Loch Ness Monster (roller coaster)

Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened in 1975 with one roller coaster, Glissade. In 1976, with the opening of the Oktoberfest portion of the park, two new rollercoasters were added; Das Kätzchen (German for "The Kitten"), a children's coaster, and its adult counterpart, Die Wildkatze.[5] However, neither Glissade nor Die Wildkatze were considered major roller coasters. Then general manager John B. Roberts announced the plans to build an ambitious, major roller coaster for the park for the 1978 season. In his 1978 press release, Roberts boasted highly of the record breaking ride, stating "There has never been anything like it. For openers, it's the tallest and fastest coaster-style ride with the steepest drop in the world... and the only one with interlocking loops. On top of that, part of it's in total darkness."[6]

On July 27, 1977, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that Loch Ness Monster would be coming in 1978. It would be located in the center of the park in the Scotland themed area. Loch Ness Monster was going to be the first major roller coaster at the park, as well as the park's first roller coaster with inversions.[7] During construction, a section of track leading from the bottom of the second loop to the brake run before the station was incorrectly formed, bending left, instead of right. Workers heated the track to physically bend it to the correct position, resulting in a sharp bump, which remains noticeable to riders.[3]

The ride was originally designed with four trains with six cars per train. Designers realized that 4 train operations would often result in backups throughout the ride experience and revised the layout to three trains with seven cars per train. [3] In 2016, the roller coaster opened with 2 train operations, where previously it ran a maximum of 3 trains on the busiest days of the season. This change was a result of several factors, and coincided with similar changes in the operation of other roller coasters in the park, including Alpengeist and Verbolten.

The ride officially opened on June 6, 1978 and due to its popularity and historical significance—as the first coaster with interlocking loops, the tallest and fastest coaster at the time of its construction—the American Coaster Enthusiasts designated the Loch Ness Monster an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark on June 17, 2003.[4]

For decades of its operation, the ride experience included two trains passing through the intersecting loops simultaneously, though this is no longer the case. The ride, upon opening, ran with four trains. Soon after, it was decided that it ran best with three trains. At a point in the 2014 season, the park decided again to change the number of trains from three to two. As a result, the ride no longer "duels" in the loops. The ride still has the ability; however, it is unlikely as the second train must be dispatched as soon as the first train leaves the first lift hill. With two trains, this would cause a period of time with no train in the station. [3]

For the 15th anniversary of the ride's opening, the parachuting Elvis impersonators known as the "flying Elvi" parachuted into Busch Gardens, subsequently riding the Loch Ness Monster in full costume.[8]

For the 40th anniversary of the roller coaster's opening, new trains were installed from S&S Worldwide.

Guests enter the Loch Ness Expedition crew member area, where they see some submarines and diving suits. On the way, there are some loch lure barrels and a swimming tank. Guests see the Press Tent, where the crew assignments show which team has their work experience. The Communication Center can be seen in the line with the warning sign saying "Upon A Sighting Of Nessie." There will be some Red Crew props, such as boxes. Several props are found in the tent, including beds, a dining table, clothes, Dutch ovens and cooking materials. Then, guests head into the station, where they board the train.[9]

The ride begins by departing the station as the train makes a slight left turn. After a right turn, it starts climbing a 130-foot (40 m) chain lift hill with a small, tight turn (with views of Griffon's lift hill and first drop) before descending 114 feet (35 m) toward the park's Rhine River. A large upward hill crosses over the park's 'Land of the Dragons'. After a left turn, the train enters an 82-foot (25 m) vertical loop, which is the first of two interlocking loops.[10] This loop is followed by a right turn that leads into the mid-course brake run, followed by a descending, spiraling tunnel. The train descends 2.75 spiraling revolutions in the tunnel. By the time the train exits the tunnel, it climbs a second chain lift hill. The train turns right before dropping into a 57-foot (17 m) vertical loop, which is the second of the two interlocking loops.[10] After making a right turn, the train stops at the final brake run and returns to the station.[11]

For years, there were special effects in the tunnel section of the ride, including lights, mist, and a mural of the Loch Ness Monster. These effects have not operated for years, and the mural has since been removed from the tunnel wall. In 2018 Busch Gardens restored the effects except for the mist and mural.