Scorpion (roller coaster)

Scorpion

Company type	Steel roller coaster
Industry	Amusement ride
Founded	May 16, 1980 (1980-05-16) in Tampa, Florida, United States
Defunct	September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08)
Headquarters	Tampa, Florida , United States
Products	Roller coaster ride

Scorpion was a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. It was designed by Anton Schwarzkopf and engineered by Werner Stengel, officially opening to guests on May 16, 1980, as the park’s second roller coaster addition. Situated within the newly developed Timbuktu area, it was positioned between the Congo and Nairobi sections. The coaster featured a maximum height of , reached speeds up to , and had a track length measuring .

As one of only three Silver Arrow models created by Anton Schwarzkopf, Scorpion distinguished itself as the sole installation built on a fixed foundation. Following the retirement of Python in 2006, it held the title of the oldest operating roller coaster at Busch Gardens until its closure in 2024.

History

After unveiling the Congo area with the Python coaster in 1976, Anheuser-Busch, then proprietor of Busch Gardens Tampa, announced on May 9, 1978, plans for a new expansion valued between $5 million and $10 million. Construction work for the "Timbuktu" section commenced toward the end of 1978.

On February 5, 1979, Anheuser-Busch disclosed a $12.3 million development project introducing Timbuktu, a seven-acre zone featuring multiple attractions including Scorpion—a European-designed coaster boasting a full 360-degree loop. Timbuktu's opening occurred in two stages; Scorpion was launched during the second phase after several postponements from its originally planned December 1979 debut.

The Timbuktu area officially opened on January 25, 1980, with visible progress on Scorpion’s construction by March; the coaster itself welcomed riders starting May 16, 1980. In 2004, Scorpion’s original orange and black paint scheme was refreshed to a red track paired with blue supports, mirroring the color palette of SheiKra. Subsequently, following Timbuktu’s rebranding to Pantopia and the introduction of new attractions such as Falcon's Fury, Scorpion became part of the Pantopia section.

On August 23, 2024, Busch Gardens announced that Scorpion would cease operations permanently on September 2 after serving guests for 44 years, with intentions to replace it with an undisclosed new attraction. Due to public backlash regarding the abrupt closure announcement, the final day of operation was extended until September 8.

The coaster was dismantled in May 2025.

Ride experience

The train departed the station moving forward and climbed the lift hill. Upon reaching the summit, it executed a gentle right-hand turn before descending a banked drop that propelled it to its top speed of . Immediately following this drop, riders encountered the signature vertical loop, then navigated a banked left turn while ascending. The course proceeded with a banked drop incorporated into a sustained left turn before straightening out and climbing a small hill passing through the center of the vertical loop. The train then entered a series of downward-spiraling helixes banked to the right prior to aligning with the final brake run. The circuit concluded with two right turns leading back to the station. The entire ride cycle lasted approximately 90 seconds.

Characteristics

Constructed by Anton Schwarzkopf and conceptualized by Werner Stengel, Scorpion’s build cost was estimated between $2.5 million and $3 million. It was among three Silver Arrow model coasters manufactured by Schwarzkopf worldwide—the others being Big Blue in Croatia and Looping Star in South Africa. Unlike its counterparts which were portable models, Scorpion featured a permanent structural foundation.

The track extended over , occupying an area measuring by . Riders experienced forces up to 3.5 g-forces during the ride. Named after the arachnid species, Scorpion initially operated with six-car trains but later ran two trains consisting of five cars each. Each train accommodated 20 passengers arranged in two rows of two seats per car. The trains’ original color scheme featured red and orange hues before being updated to incorporate red, orange, and yellow tones. Safety restraints consisted of lap bars, and guests were required to meet a minimum height restriction of .

Incidents

In December 1994, the park faced a lawsuit alleging that a promotional model was prevented from exiting the roller coaster after indicating discomfort. The complaint accused the park of false imprisonment and negligence, requesting $15,000 in compensation for injuries claimed to have resulted from being compelled to ride repeatedly without rest. This legal action was ultimately dismissed in 1997.

Reception and legacy

Scorpion garnered predominantly favorable feedback upon its debut. Visitors often described the experience as "thrilling." Dale Wilson of The Tampa Times observed that although the ride appeared more intimidating than it truly was and featured a somewhat predictable track, its initial descent offered a sensation akin to soaring like a bird, accompanied by vigorous vibrations if one failed to hold on tightly. Michael Knight from the Philadelphia Daily News referred to it as potentially "the ultimate roller-coaster heart stopper." Randy Geisler, former president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, commended the ride for delivering substantial excitement within its brief duration.

Being the park's second roller coaster, Scorpion was frequently compared to its steel counterpart, Python, with enthusiasts expressing divided opinions on their preferences. At the time of its retirement, Scorpion held the distinction of being the oldest and longest-operating coaster in the park following Python’s closure in 2006.

See also

• Sand Serpent, another coaster formerly situated in the Pantopia area of the park, which was originally part of Timbuktu