Busch Gardens has amusement parks in two locations in the United States: Tampa Bay, Fla., and Williamsburg, Va. They are owned by the Busch Entertainment Corp., part of Anheuser-Busch, the country's largest beverage company. The Tampa Bay park has an African theme, while the one in Williamsburg has an Old Europe theme. Busch Gardens had other parks in California and Texas, but both have since closed. Busch Gardens is planning to open another park in Dubai in 2012.
Previously called Busch Gardens Africa and Bush Gardens: The Dark Continent, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened in 1959. This 335-acre park was once an admission-free park that offered free beer tasting and featured an aviary that allowed visitors to walk among the wild birds. Today, the park features a Serengeti plain and nearly 3,000 exotic animals. Tickets cost $69.95 for adults and $59.95 for children. Parking is additional.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is broken into sections that replicate countries and cities in Africa such as Morocco, Nairobi, Egypt and Congo. A replica steam train called the Serengeti Express runs throughout the park. The original Bird Gardens is still open to the public. The Serengeti Plain boasts animals in a cage-free environment such as zebras and gazelles. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay also features outdoor concerts. Musicians such as Starship have performed there.
Once known as Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens: The Old Country, Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened in 1975. This park, which sits on 250 acres, is open from mid-March to the end of December. Tickets are $59.95 for adults and $49.95 for children. Parking is additional. For 19 years straight, Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been voted the Best Beautiful Park by the National Amusement Park Historical Association.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is broken into different sections that represent various European countries: Ireland, Italy, Germay, France and Great Britain. The park is also famous for its many roller coasters, the most famous being the Loch Ness Monster and the Big Bad Wolf. The newest is called Grover's Alpine Express. The park is also the home to the famous Clydesdale horses.
Anheuser-Busch is opening another park in Dubai in 2012. Located in the Middle East, Anheuser-Busch will also open Sea World on a man-made island of 330 acres that is shaped like Shamu the Whale. No theme for this Busch Gardens has been announced yet. Anheuser-Busch will be spending $5 billion to open these parks, which include Discovery Cove and a water theme park.
