Sand Serpent
| Company type | Roller coaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement rides |
| Predecessor | Wild Izzy, Wild Maus, Cheetah Chase |
| Founded | April 12, 1996 (as Wild Izzy) |
| Fate | Closed July 9, 2023; replaced by Phoenix Rising |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
| Products | Wild Mouse roller coaster |
| Parent | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay |
Sand Serpent was a Wild Mouse roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Initially introduced as Wild Izzy in 1996, it operated under the name Wild Maus from 1997 to 2003 at its sister park, Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The coaster was then transferred to Tampa Bay, reopening as Cheetah Chase from 2004 until 2011. In 2011, it received the new name Sand Serpent.
Constructed by Mack Rides and engineered by Werner Stengel, this coaster featured a height of , reached speeds up to , and had a track length of . While it was met with enthusiasm during its debut in Williamsburg, its move to Tampa Bay attracted comparatively little attention.
History
In December 1995, Busch Gardens Williamsburg unveiled plans for Wild Izzy, a Mack Rides Wild Mouse coaster, to be introduced in the Oktoberfest area for the 1996 season. The ride’s original name derived from the 1996 Olympic mascot, reflecting Busch Gardens’ sponsorship of the event. It officially opened on April 12, 1996. Following that season, the attraction underwent a European-themed retheming and was renamed Wild Maus.
By November 2003, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced intentions to retire Wild Maus. The coaster ceased operations that year and was dismantled to clear space for the dark ride Curse of DarKastle, which debuted in 2005. Later that December, it was confirmed that Wild Maus would be relocated to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and reintroduced as Cheetah Chase on February 28, 2004, situated in the Timbuktu section. This new installation replaced the defunct Crazy Camel flat ride that had been present since 1980.
The ride was rebranded as Sand Serpent in 2011 to prevent confusion with the newly launched attraction Cheetah Hunt. It resided in the Pantopia section—formerly known as Timbuktu—which was renamed concurrently with the debut of Falcon's Fury. Sand Serpent remained operational until June 2023 when Busch Gardens announced its closure to make room for a forthcoming family inverted coaster called Phoenix Rising (roller coaster). The final day of operation was July 9, 2023; Phoenix Rising officially opened on July 21, 2024.
Characteristics
Sand Serpent represented a standard Wild Mouse roller coaster design produced by Mack Rides and conceptualized by Werner Stengel. The specific variant was the "Wild Maus," "Compact Mobile" model. Initially, the track sported green rails with yellow supports, and each car displayed colors inspired by the Olympic rings, accented with lightning bolts and star motifs. In its ultimate form, the track was painted blue with orange supports, while cars were solid blue, orange, or red.
The coaster achieved a top speed of , covered a track length of , and occupied a footprint measuring . It operated with individual cars accommodating four passengers arranged in two rows of two. Unlike other Mack Rides Wild Mouse coasters, Sand Serpent did not feature dips prior to the brake run.
Ride experience
Upon departure from the station, the car executed a left turn before ascending a lift hill approximately high. This was followed by a sequence of parallel 180-degree turns and then a broader continuous descending curve. The course incorporated multiple hills, sharp left turns, drops, and climbs before arriving at the final brake run and returning to the station. Each ride cycle lasted roughly two minutes.
Reception
During its initial launch at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Sand Serpent garnered favorable responses from visitors. Musician Michael McCary humorously remarked that it "wasn’t suited for tall riders" due to knee strikes during the ride. Guests likened its intensity to that of the steel coaster Drachen Fire, describing it as unexpectedly thrilling. The Star Democrat emphasized its "jerky turns and quick dips," labeling it "distinctly different" and appealing to a wide audience. When relocated to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in 2004, media attention surrounding its opening was notably limited.
See also
- List of attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa
- Wild Mouse (Hersheypark), a similar Wild Mouse coaster designed by Mack Rides