Busch Gardens Tampa to Unveil Gwazi to the Media

Tampa, FL -- Busch Gardens Tampa officials today will officially unveil their newest attraction, Gwazi, to members of the media and the Florida Coaster Club.

The new $10 million attraction is a brand-new dual track dueling wooden coaster. The ride was custom designed for Busch Gardens by Great Coasters International, Inc.

The new coaster will feature two separate tracks that will pass over each other six times while the trains travel at speeds of 50 mph. Each pass over will create a dueling effect with each train coming towards each other. The dueling effect will appear to the riders that the opposite train is traveling towards them at 100 mph.

According to the park, Gwazi will be the largest coaster in the southeast part of the US and largest attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa.

Last week a few lucky coaster enthusiasts got the opportunity to take several rides on the new wooden coaster, during a commercial shoot for the attraction.

Reports from the early riders have been really positive. One rider described the coaster as smooth, while another remarked about the amount of airtime experienced on the coaster.

Tommorrow, the park will offer rides during an event called "First to Ride Gwazi" to season passholders who purchased tickets. Gwazi will officially open to the public on Friday.