Here’s when Iron Gwazi will open at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced an opening date for its new coaster, Iron Gwazi. Iron Gwazi will plunge riders from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop, reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. READ: Gatorland extends Florida resident discountBusch Gardens said riders on Iron Gwazi will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, as they sink into crocodile-inspired thrills. The new coaster also features all-new thrill components and a reimagined track layout, Busch Gardens said. READ: Universal Orlando announces Mardi Gras concert lineup, more detailsExpand Autoplay Image 1 of 9 Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens (Busch Gardens)Annual pass members can be one of the first to ride Iron Gwazi during exclusive preview days.
wftv.comChildren’s winter summer camps coming to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
(SeaWorld)ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld and Busch Gardens has announced action-park holiday camps for little ones this month. SeaWorld Orlando’s Winter Wonders Day Camp will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Session 1 will take place from Dec. 20-23, and session 2 takes place from Dec. 27-30. Additionally, all campers receive free admission to the park after camp each day.”READ: 9 things to do around Central Florida to get in the holiday spiritEach camp costs $199. The camps will take place at all five SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks in the U.S. Silver passholders are eligible to receive a discount on camp admission.
wftv.comBusch Gardens Tampa Bay planning lineup of Easter fun
TAMPA, Fla. – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is planning a lineup of fun and special activities for the Easter holiday weekend. The events will be available to guests with park reservations from this Friday through Sunday. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Food & Wine Festival is currently underway. Guests will also get a chance to attend physically-distant concerts and ride the theme park’s world-class attractions. AdUse the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter, sent every Friday morning.
All things giraffes: Busch Gardens’ shows off Giraffe Bar, debuts new baby
The Giraffe Bar will feature craft brew flights on custom giraffe tasting paddles with Serengeti viewsTAMPA, Fla. – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay said Thursday guests visiting the theme park will soon be able to visit the Giraffe Bar. Artist rendering of the new Giraffe Bar at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)While guests sip and savor the flavors, they can also look at the panoramic indoor and outdoor views of the park’s expansive Serengeti Plain, which is home to giraffes, zebra, antelopes, ostriches and more. In addition to the new Giraffe Bar, Serengeti Overlook is home to the newly redesigned Oasis Pizza, which serves up favorites such as handmade pizza, chicken tenders, fresh salads and freshly baked desserts. Busch Gardens said guests can also look forward to more new culinary experiences coming this year. Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter, sent every Friday morning.
Food & Wine festival returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is about to begin its fan-favorite Food & Wine Festival on Feb. 20. Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival map (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Some new dishes include:Five-spice duck lettuce wrapsImpossible™ sliderLollipop chicken drumLobster white cheddar KRAFT mac ‘n’ cheese. A 5-punch sample lanyard will cost $34, an 8-punch lanyard costs $49, while the 12-punch sample lanyard begins at $64. The food and wine festival is free with admission, but reservations are required for entry into Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has health and safety protocols in place including the wearing of facial coverings, temperature checks and social distancing markers.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay all jazzed up for Mardi Gras celebration
TAMPA, Fla – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay shared new details Monday about its upcoming Mardi Gras celebration which kicks off on Jan. 16. (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Event organizers said some of the food available include a signature shrimp po’ boy, hearty jambalaya, shrimp and grits, voodoo coffee and hot and fresh beignets. Guests will also get the chance to try a number of new Mardi Gras inspired cocktails including hurricane drinks. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Mardi Gras (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)The Busch Gardens team has consulted with medical experts to offer modified events with required reservations and limited capacity for safe celebrations. The Mardi Gras celebration runs through Feb. 16.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay details New Year’s Eve celebrations
TAMPA, Fla. – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is ringing in the new year with music, fireworks and its world-class thrill rides. Guests can either reserve a time to visit the park during the day or later in the evening. “The Busch Gardens team has consulted with medical experts to offer a modified event with required reservations and limited capacity that celebrates the spirit of the season safely” officials said in a press release. Fireworks will be set off at 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Busch Gardens is selling tickets for reserved premium seats. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fireworks viewing areas (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Click here to learn about Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s health and safety guidelines in place.
First look: Busch Gardens shows off 4 new Howl-O-Scream scare zones
TAMPA, Fla – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced new details Thursday about its upcoming Howl-O-Scream event. Lycan LandingLycan Landing Scare Zone (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)It’s always a full moon at this campground and the park rangers can’t hear you scream. The ShortcutThe Shortcut Scare Zone (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Cutting through the cemetery may seem like an easy way out, except when the corpses rise from the ground to invite you into their gravesThe EscapeThe Escape Scare Zone (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)In this treacherous realm, chaos reigns and rules are made to be broken. The JunkyardThe Junkyard Scare Zone (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)You’ll find more than spare parts as you explore this surly scrap site. 2020 Scare Zones | Howl-O-Scream Brave your way through TEN spacious scare zones, including four all-new zones throughout the park.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announces 2021 Fun Card bonus, seasonal bier fest
TAMPA, Fla. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Monday offered new incentives to purchase a 2021 Fun Card and gave details about its upcoming seasonal bier fest event. One event included is Busch Gardens seasonal bier fest, which is set to begin Sept. 12. Bier Fest at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)Some food offerings include Sam Adams Octoberfest braised short ribs, New England IPA drunken shrimp tacos, loaded mac and cheese with creamy Budweiser cheese sauce, Bavarian pretzel sticks and Yuengling black and tan chocolate cupcakes. Bier fest sampler lanyards, which include a five-sample punch card, will be available for $32.99. Busch Gardens will welcome back its Sesame Street kids weekends Oct. 3 and holiday Christmas town event on Nov. 23.
Florida SeaWorld parks reopen with masks, temperature checks
(Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)ORLANDO, Fla. Two more Florida theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, opened Thursday after being closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus. But SeaWorld Orlando will be closed for the foreseeable future on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Busch Gardens on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for extra cleaning. The openings of the parks owned by SeaWorld Entertainment come as Floridas theme parks industry is coming back to life. SeaWorld Entertainment, which operates 12 theme parks across the U.S., said it was losing $25 million a month and was forced to furlough 95% of its workforce with its parks idled. Before the parks closed in March, the company was off to a strong start to 2020 with record-setting attendance and revenue in January and February, according to its quarterly financial report.
Bengal tiger at Busch Gardens dies after fight with her brother
(CNN) - Bala, a 13-year-old Bengal tiger at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, has died, the park announced. They were born at the Texas Zoo and moved to Tampa to live at the Jungala habitat in Busch Gardens when it opened in 2007. In December, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay received the Humane Certified seal through the American Humane Conservation program for "demonstrating the good welfare and treatment given to the creatures in its care." "Bala has lived with her brother Bhutan at the park since 2007, receiving world-class care," the park said on Facebook. "Known for her unique coloring, Bala was loved by her care team and the guests who visited Jungala."
A Bengal tiger at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay died after an 'atypical interaction' with her brother
click to enlargeBusch Gardens Tampa Bay says one of its Bengal tigers has passed away. "Bala has lived with her brother Bhutan at the park since 2007, receiving world-class care," the park said in a post on Facebook. "Known for her unique coloring, Bala was loved by her care team and the guests who visited Jungala. "Bala incurred a major injury from an atypical interaction with her brother and was transported to the parks Animal Care Center for emergency care," said park spokesperson Rebecca Romzek. Sim Sim, the parks oldest male gorilla at the time of his death, passed away in September due to a degenerative condition in his right leg.
orlandoweekly.comSeaWorld unveils new multi-directional hybrid coaster coming in 2020
ORLANDO, Fla. - A new multi-directional roller coaster is coming to SeaWorld Orlando in 2020. The ride, which will be located in the Wild Arctic plaza, will be the sixth in the park and SeaWorld's first multi-directional roller coaster. The frosty theme of the ride is meant to highlight SeaWorld's conservation partner, Alaska SeaLife Center. "The Alaska SeaLife Center is excited to grow our partnership with SeaWorld. For many years, SeaWorld has been a stalwart supporter of the Center, and particularly our Wildlife Response program, Tara L. Riemer, president and CEO of Alaska SeaLife Center, wrote in a news release.
Man accused of killing Busch Gardens' flamingo killed
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay via CNNTAMPA, Fla. - A man accused of causing the death of Pinky, a beloved flamingo at Busch Gardens, was hit by a truck and died, two months before he was to go on trial. The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that The Florida Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Joseph Corrao was killed June 5 as he crossed a busy road in Orlando. Correa was accused of grabbing the Chilean flamingo from a pen and slamming it to the ground while visiting the Tampa theme park with his mother and daughters. The severely injured flamingo had to be euthanized. Corrao told police he was trying to show off to his daughter and didn't mean to harm Pinky.
Guests at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay can feed sloths and pet rhinos in new 'Encounter' tours
click image Image via Busch Gardens Tampa BayEven as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay focuses on upcoming big thrill attractions , the animals at the park arent being overlooked. Two new upcharge tours provide guests with unique behind-the-scenes experiences.One tour gives guests a 30-minute visit with the park's numerous sloths, while the other is a 45-minute rhino experience. Similar to the sloth tour, guests on the rhino tour will also see rhino care firsthand and have the chance to pet white rhinos.These new tours are two of more than 10 that the park offers . Both the sloth and rhino tour require all guests to be at least 8 years old. The rhino tour also requires guests to be least 54 inches tall to participate.
orlandoweekly.comSeaWorld, Busch Gardens offer free admission to military veterans, their families
SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay both announced military veterans and their families can get in free this summer. The offer starts May 20 and runs through July 15. To claim the single-day tickets for themselves and up to three dependents, U.S. military veterans and retirees must visit www.WavesofHonor.com by June 9. “Offering free admission through our longstanding Waves of Honor program is just a small gesture of the deep gratitude we owe all those who serve," the company’s CEO, Gus Antorcha, said in a press release. The Waves of Honor program has provided more than 10 million free tickets since it started in 2005, the press release said.