Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park is getting rid of its longtime roller coaster known as SandSerpent. The final day for riders will be July 9.
The attraction, a Wild Mouse-style coaster, has operated in Tampa for 19 years. It is “being permanently retired to make way for an exciting new addition,” a news release from the theme park says. It does not get more specific.
The ride first operated at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia from 1996 to 2003 under the names of the Izzy and the Wilde Maus. The company moved it to Tampa, where it started operating in 2004 as Cheetah Chase, replacing Crazy Camel, a flat ride.
It had another name change in 2011, becoming SandSerpent, a move to lessen confusion with another coaster introduced as Cheetah Hunt.
The ride, located in the Pantopia section of the park. is considered family-friendly, topping out at 28 mph. It is about 46 feet tall. Each car seats four passengers, and the coaster has a 46-inch height requirement for riders.
The removal of SandSerpent will knock Busch Gardens, owned by Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, down to nine coasters. Last year, it introduced the high-speed Iron Gwazi.
Other coasters at the park, alongside Cheetah Hunt and Iron Gwazi, include Kumba, Montu, SheiKra, Cobra’s Curse, Tigris, Scorpion and Air Grover.
Busch Gardens annual passholders will receive early morning access to SandSerpent from June 30 through July 4, the park says.
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