobra's Curse garnered favorable feedback from both critics and visitors. Dewayne Bevil of the Orlando Sentinel described it as less intense compared to nearby coasters such as Montu, calling it "a good time without screwing with their equilibrium too much." Alex Volland from the Tampa Bay Times praised it as "smooth and family-friendly," fulfilling a demand for attractions suitable for parents and children alike, while also commending the queue as a standalone "experience." Marjie Lambert of the Miami Herald credited Busch Gardens’ creative and engineering teams for delivering a family spinning coaster with "just enough spice," concluding it provides "brief thrills, a little spin and a lot of fun." Jeff Siegal of Theme Park Insider characterized it as "great for everyone," noting its well-balanced spin that avoids causing nausea alongside strong thematic elements.

External links