TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has revealed its big plans for 2024, which include a new roller coaster, a revamped animal exhibit and a new ice show.
What You Need To Know
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has revealed new additions coming to the park next year
- The park shared a new rendering of the upcoming Phoenix Rising roller coaster
- The kangaroo exhibit will be updated, a new ice show is in the works and a new play area is coming to Adventure island
- RELATED: Busch Gardens' newest coaster Phoenix Rising to feature onboard audio
The park on Thursday shared an early look at the new offerings it’s adding next year.
Phoenix Rising, the previously announced suspended family thrill coaster opening in the spring, is the park’s biggest project for the Pantopia area. A new rendering released during a presentation at the park shows the coaster’s layout.
“This new attraction is going to give you a good look at the Serengeti Plains,” said Erik Elliott, vice president of engineering & general services. “It’s going to give you great visuals of the Pantopia area. It’s just going to be exciting for everyone.
The coaster will reach a top speed of 44 mph as riders travel across more than 1,800 feet of track. It will be the park’s 10th coaster and the first to feature onboard audio.
Busch Gardens is also planning to revamp Kangaloom, its interactive kangaroo and wallaby experience. The exhibit will be updated with a “lush, green environment,” Elliott said.
The outside of the exhibit will also be updated with new facades and signs, new concept art revealed.
Next year will also bring new entertainment offerings to the park. A new ice skating show is in the works. Although not many details were shared, the show is slated to debut in the summer.
Phoenix Rising won’t be the only new addition to the Pantopia area. A new show called “Animal Tales” is will be offered at the Pantopia Theater—although it’s debuting this month not next year.
The show, which park leaders said will evolve over the course of its run, will feature rescued animals in Busch Gardens’ care. Visitors will learn about each animal’s “tale” and what part they play in the environment.
Adventure Island, Busch Gardens’ water park, is also getting something new next year. The park will open a new family play area called Castaway Falls.
The area will feature more than 100 water elements, multiple slides and three large water dump buckets.
Thursday’s reveals come as Busch Gardens gets ready for its popular holiday event, Christmas Town, which will run Nov. 11 to Jan. 7.