SheiKra

SheiKra

Company type	Attraction
Industry	Amusement park ride
Founded	May 21, 2005 (2005-05-21)
Headquarters	Tampa, Florida , United States
Products	Steel Dive Coaster roller coaster

SheiKra (, ) is a steel Dive Coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. The concept originated from Mark Rose, the park's vice-president of design and engineering, and the ride was engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard. Initially, the coaster was proposed to reach but was later increased to following executive approval. SheiKra achieves speeds up to and features a track length of . It officially opened on May 21, 2005, and was transformed into a floorless roller coaster on June 16, 2007, shortly after its counterpart, Griffon, debuted at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

As the first Dive Coaster in North America, SheiKra introduced innovative elements such as a splashdown and an Immelmann loop, both pioneering features within the industry. It initially held records for being the longest, tallest, and fastest Dive Coaster but was eventually overtaken by Griffon in Williamsburg and the Dive Coaster at Chimelong Paradise in Guangzhou, China. The name "SheiKra" is inspired by the shikra hawk, noted for its vertical diving behavior. In 2005, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards recognized SheiKra as the fourth-best new steel roller coaster and ranked it 28th among all steel coasters.

Original attraction

Mark Rose, serving as vice-president of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, initially proposed a roller coaster standing tall, described metaphorically as "like riding a barrel over Niagara Falls...straight down into water." Busch Gardens leadership dismissed this initial concept as lacking excitement. Rose then enhanced the design by increasing the height by and incorporating additional features, which secured approval from park executives. Planning and design assistance was provided by Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets Inc (PGAV).

Speculation about a new coaster emerged when an enthusiast received official confirmation from the park. Early reports indicated that the ride would include a splashdown element and an inversion, both firsts for a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster. Subsequently, sections of the Serengeti Express track were dismantled. On April 26, 2004, permits were issued for construction of a roller coaster along with a restaurant and gift shop.

By May 2004, leaked information revealed details such as height, speed, and train configurations. Construction walls featuring Tiki-themed artwork concealed work areas and hinted at the ride’s thematic direction and scale. Track segments and support structures stored nearby confirmed ongoing development.

On October 20, 2004, Busch Entertainment Corporation filed a trademark application for "SheiKra." One week later, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officially announced SheiKra as North America’s inaugural Dive Coaster in collaboration with Bolliger & Mabillard. At that time, approximately half of the foundation work had been completed. Superior Rigging & Erection was responsible for assembling supports and track pieces; by January 28, 2005, the highest track section had been installed. Testing commenced in late April 2005, followed by a media preview on May 19 aimed at international promotion. The ride opened to the public on May 21, 2005. Initial operations encountered computer system malfunctions that caused temporary stoppages and evacuations.

Bolliger & Mabillard dedicated roughly six months to designing SheiKra and four years to its full completion. Busch Gardens obtained exclusive rights preventing duplication of this layout for several years. Once this exclusivity expired in 2009, an identical coaster named Diving Coaster was constructed at Happy Valley Shanghai.

Updated attraction

In 2006, rumors circulated that Busch Gardens Tampa Bay planned to eliminate the floors from SheiKra's trains. This was officially confirmed during a press event streamed online on January 31, 2007. By late April of the same year, billboards and newspaper advertisements promoted the imminent floor removal, featuring a marketing campaign centered around a "one last fling" concept. Additionally, callers to a dedicated hotline encountered themed messages supporting the upcoming alteration.

On April 24, 2007, coinciding with High School Journalism Day, Busch Gardens introduced SheiKra's inaugural floorless train. The roller coaster was then closed on May 28, 2007, to facilitate the conversion process, which included modifications to the station to accommodate retractable floors for boarding and exiting. Testing of the new trains took place shortly before the ride's reopening. SheiKra had a soft launch for media representatives and enthusiasts on June 16, 2007, prior to welcoming general visitors.

SheiKra underwent a temporary closure beginning January 7, 2013, to receive a complete repaint in its original color scheme and resumed operation on February 16, 2013.

Ride experience

SheiKra features two separate queues: one for standard guests and another Quick Queue line designed for pass holders who can bypass most primary attraction lines.

Once the floors retract and the gate opens, the train departs with a descending right turn followed by an ascending right turn leading into a chain lift hill inclined at 47 degrees. At the summit of the lift hill, it makes a right turn into a holding brake where it pauses for roughly four seconds, then plunges down a vertical 90-degree drop reaching its top speed of . The train proceeds into an Immelmann loop, then executes a banked left turn generating approximately 3.5 g before entering the mid-course brake run. It decelerates ahead of a second vertical drop of , this time plunging into an underground tunnel. Following this, the train performs a right overbanked turn leading to a splashdown which sprays two separate water jets, traversing this section in approximately 1.9 seconds. The train then ascends before making a descending right turn and entering the final brake run that returns it to the station. Each ride cycle lasts close to two minutes and twenty seconds.

Track

SheiKra boasts an extensive steel box track stretching over , with a lift hill rising to about in height. The track is painted red and supported by blue structures, and includes an elevator capable of carrying eight passengers for evacuation purposes on the lift hill. The track and rails were crafted in Italy and assembled by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio, a company renowned for producing Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters. To accommodate the heavier trains, SheiKra’s track spine is broader than the standard Bolliger & Mabillard framework. At night, white lighting illuminates the entire track.

Trains

The coaster runs on trains constructed from steel and fiberglass, each train being three times wider than the track itself. These trains, built in Switzerland and transported to Florida, feature over-the-shoulder restraints and consist of three cars seating eight passengers each, allowing for 24 riders per train. To minimize friction on the rails, the wheels are made from nylon and polyurethane materials. Anti-rollback mechanisms are installed on the lift hill to prevent backward movement, while a "drop chain dog" system ensures a smooth transition into the initial drop.

Records

When SheiKra opened in 2005, it introduced two innovative Dive Coaster elements: the splashdown effect—where water is propelled by scoops attached to the last car—and the Immelmann loop, which combines a half-loop with a half-twist that reverses direction. This loop marked the first inversion ever featured on a Dive Coaster. Since then, every Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster has incorporated at least one Immelmann loop.

SheiKra was also groundbreaking as the first Dive Coaster to feature a vertical 90-degree drop. Upon its debut, it held records as the tallest, fastest, and longest Dive Coaster worldwide and was North America’s inaugural Dive Coaster. However, these height and speed records were surpassed in 2007 by Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and its length record was overtaken in 2008 by the Dive Coaster at Chime-Long Paradise.

Reception

Overall, SheiKra has been well-received by both enthusiasts and critics alike. Arthur Levine from About.com awarded it four and a half stars out of five along with a thrill rating of eight and a half out of ten, describing it as "an unreserved thrill ride that coaster fans will appreciate." Joel Bullock of Coaster Critic gave it a score of seven and a half out of ten with a thrill rating of four out of five; he found the ride somewhat "underwhelming" due to its brief duration and limited unique features but acknowledged the Immelmann loop as a standout element. Jeremy Thompson from Roller Coaster Philosophy assigned it a grade of "B," highlighting the impressive visuals and noting that despite reaching speeds up to 70 mph, the ride remains surprisingly smooth while delivering notable airtime from the rear seats.

Jay Cridlin of the Tampa Bay Times pointed out lengthy wait times but described SheiKra as "a majestic, unparalleled roller coaster experience," possibly "the finest dive coaster worldwide." He emphasized that its 90-degree drop is a signature attraction dominating Busch Gardens' skyline and sparking lively discussion among guests. Eric Michael from Orlando Sentinel also commended SheiKra’s towering 200-foot height and vertical drop, calling it Florida’s tallest coaster with the most thrilling moment atop its peak.

In 2007, SheiKra was spotlighted on Discovery Channel’s series Build It Bigger, which detailed its innovative engineering and design process.

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride 2005
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