Busch Gardens Williamsburg is one of ten parks operated by Busch Entertainment Corporation. It has been closely related to Busch Gardens Tampa and the two parks often exchange attractions and ideas. Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is a theme park that uses elements of old Europe in a modern way that is suitable for all ages and physical abilities.
The park first opened in May 1975 with a different name, "The Old Country." Busch Gardens is run by Busch Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch. The company bought a 3,000 acre tract of land with the intent to build a brewery, residential neighborhood and entertainment attraction. First a brewery was built and then the park was built on the adjacent property.
For two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007 Busch Gardens Europe was named "World's Best Theme Park" in the Theme Park Insider Awards. In 2007 Busch Gardens also won the Readers' Choice Award for Most Beautiful Park in Theme Parks Magazine. Three of the top ten steel roller coasters acknowledged in the awards were also located in Busch Gardens Europe: Apollo's Chariot, Griffon and Alpengeist. 2008 marked the eighteenth year in the row that Busch Gardens was voted Most Beautiful Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is located in eastern Virginia. Historic Williamsburg is located three miles to the west. The distance to Richmond, the state capital, is 50 miles and the distance to Washington, D.C. is 150 miles. Virginia Beach and the resort strip are sixty miles south and are also popular tourist destinations for people visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The Anheuser-Busch brewery and Kingsmill Resort and golf club are in the neighboring areas.
Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg is a family amusement park with a European theme. Sections of the park are divided into European countries. England, Scotland, Ireland, New France, Germany and Italy are spread out over 350 acres, each containing relevantly themed dining, entertainment, shopping and rides. Many of the attractions are intended for adults and older children but kid focused attractions keep the entertainment open to all ages. Busch Gardens Europe is very different than Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Florida. The former is show and ride oriented while the latter is focused on a zoo theme.
The European hamlets that form the park divisions contain attractions that are appropriately themed. England's Globe Theatre is home to visual entertainment and in 2009 opened a 4-D Sesame Street themed film. Ireland was formed from an existing England section in 2001. Its theatre is popular for the live Irish dance show. Scotland is home to the Budweiser Clydesdales where visitors can see the horses up close and watch them play in a fenced area.
Busch Gardens Europe has five existing roller coasters in the park as over 2009. The Loch Ness Monster is located in Scotland and was first opened in 1978. This roller coaster features interlocking loops and a traditional shoulder harness car train. The second oldest coaster is the Big Bad Wolf in Germany. Opened in 1984 it is one of the first hanging basket roller coasters. Alpengeist opened in 1997 in the Germany section and is intended to resemble a run away ski lift with a hanging car that leaves the rider's legs dangling. Apollo's Chariot in Italy opened in 1999 and is famous for it's maiden voyage that resulted in Fabio breaking his nose when a startled goose flew in front of the car train. Griffon is the newest addition to Busch Gardens, opening in 2007. On Griffon a wide-set car train hovers in midair for a second before dropping straight to the ground at the beginning of the track. Griffon is located in the park's France themed hamlet.
Smaller rides such as the Battering Ram, DaVinci's Cradle, LaScoot Log Flume, Escape from Pompeii and Roman Rapids are dispersed through out the park. The last three are rides on which riders can expect to get wet.
Dining options in the park are also themed depending on which hamlet they are attached to. Das Festhaus, located in Germany, specializes is German food. The Smokehouse in New France presents fire smoked brisket, ribs and chicken. Many smaller snack shops offer ice cream, baked goods and candy.
In 2009 a new kid friendly attraction was added. The Sesame Street Forest of Fun includes small rides, jungle gym play area, water play area and a place for kids to meet their favorite Sesame Street characters.
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is open seasonally. Traditionally the park has only been open from May to October every year. The end of the season was marked by Hallow-Scream, a time during which costumed ghosts and mummies roam the park to frighten guests by night. In 2009 the park will remain open for an additional two months with an added Christmas Town theme. Starting in September the park is only open on Friday through Sunday weekends.
