Phoenix Rising (roller coaster)
| Company type | Roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Founded | July 21, 2024 |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida , United States |
| Products | Inverted family roller coaster |
Phoenix Rising is an inverted roller coaster designed for families, located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, USA. Crafted by the manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), it officially opened on July 21, 2024, marking the park’s tenth coaster addition. The attraction delivers the experience of a legendary phoenix soaring, with a maximum height of 80 feet (24 m) and reaching speeds up to 44 mph (71 km/h) during its 1 minute and 26 seconds duration.
Situated within the Pantopia area, close to attractions such as Falcon's Fury, Carousel Caravan, and the now-defunct Scorpion, Phoenix Rising incorporates trains equipped with onboard audio featuring echoing “caws” alongside four distinct thematic phoenix variations. This installation represents Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s latest family-oriented thrill ride expansion.
History
Concept development for Phoenix Rising commenced in early 2022, targeting the addition of a family-friendly coaster to broaden the park's attraction lineup. Construction efforts began in late 2023, starting with the placement of support columns and track assembly.
The coaster occupies the previous location of both the Sand Serpent wild mouse coaster and the Phoenix looping starship ride. Building the ride involved significant groundwork, including pouring concrete foundations and footers. By early 2024, track installation and supporting framework were finalized, followed by a phase of testing.
Anticipated as one of 2024’s most awaited roller coasters, Phoenix Rising had a soft opening for passholders and media representatives on July 17, 2024, before welcoming general visitors on July 21, 2024.
Characteristics
Stretching 1,831 feet (558 m), Phoenix Rising stands as North America’s tallest and longest inverted family coaster. The ride incorporates a series of twists, turns, an over-banked curve, and drops that overlook the Serengeti Plain. With a minimum rider height requirement of 42 inches (107 cm), it is designed to accommodate families. Stewart Clark, President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, highlighted that "With a height restriction as low as 42 inches, this attraction offers an adventure suitable for all family members." The coaster operates using one train composed of 10 cars; each car seats two riders side by side, allowing for a total capacity of 20 riders per cycle.
At dispatch, three screens present an animated phoenix flying around before departure. The animation changes with each ride and aligns with different banner colors displayed in the queue area. Four unique phoenix animations are randomly selected: Terra (guardian of rainforests), Ignis (desert domain), Glacius (mountain and glacier territories), and Aqua (ocean environment). Each choice activates a distinct soundtrack during the ride.
Queue
Visitors enter through Pantopia where they encounter an outdoor queue featuring switchbacks and views of the ride in operation. Inside, guests proceed through a themed hallway adorned with murals illustrating phoenix mythology. The dispatch area includes three LED screens that show an animated phoenix matching the queue’s banner colors to deepen immersion.
Layout
The train leaves the station turning right toward the chain lift hill. After climbing to its peak, it plunges into a twisting drop followed by several sharp turns and an over-banked curve located near the entrance sign. The track continues with quick right and left bends before returning to the station. Onboard audio speakers simulate the sound of phoenix wing beats throughout the ride. Designed with families in mind, Phoenix Rising features no full inversions to maintain accessibility.
Reception
When it debuted, Attractions magazine observed that Phoenix Rising offers a milder experience compared to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's more intense coasters, yet it commended the ride for attracting a broader audience beyond just adrenaline enthusiasts, noting that it "successfully achieves this objective." The Tampa Bay Times characterized the coaster as "a sort of initiation ride for older children."
See also
- Montu, another inverted roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay