Cheetah Hunt

Cheetah Hunt

An overview of part of Cheetah Hunt
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Park section Crown Colony Plaza
Coordinates 28°2′3″N 82°25′12″W / 28.03417°N 82.42000°W / 28.03417; -82.42000Coordinates: 28°2′3″N 82°25′12″W / 28.03417°N 82.42000°W / 28.03417; -82.42000
Status Operating
Opening date May 27, 2011 (2011-05-27)
General statistics
Type Steel – Launched
Manufacturer Intamin
Model LSM Launch Coaster
Lift/launch system LSM
Height 102 ft (31 m)
Drop 130 ft (40 m)
Length 4,429 ft (1,350 m)
Speed 60 mph (97 km/h)
Inversions 1
Duration 3:30
Capacity 1370 riders per hour
G-force 4
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Trains 5 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 16 riders per train.
Launches 1. 30 mph (48 km/h)
2. 60 mph (97 km/h)
3. 40 mph (64 km/h)
Replaced Monorail
Website Official website
Quick Queue available
Cheetah Hunt at RCDB
Pictures of Cheetah Hunt at RCDB

Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster currently open and operating at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. It opened to the public on May 27, 2011[1] alongside a new cheetah exhibit - Cheetah Run.[2][3][4]

History

Before the ride was officially announced, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay ran a teaser campaign which slowly revealed details of the attraction across Summer 2010. Five teaser videos were released which featured cut scenes of the ride's point of view video.[5][6] The attraction was officially announced on October 13, 2010 by park president, Jim Dean.[3][4] Construction of the ride began almost immediately. By November 18, some supports for the ride were already in place.[7] By mid December, the supports for the 102-foot (31 m) tall figure 8 element were complete with some pieces of track also installed.[8] Cheetah Hunt was named the 2nd Best New Ride for 2011 by the Golden Ticket Awards.[9]

Ride

One of Cheetah Hunt's trains ascending to the figure 8 element

Cheetah Hunt is an Intamin launched steel roller coaster.[2] The ride's station is located in the former monorail station which was decommissioned in the 1990s.[10] Guests board one of five, 16 passenger trains.[3] The ride begins with a 30-mile-per-hour (48 km/h) launch out of the station and around a wide left turn followed by a gradual dip before approaching the second launch. This launch accelerates riders to their top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) before climbing an 102-foot (31 m) hill. A figure 8 element is located at the top of this hill where riders weave through a series of helixes before dropping 130 feet (40 m) into a trench. Riders then proceed over a directional changing airtime hill before completing the ride's only inversion, a Heartline roll. Upon exiting the barrel-roll and its subsequent brake run (the only one on the ride), the ride remains low to the ground and goes through a series of short banked turns through a rock fixture simulating several "near misses". This leads the ride into its third and final launch which accelerates riders to a speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) to navigate its way back to the station. During the journey back there is airtime and directionally changing hills, before entering the final brake run.[2][3][11]

Cheetah Run

This ride is inspired by cheetahs. To go alongside Cheetah Hunt, Busch Gardens Tampa also opened an animal exhibit called Cheetah Run. The exhibit features glass-paneled viewing areas which allow visitors to watch the world's fastest land animal sprinting across plains. In late January 2011, five cheetahs arrived on site in preparation for the opening of the exhibit. Educational touch screen panels complete the exhibit.[3][4][12][13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Albright, Mark (February 18, 2011). "Busch Gardens' Cheetah Hunt coaster in sprint to May 27 completion". St. Petersburg Times. Tampa Bay. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Cheetah Hunt  (Busch Gardens Tampa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Busch Gardens Tampa Bay & Discovery Cove in Orlando announce 2011 additions". SeaWorld Parks Blog. October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Garcia, Jason (October 13, 2010). "SeaWorld unveils new reef for Discovery Cove, new coaster for Busch Gardens". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Busch Gardens 2011". Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  6. ↑ Albright, Mark (October 13, 2010). "Busch Gardens' Cheetah Hunt coaster to launch riders to 60 mph three times". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Insider Update: Cheetah Hunt Has Gone Vertical". SeaWorld Parks Blog. November 18, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Cheetah Hunt: Construction Update". SeaWorld Parks Blog. December 13, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  9. ↑ "2011 Golden Ticket Awards". Amusement Today. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  10. ↑ Roseboom, Matt (January 28, 2011). "Photo Finds: Construction update for Cheetah Hunt roller coaster at Busch Gardens". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Upcoming Events Pictures & Videos: Cheetah Hunt Virtual Ride". Video. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ Roseboom, Matt (February 2, 2011). "Cheetahs arrive at Busch Gardens in anticipation of new attraction". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Cheetahs arrive at Busch Gardens". Tampa Bay. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  14. ↑ Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
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