TAMPA, Fla. – Thirty-three years after it first roared to life, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is retiring its oldest roller coaster.
The theme park announced that guests have until Aug. 2 to ride Kumba before it permanently closes, making way for its successor, Kumba’s Revenge.
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According to a news release, the retirement marks a significant chapter in the park’s ongoing transformation, part of a more than $100 million investment to reimagine the guest experience.
“Kumba has inspired generations of thrill seekers and earned its place as one of the world’s most iconic roller coasters,” said Jon Vigue, president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “As we celebrate its incredible legacy, we’re also looking ahead.”
Annual Pass Members will get one last exclusive ride window Aug. 1, from 8 to 11 a.m., before the coaster closes to the general public.
When Kumba debuted in 1993, it set records as Florida’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster, boasting the world’s tallest vertical loop. Over nearly three minutes, riders plunged 135 feet, hit speeds of 60 mph and blazed through seven inversions.
“The legend of Kumba isn’t ending — it’s evolving,” Vigue said. “Stay tuned as we prepare to unleash Kumba’s Revenge.”