DarKoaster: Escape The Storm
| Company type | Indoor launched roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | May 19, 2023 |
| Headquarters | James City County, near Williamsburg, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Roller coaster ride |
DarKoaster (also known as DarKoaster: Escape The Storm) is an indoor launched roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in James City County, near Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It occupies the former site of the Curse of DarKastle attraction, continuing its narrative and utilizing the same structure. DarKoaster began operations on May 19, 2023.
Background
The Curse of DarKastle was a dark ride that debuted in Busch Gardens' Oktoberfest section in 2005. It ceased operation on September 4, 2017, initially to accommodate a new Howl-O-Scream haunted house titled "FrostBite." Although many anticipated a temporary closure, the ride never reopened and was instead adapted for seasonal use. In November 2017, Dan Dipiazzo, the park’s Vice President of Marketing, confirmed the attraction remained functional but no plans had been finalized regarding its future. On January 24, 2018, Busch Gardens officially retired Curse of DarKastle after 13 years and transformed its building into a venue for events.
Over subsequent years, Busch Gardens Williamsburg pursued multiple initiatives as part of SeaWorld Entertainment's expanded capital investment approach. The prominent new launched coaster Pantheon, manufactured by Intamin, was completed but its debut was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, plans for a proposed towering coaster named "Drachen Spire" were delayed. In May 2021, the park submitted proposals for a sizable storage and event facility near Festhaus Park, lessening the reliance on DarKastle’s building for warehouse purposes.
Development
In December 2021, local fan site BGWFans disclosed information about the coaster under development via city permit documents, revealing the ride’s design. Called "Darkoaster," this coaster reuses DarKastle's existing show building and incorporates a switch track that allows trains to complete the compact course twice by using a bypass route following the initial lap.
Track sections and supporting structures arrived between late May and early June 2022. Due to the project's indoor nature and scale, construction was kept low-profile throughout summer as crews assembled the attraction inside the existing structure.
Announcement & preparation
On September 6, 2022, Busch Gardens officially unveiled DarKoaster: Escape The Storm, promoting it as a "straddle-seated" coaster and initially describing it as the world’s first "all-indoor straddle coaster," later adjusted to being a "North American first." The park presented the finished roller coaster to media representatives while some thematic details remained incomplete.
To sustain public engagement, Busch Gardens operated a "Preview Center" on select weekends during February and March 2023, displaying storyboards, blueprints, and concept art. Fans were also invited to participate in naming DarKoaster’s two trains through social media polls with options inspired by the former Curse of DarKastle attraction.
Layout
DarKoaster’s design includes two Drive Tire Launches combined with multiple twists and turns. The station is situated at one end of the building between the theoretical start and end points of the track. Switch tracks enable a parallel bypass route adjacent to the station that allows the coaster to bypass stopping at the station after completing its first lap and subsequently run through the layout twice.
Statistics
DarKoaster is an indoor attraction featuring a track length of and capable of reaching top speeds of . The ride utilizes two straddle-seated trains, each accommodating 10 passengers. These trains are named Wild Wolf 9684 and FrostBite 17-19, and both consist of five rows with two seats per row.
Theme
Building upon the narrative of the Curse of DarKastle, DarKoaster transports guests into the eerie realm of King Ludwig's deserted fortress, which is plagued by otherworldly entities. The ride's detailed theming and immersive special effects were crafted by Holovis, a media design company recognized for their work on attractions such as Mystic Timbers at Kings Island and Wicker Man at Alton Towers.