Drachen Fire
| Company type | Steel roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Williamsburg, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Roller coaster |
Drachen Fire was a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. Constructed by Arrow Dynamics, it debuted in 1992. Positioned in the Oktoberfest area behind Big Bad Wolf and Das Festhaus, the coaster featured a lift hill, six inversions—one of which was removed after 1994 to enhance rider comfort—and a zero-gravity camelback hill. The attraction operated with three red trains outfitted with grey seats and red accent lighting for nighttime visibility. Due to declining attendance and frequent complaints about ride roughness, Drachen Fire ceased operations in mid-1998 and was dismantled by 2002.
Construction and debut
On July 5, 1991, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced plans for a new steel roller coaster scheduled to open in 1992. Manufactured by Arrow Dynamics and situated adjacent to Big Bad Wolf, the ride was named Drachen Fire, meaning "dragon" in German. It became the park's third major coaster featuring six inversions, a camelback element, and a cutback maneuver. The trains were designed with aerodynamic styling and included wraparound bucket seats for riders. That year, Anheuser-Busch Entertainment Corporation unveiled several future attractions for its parks, with Keith M. Kasen, then general manager of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, emphasizing Drachen Fire as part of the company’s ongoing investment in quality enhancements.
Construction commenced in the fall of 1991 and was documented as part of marketing efforts as well as a 1993 PBS NOVA episode entitled "Roller Coaster." The project was completed on schedule, allowing for an opening on April 4, 1992. To promote the launch, Busch Gardens executed its most extensive advertising campaign since introducing the Loch Ness Monster in 1978, using the slogan "Feel the Heat."
Comedian Dana Carvey was brought in to greet visitors and preside over the preview event on April 3. During early operation, one train stalled on the lift hill requiring evacuation; Carvey entertained guests with impromptu comedy during the delay. Another stall later that day led to an early closure. On opening day proper, the ride began operation midday after experiencing morning setbacks.
Operational period
Initially, Drachen Fire attracted significant crowds and received acclaim from roller coaster enthusiasts. Ray J. Ueberroth, President of American Coaster Enthusiasts, described it as "an outstanding ride," while former president Randy Geisler called it "spectacular." However, within weeks, its popularity waned due to reports of a rough ride experience. Just over one week after launch, the Newport News Daily Press reported that three riders were hospitalized with neck injuries. A spokesperson for Busch Gardens Williamsburg insisted there were no inherent issues with the coaster itself. In 1995, a guest filed a lawsuit against Busch Gardens, Arrow Dynamics, and consultant William N. Carlson claiming "severe permanent injuries" caused by the restraint system from an incident two years prior. Over a year later, park officials stated no formal legal complaint had been officially served.
Guests were regularly instructed to remove clip-on earrings and maintain head contact with headrests throughout the ride. Ride operators performed checks on restraints and ensured riders’ ears were clear before dispatching trains. Due to escalating complaints about discomfort, the original corkscrew inversion was replaced by a straight track section for the 1995 season.
Closure and demolition
The removal of the corkscrew element following the mid-course brake run failed to address the persistent safety and comfort concerns associated with Drachen Fire. After its introduction, Busch Gardens Williamsburg added two additional roller coasters: Wild Maus in 1996 and Alpengeist in 1997. The debut of Alpengeist effectively overshadowed Drachen Fire, as visitors showed a clear preference for the newer attraction. Furthermore, complaints from nearby residents regarding noise generated by Drachen Fire's riders contributed to its declining favor. In July 1998, the ride was closed indefinitely after an incident involving a reported brain injury to a guest that same month.
By 1999, Busch Gardens introduced another Bolliger & Mabillard coaster named Apollo's Chariot, while Drachen Fire remained unused. Although initial plans were made to modify the ride, by August 1999 it was officially placed on the market. Despite receiving multiple offers, no sale was finalized. The coaster remained dormant until 2002 when it was dismantled and its steel components recycled. Cindy Sarko, the park’s public relations director, attributed the closure primarily to decreasing rider numbers and substantial operational expenses.
In June 2019, local authorities gave approval for a new attraction approximately 355 feet tall to be constructed on the former Drachen Fire site. Later, in September 2024, Busch Gardens revealed plans to build a Bolliger & Mabillard family inverted coaster titled Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf's Revenge at this location, paying tribute to the original Big Bad Wolf suspended coaster that once operated nearby.
Ride experience
The ride encompassed roughly of track length. Departing from the station, it immediately descended and executed a 180-degree left turn leading up to the lift hill. At the summit reaching 150 feet, it plunged into a gentle 50-foot drop before entering a wraparound corkscrew that peaked at 120 feet. This was followed by a curving descent opposite the lift hill, accelerating to speeds up to 60 mph. A camelback hill was incorporated to balance positive and negative g-forces, providing riders with a brief sensation of weightlessness. The course then proceeded through the Batwing (cobra roll) element featuring two inversions, followed by an ascending left turn into block brakes. Next was a dive into a corkscrew, then a slight left turn over the midway into a cutback, which led back over the midway beneath the initial corkscrew into a second corkscrew element. The sequence concluded with a counter-clockwise helix before making a right turn onto the final brake run that returned riders to the station.[1][2][3]