Pantheon: A Ride Three Years in the Waiting

Summer of 2019. Busch Gardens Williamsburg announces their newest roller coaster, scheduled to open in spring of 2020, Pantheon.

Spring of 2020. Covid hits. Theme parks across the country shut down. Pantheon sits completely built, but untested and dormant. Now opening in 2021.

2021. Parks across the country are faced with the challenges of fully reopening post-pandemic. Staffing challenges are evident as crowds, desperate for some normalcy, are flocking to the parks. Busch Gardens makes the decision to hold off on opening Pantheon until 2022. Every visit to the park between 2020 and today found me often staring at this Intamin creation looking forward to the day when it would open and I would get to experience what it had to offer.

*Many of the photos of Pantheon that you will see in this blog were taken over the past couple of years from my visits to the park.

Fast forward to tonight. March 4, 2022. For the first time, Platinum Members were able to climb aboard Pantheon. We were told we would only get one ride, however due to lower crowd turnout (temps were in the 40s) we were able to ride multiple times. I managed to get 3 rides (back row, next to last row, and second row). Each ride was pretty different, but I’ll hit on that as we go through the ride itself.

Honestly it didn’t hit me that we were actually going to get to ride until we crossed over the bridge into the entrance plaza. Even the sign on the bridge into Festa Italia that had been updated to say ‘members ride now’ didn’t make it feel real to me. I guess all those visits in 2020 and 2021 where we could just look at it, made it feel as if we would never truly get on the ride.

Before I talk about the overall ride experience, let me say that I believe the overall experience of this ride will change significantly in warmer weather. Temperatures were in the 40s all day in Williamsburg, and I have every belief that the cool temperatures played a role in the way this coaster ran tonight. And believe me, the coaster didn’t run poorly at all. I just think that it will be faster and more intense as the temperature warms up.

So the trains and restraints themselves are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. They’re pretty much identical to Velocicoaster and similar to Copperhead Strike (different manufacturer but same concept) so if you’ve ridden either of those you have a good idea of the restraints. I love riding a coaster that has inversions without having to deal with an over-the-shoulder restraint, or even worse, a ‘comfort collar.’ The restraint design on these trains also give you a pretty open and exposed feeling which makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

The ride starts with a left turn out of the station and takes you right into the first of 4 launches. I wasn’t expecting the initial launch to pack any kind of punch since it only gets you to about 30mph. This was surprise number one on the ride and it was a pleasant surprise. This initial launch into the zero g winder actually packs a little punch. The zero g winder is also a cool little starting element. It provides a little bit of hang time without being uncomfortable the way a ‘jo-jo roll’ can sometimes be. We were off to a great start.

You then work your way towards the swing launch section of the track with a couple quick little tilts to each side. This seemed like kind of an RMC type of thing to do as it had a similar feeling to RMC trick track.

The swing launch was another really positive moment on the ride. By incorporating the speed hill into the launches you get a little bit of air time on the first forward launch, but then as you fall backwards and get launched up the spike you get some pretty crazy ejector airtime while going backwards. You come back down the spike and hit those launch sections for a 3rd time and you finally get sent over the top hat.

Now let’s talk about the top hat element for a minute. First of all, I genuinely believe there is the possibility of a rollback here. The train seems to crawl over the top of this element and it’s really noticeable in the back row. Three rides in three different rows yielded very different experiences. The very back row yielded minimal airtime that didn’t kick in until you crested the top of the hat. The second to last row wasn’t terribly different from the back row, but it seemed like the air time kicked in a little more. Now the ride we got in row 2 provided massive floater airtime going over this element and was actually my favorite row (at least for this portion of the ride).

You come out of the top hat and move directly to the outward banked turn. This was my most anticipated moment on the ride hands down. If you’ve ridden any RMC coasters with this maneuver you know that they typically provide violent sideways ejector airtime. I fully expected this element to make you feel like the ride was trying to throw you off into the river below. Well….it didn’t do that at all. It was very graceful and provided sideways floater airtime instead of ejector. I hope that this was more due to the temperatures being low and not a design issue. If there was a moment that disappointed on the ride for me, this was it. I wanted to feel like I was being thrown out of the train here, and just didn’t get that feeling at all.

After the outward banked turn, you then head towards the zero g stall. First of all, you get major hang time through the stall while also getting two fantastic hand choppers from the structure while you’re upside-down. But it doesn’t stop at that. As you exit the stall and turn left there is one final hand chopper that is probably the reason for the maximum height to ride this ride. I loved this element.

The ride ends with a couple quick little sideways airtime hills before hitting the brakes. You can finally breathe again.

So, what are my overall thoughts on this ride?

Does it live up to the hype? – Honestly to be determined. It’s a fantastic ride, but it had a TON of hype. I won’t fully know the answer until I ride it in warmer conditions.

It is the most intense coaster at the park? – As it rode tonight, no. Alpengeist would still be the most intense ride in the park, but I still need a warm weather ride.

Is it a top 5 or top 10 coaster? – I think it depends on how many coasters you’ve ridden and what you like. Rankings are so subjective. If I had to rank it after just 3 rides, it would be my #5 overall out of 136 credits. (My top 5 are Fury 325, SkyRush, Phoenix, Twisted Timbers, and Pantheon).

Is this a good addition to the lineup at Busch Gardens Williamsburg? – Without a doubt. It’s the best ride in the park (my opinion) and I believe it will only improve as the season moves on. And if you think I’m lying, these smiles say it all.

Photo Credit – Patrick Wagner of We Were Inverted.

The Terrific Twos – The Roller Coaster Countdown Continues

It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when I started counting down my top 10 steel and wooden coasters from those that I’ve ridden. I feel pretty safe in saying that there should be no more controversy with these final two countdown posts. Some may not agree with placement, but I don’t think anyone can deny that the 4 roller coasters we will talk about in the next two installments are all fantastic rides. Let’s get right into it.

Here’s last week’s post if you need a refresher. The Coaster Countdown – #3

#2 Wooden Coaster – Lightning Racer – Hersheypark – Hershey, PA

Thunder POV

Lightning POV

Why 2 POV videos? Well, that’s easy. Lightning Racer is a racing wooden coaster built by Great Coasters International. While the sides race, they each offer a different ride experience. Both sides provide exceptional rides though I am partial to the Lightning side.

Lightning Racer opened in 2000 and is located in the rear corner of the park kind of across the Boardwalk area from where Laff Trak and Wildcat are. Both sides of this coaster provide 3,393 feet of track, reach a height of 91.6 feet, drop 90 feet, reach a top speed of 51.1 miles per hour and pull a solid 3.5 gs.

Lightning Racer

This is the second racing/dueling coaster on my list, but this one is simply the best one that I’ve ever ridden. The dueling feature on LR is so good. You’re not always side by side, but you come back together at several points during the ride to give you a sense of which train is winning. There are moments where you are so close you feel as though you could high five the other train as you duel. Simply put, this is one of GCI’s finest coasters and is a can’t miss when you’re at Hersheypark.

#2 Steel Coaster – Intimidator 305 – Kings Dominion – Doswell, VA

I-305 POV

Gentlemen, start your engines! With those famous words, the Dale Earnheardt themed trains begin a very quick ascent up the cable lift of this Intamin giga-coaster. Speed and snappy transitions are the characteristics of this beast. I wish that I had ridden it before they re-profiled the first turn, but even with it as it currently stands, this ride is just plain relentless. I have greyed out every time on this ride as we start to pull out of that first turn. I don’t think I’ve experienced a ride that puts so much force on your body. It’s crazy, but in the best way possible. Skyrush, which I talked about last week, may feel more out of control, but I don’t think even it puts the strain on your body that I-305 does.

My Photo

I actually only have 2 complaints about this ride and they are very minor. The first is the restraints. Even though they are a soft over the shoulder restraints, I feel as though they are overkill. Go with just a lap bar on this ride and it would be absolutely nuts and much more comfortable. The other complaint is the lack of air time. The floater hill that you see in the picture above is really the only significant moment of airtime on this ride. Here’s the thing. This coaster isn’t about airtime. It’s about speed, speed, and more speed.

Here are the stats. Height – 305 feet. Drop – 300 feet (If this is a giga, so is Orion). Speed – 90 mph. G-forces – a WHOPPING 5.2 when it opened and now, after re-profiling the first turn, 4.5. Either way, those stats are unreal.

Just like every ride on this list, I-305 is a MUST DO if you are visiting Kings Dominion.

Check back next week for the #1 Wood and Steel Coasters on my lists as well as a comprehensive Top 10.

In the comments below, let me know your thoughts on these rides and your guesses as to what my #1 coasters are going to be.

Chris’ Coaster Countdown – Fabulous 5s

Welcome to this week’s installment of my coaster countdown. We’ve been counting down my top 10 wood and steel coasters for the past several weeks. If you’re new to the blog, you can check out the previous entries at the links below.

#10

#9

#8

#7

#6

This week’s entries have something in common….sort of. The wooden entry has been converted into an RMC Hybrid since I rode it way back in 1994 and the steel entry is an RMC conversion of what was a lifeless and boring wooden layout. Do you know what rides I’m talking about today?

#5 Wooden Coaster – Rattler (now defunct) – Fiesta Texas – San Antonio, Texas

Rattler POV

It’s been a long time since I rode this ride, but I remember it being absolutely bonkers. This wooden gem was built on the side of a canyon wall which only adds to the beauty of it. I remember when I first saw this ride it was so intimidating to look at. It was just an absolutely massive structure. As I watch the old POV of the ride, I don’t remember the midcourse slowing the train down that much, but It was 26 years ago, so my memory may be really bad.

Photo Credit: RCDB

Ratter operated in this from 1992 to 2012 and has since been converted into an RMC hybrid called Iron Rattler. I really need to get back to the park to ride that version. This ride featured some pretty impressive stats. It had a track length of just under a mile long (5,080 feet), a height of 179.4 feet, a 124-foot drop, and reached a top speed of 65 mph. This is also one of the more unique wooden layouts that I’ve ridden. It’s not really an out and back or a cyclone style ride. There were some features that were similar to both.  As mentioned earlier, the highlight of this ride was the way it interacted with the canyon wall.

#5 Steel Coaster – Twisted Timbers – Kings Dominion – Doswell, VA

Twisted Timbers POV

This is the only Rocky Mountain Construction Coaster on my list. It’s also the only RMC that I have ridden to date. That should change this year (Steel Vengeance and possibly Twisted Cyclone). RMC took the old, outdated, boring layout of Hurler and turned it into a masterpiece. While it’s not one of the bigger RMC coasters out there, don’t let its size fool you. It’s relentless.

If you’ve never ridden an RMC coaster, I don’t even know how to describe it. It looks like you’re riding a wooden coaster, but it’s smooth as glass and will do things that you can’t do on your typical woodie. Twisted Timbers gets started right out of the gate with a barrel roll into the first drop. You fly past the station over a little speed hill and directly into a wave turn that sends you into three consecutive camelback hills that provide so much air time it’s ridiculous.

Over the course of the ride, you will go through 3 inversions and reach a top speed of 54 mph. I can tell you from experience that it feels like you are going much faster than that. This ride rips through these elements like a hot knife through butter. Front row rides and back row rides are both amazing, but the back row feels much more out of control. This is a must ride if you are ever at Kings Dominion.

Spoiler Alert – there’s another KD roller coaster a little bit further up my list.

Did you get to experience Rattler before the RMC conversion? Have you had the chance to ride Twisted Timbers? What are your thoughts on these rides? Comment below!

Thrilling Thursday, February 20, 2020 – The Coaster Countdown Continues

Last week I began my top 10 coaster countdown by giving you my tenth-ranked wood and steel roller coasters as of the end of 2019. This week will be equally as straightforward as I will introduce you to the rides that sit in the ninth spot on those lists.  I’m thrilled to be able to use my own photos this time around and I’m just starting to mess around with photo editing so forgive my amateur skills with regard to that.

#9 Wooden Roller Coaster – Twister – Knoebels – Elysburg, PA

When coaster enthusiasts think of wooden coasters at Knoebels, they immediately think of Phoenix. (Spoiler alert – we will talk about Phoenix before this list ends.) Not many mention Twister.  Built in 1999 as an adaptation of the plans for Mr. Twister at Elitch Gardens, Twister is a very unique wooden coaster. It features a split lift hill, a drop of 89.6 feet as well as one of the most intense double helices you will find anywhere. The ride reaches a top speed of 51.5 mph. (stats courtesy of rcdb.com)

I think what makes this ride so much fun is how completely different it is from the park’s other woodie. Phoenix is all airtime, while Twister (as the name would imply), puts you through several forceful turns. The layout of this ride is so unique when compared to other wooden coasters. Take a ride on Twister.

#9 Steel Roller Coaster – Alpengeist – Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, VA

Ok, so I’m showing my home park some love here.  Home park or not, Alpengeist is a monster of a coaster. Despite being 23 years old this season, it is STILL the. tallest inverted coaster in the world with a height of 195 feet and a droop of 170 feet. I can’t help but wonder why they didn’t just go a little bit higher to make it not only the tallest invert but the only hyper-invert. (A hyper coaster has a drop of 200 feet or more.) Let’s talk about the details.

The ‘Alpengeist’ is a legendary snow beast that lives in the Alps. The name literally means ‘Ghost of the Alps’ in German. The area around the coaster is themed to an Alpine area and the station is meant to feel like a ski lift.

Reaching a top speed of 67 mph, Alpengeist will whip you through a total of 6 inversions during a ride that lasts just over 3 minutes. Ok, about a minute and a half of that is the climb up one of the loudest lift hills ever built. I do have a minor complaint about this ride and it is this complaint that keeps it from being my favorite invert. (Guess what my favorite is in the comment section.) With age, the ride has gotten a bit rough.  It hits the mid-course brake run so hard that you are slammed forward into the restraint. To the park’s credit, I noticed a significant improvement in the ride’s smoothness last year, but that brake run is still merciless. Even with that issue, this is definitely a world-class roller coaster that you should check out if you’re ever in the Williamsburg area. And hey, if you’re in the area, let me know. Who knows? We may see each other in the park and grab a ride together. Check out the on-ride POV.

Well, that’s enough all of this week’s coaster talk.  Have you ridden these rides?  What are your thoughts on them? Comment below and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog and follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg – March 31, 2019

Little late posting this, but here’s a little attempt at vlogging for a change.  My oldest daughter and I drove up to Busch Gardens after church on March 31 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Apollo’s Chariot.  Thanks to some cool and drizzly weather, we had an amazing day.  Check it out!

My Top Ten Steel Roller Coasters

I have begun to add a little bit more theme park related stuff to my blog, so it seemed only natural to at some point include my top 10 roller coaster lists.  I will post my favorite steel and wooden coasters and then I will finish the series up with a post of my top ten overall coasters.

For the sake of background, I have been riding coasters since I was 6 or 7 years old, but would probably only call myself an enthusiast for the last couple of years.  My coaster count is modest at 111 (112 for those that count Sea World’s Journey to Atlantis as a credit).  What I really love is that my oldest daughter is becoming a bit of an enthusiast as well.  In the few years that she’s been riding, we have her count up to 44 (45 with Journey to Atlantis).  Next year we will both add several credits as we make our first ever trip to Cedar Point and my first trip to Kings Island since 2000.  I’m certain that that trip will impact my list, but as we’ve reached the closing of 2018 and I know I won’t add any new credits in the next month, this seems like a great time to post my lists.

We’ll start with number 10.

The Incredible Hulk – Universal’s Islands of Adventure

I haven’t ridden this coaster since 2003.  That said, the initial uphill launch into the first inversion is something that you don’t quickly forget.

Photo Credit tripsavvy.com

Number 9

Alpengeist – Busch Gardens Williamsburg

This may be controversial for some enthusiasts as I rank this my second favorite inverted coaster.  While it hasn’t aged as well as others, this ride is absolutely relentless.  I love it.

My photo

Number 8

Twisted Timbers – Kings Dominion

This is the only RMC on my list probably because it’s the only one I’ve ridden.  Next year that should change.  RMC took a bad wooden coaster and turned it into a smooth as glass airtime machine.  I also really like the barrel roll drop on this ride.

My Photo

Number 7

Cheetah Hunt – Busch Gardens Tampa

One of three Intamin rides on my list.  This is a triple launch coaster that packs a great punch.  If I could change one thing about this ride, it would be the restraints.  I would love to see them go to the softer restraints like I-305 has.  It would make the ride much more comfortable.

My Photo

Number 6

Drachen Fire – Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Now Defunct)

Oh how I wish this ride was still in existence.  Easily the most unique layout that Arrow ever attempted.  It certainly had its flaws as it was notoriously rough. Despite the roughness, it was an absolutely incredible ride.  I’ll cause some controversy again and say that the layout of Drachen Fire was far superior to its ‘sister’ coaster, Kumba, at Busch Gardens Tampa.  I rode Kumba again this year and found it to be running incredibly rough.  I hope that I just got a bad ride on it, but that was my experience.

Photo from Pinterest

Number 5

Montu – Busch Gardens Tampa

This is my favorite invert.  Up until last week, I hadn’t ridden it since 2000 and consequently I would’ve ranked Alpengeist ahead of it.  It isn’t.  Montu has aged better, delivers a smoother ride, and uses the terrain even better than Alpie does.  It’s a great invert.

My Photo

Number 4

Mako – Sea World Orlando

B&M Hypers are great rides, however, most of them are incredibly similar.  Prior to riding Mako, Apollo’s Chariot was my favorite of these coasters.  Mako is just an amazing ride.  The banking on a couple of the turns is crazy and there are some airtime hills where you float out of your seat and stay there for what seems like forever.

Photo Credit alcapones.com

Number 3

Skyrush – Hersheypark

You either love this ride or you hate it.  I love it.  It delivers one of the most out of control ride experiences out there, especially if you’re on the wing seat.  The restraints are the issue as they get tighter and tighter on your thighs as the ride goes on.  This has earned it the nickname ThighCrush. All that aside, this is just a crazy ride.

My Photo

Number 2

Intimidator 305 – Kings Dominion

This is the first giga-coaster I ever rode and boy does it pack a punch.  This is also the only coaster that I have ever greyed out on.  Intamin knocked it out of the park when they built this machine.  I wish it delivered some more air time, but this ride is about speed and fast turns.

My Photo

Number 1

Fury 325 – Carowinds

What a ride.  This may be B&M’s perfect ride.  It’s smooth as glass and delivers airtime in bunches.  Aside from the 325 foot, 95mph drop, my favorite moment on this ride is the treble clef turnaround.  The element looks great and is a nice change of pace from the typical B&M turnaround.

My Photo

Well, that’s my top 10 steel coaster list.  What are your thoughts?  What does your list look like?  Do you have any strong disagreements with my list?  Leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow The Journey of Ascent on FB and Twitter.