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DarKoaster
Steel Launched at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia. Opened 2023.
- Height
- n/a
- Drop
- n/a
- Top speed
- 36 mph
- Length
- 2,454 ft
- Inversions
- 0
- Ride time
- n/a
- Designer
- Intamin
DarKoaster is an indoor family launch coaster in the Oktoberfest area of Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. Built by Intamin, it opened on May 19, 2023, and the park calls it North America's first all-indoor straddle coaster: riders sit astride snowmobile-style vehicles.
The ride occupies the building of the former dark ride The Curse of DarKastle, which closed in 2017. Its story sends explorers to King Ludwig's abandoned fortress as a supernatural storm closes in. The park gives 2,454 feet of track and four launches through total darkness; RCDB lists a top speed of 36 mph and no inversions. Each train has five cars that seat two riders side by side.
Riders must be between 48 inches and 6 feet 5 inches tall.
Sources
- buschgardens.com/williamsburg/roller-coasters/darkoaster (Park page: North America's first all-indoor straddle coaster; snowmobiles; 2,454 feet of track; four launches; Oktoberfest; height 48 inches to 6 ft 5 in.)
- rcdb.com/7706.htm (Intamin family launch coaster (indoor, straddled seating), operating since May 19, 2023; length 1,384.5 ft, speed 36 mph, 0 inversions; 5 two-seat cars per train; in the former Curse of DarKastle building; four launches.)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busch_Gardens_Williamsburg (Curse of DarKastle dark ride operated 2005 to September 4, 2017; DarKoaster opened May 19, 2023 in its building.)
Numbers are from the ride's manufacturer and park where published; "n/a" means we have not confirmed that number yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.