Pantheon (roller coaster)
| Industry | Amusement rides |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 4, 2022 |
| Headquarters | Williamsburg, Virginia , United States |
| Products | Steel roller coaster |
Pantheon is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. Constructed by Intamin, it was initially accessible to park members beginning March 4, 2022. This coaster incorporates four launch sequences, five airtime hills, and a beyond-vertical drop angled at 95 degrees. The attraction includes two inversions and achieves a maximum velocity of . Its design is inspired by ancient Rome, highlighting the deities Jupiter, Mercury, Minerva, Neptune, and Pluto. Despite promotional claims, Pantheon has never held the record for the fastest multi-launch coaster; that distinction belonged to Soaring With Dragon () from 2016 until Cedar Point introduced Top Thrill 2 () in 2024.
History
Originally referred to as Project MMXX, this roller coaster replaced a previously cancelled ride from an earlier proposal named Project Madrid, for which Busch Gardens had requested a 315-foot height exemption.
The planning phase commenced with a submission in February 2019, and the coaster was publicly unveiled as Pantheon on July 30, 2019. The reveal event took place at the park’s globe theater and was broadcast live on the park’s Facebook page following a series of teaser posts on social media. By October 2019, photographic evidence confirmed that track installation was underway.
Pantheon’s debut was postponed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, Busch Gardens announced an official opening date set for March 2022. The ride welcomed guests officially on March 25, 2022, after a preview period starting March 4.
Characteristics
Pantheon rises to a height of 178 ft, extends over 3,328 ft in length, and reaches speeds up to 73 mph. It features four launches, including a unique swing launch positioned between the vertical spike and top hat elements—an innovation also found on Toutatis at Parc Astérix in France. The coaster incorporates two inversion elements: a zero-g winder and a zero-g stall. Operations utilize two trains composed of five cars each, accommodating 20 riders per train.
Theme
The Roman deity theme of Pantheon is subtle yet intentional. Along the queue line, plaques associate different ride segments with specific gods: the initial launch honors Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom and protector; the second launch corresponds to Mercury, God of Speed; one prominent peak symbolizes Neptune, God of the Sea with his trident; another high point represents Jupiter, King of the Gods and God of Weather; and the finale references Pluto, God of the Underworld, marking the conclusion of the experience.