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Griffon (roller coaster)

December 14, 2023

Griffon is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park in James City County, Virginia, United States. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Dive Coaster model opened to the public on May 18, 2007. It climbs to a height of 205 feet (62 m) and reaches a maximum speed of 71 mph (114 km/h). The roller coaster features two Immelmann loops, a splashdown, two vertical drops, and was the first B&M Dive Coaster to use floorless trains. Griffon was well-received by media and enthusiasts, and it placed third in 2007 in the category of Best New Ride polled by Amusement Today for their annual Golden Ticket Awards. Since its debut, it has also consistently ranked in the top 50 among steel roller coasters worldwide in the same annual publication, peaking at a rank of 19 in 2010.

Griffon
Griffon's lift hill and vertical drop
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
LocationBusch Gardens Williamsburg
Park sectionAquitaine (France)
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 18, 2007 (2007-05-18)
Cost$15.6 million
ReplacedLeMans Raceway
General statistics
TypeSteel – Dive Coaster
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelDive Coaster
Track layoutTwister
Lift/launch systemChain lift
Height205 ft (62 m)
Length3,108 ft (947 m)
Speed71 mph (114 km/h)
Inversions2
Duration3:00
Max vertical angle90°
Capacity1400 riders per hour
G-force4
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains3 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 10 across in a single row for a total of 30 riders per train.
Quick Queue available
Single rider line not available
Griffon at RCDB
Video

History edit

On June 30, 2006, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that LeMans Raceway would be closing to the public on July 5, 2006 in order to make room for the next year's new attraction.[1][2] Construction for Griffon began the next day with the demolition of the raceway.[2][3] A trademark for the name "Griffon" was filed by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment on July 12, 2006.[4] The roller coaster was announced to the public on August 23, 2006.[3] On December 11, 2006, two cranes installed the highest piece of Griffon with an evergreen tree.[5] The vertical drop and Immelmann loop were completed in January 2007 and the final piece of track was installed in late February.[6] After testing was complete, the roller coaster opened on May 18, 2007; one week earlier than its original scheduled opening date.[6][7]

When Griffon opened it 2007, it held the records for the tallest and fastest Dive Coaster in the world, both of which were previously held by SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.[8][9] Griffon was also the first Dive Coaster to feature floorless trains.[3][10] When Happy Valley Shanghai opened Diving Coaster in 2009, it took the drop length record at 213.3 feet (65.0 m).[11]

Ride experience edit

 
One of Griffon's trains passing through the splashdown element

After the floors drop and the front gate opens, the train is dispatched from the station and makes a downward right turn immediately followed by an upward right turn which leads directly to the 47-degree inclined chain lift hill.[12] Once the train reaches the top of the 205-foot (62 m) lift, it makes a right turn into a holding brake where the train slowly moves over the first drop, stops for five seconds, and then is released down the 90 degree drop. By the time the train makes it to the bottom of the drop, it reaches its maximum speed of 71 miles per hour (114 km/h). Then, the train enters a 146-foot (44 m) Immelmann loop before dropping back to the ground and making a banked upward left turn into the mid course brake run. After the train slows down, it enters a second 130-foot (40 m) near 90 degree drop into another Immelmann loop. Following a small airtime hill, the train goes through a splashdown which sprays two 50-foot (15 m) lines of water in the air.[13] Finally, the train makes a banked turn to the left leading into the final brake run.[14] One cycle of the ride lasts three minutes.[15]

Characteristics edit

Track edit

The steel track of Griffon is 3,108 feet (947 m) long and the lift is approximately 205 feet (62 m) high.[15] The ride is equipped with an elevator that can return riders to ground level if a train must be evacuated while on the lift hill.[12][16] The supports are light blue while the track is a darker blue.[17] The track was fabricated by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio, which manufactures Bolliger & Mabillard's roller coasters.[18][19]

Trains edit

Griffon operates with three steel and fiberglass trains, colored red, yellow, and black.[7][17] Each train has three rows that seat ten riders across for a total of 30 riders per train; each seat has its own individual over-the-shoulder restraint with a seatbelt.[7][15][17] This configuration allows the ride to achieve a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,400 riders per hour.[15] Unlike traditional roller coasters, Griffon's trains are floorless, allowing the riders' legs to dangle throughout the ride. Riders also experience up to 4 times the force of gravity.[15]

Reception edit

Preston Wong from Hampton Roads said, "[The floorless trains] giv[e] riders a sense of vulnerability and, for those in the front row, an idea of what it must feel like to fly" and that enthusiasts would like the ride.[20] Nicole Paitsel, Lisa Deaderick, and Joe Atkinson from Daily Press each rated the roller coaster for its vomiting and scream factors. Nicole and Lisa rated the vomiting factor a one (out of five) for the roller coaster's smoothness; Joe gave a four as he began feeling ill after his second ride. For the scream factor Nicole gave a five, Lisa gave a ten, and Joe gave a four.[21] Mike from NewsPlusNotes praised the first drop for its freefall experience.[22]

In Griffon's opening year, it was voted the third best new ride for 2007 and the 27th best steel roller coaster in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.[23] The roller coaster peaked at position 19 in 2010 when it tied with SheiKra, another Dive Coaster.[24]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018
Ranking 27[23] 20[25] 26[26] 19[24] 20[27] 26[28] 33[29] 33[30] 33[31] 48[32] 43[33]

Griffon has also made several television appearances. It was featured on Discovery Channel's television series Build It Bigger[34] and Travel Channel's television series' Bert the Conqueror and Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination.[35][36]

Incidents edit

Main article: Incidents at SeaWorld parks

On August 5, 2010, five riders who sustained minor injuries were sent to a hospital after being hit with a 25-foot (7.6 m) balloon while riding the roller coaster. The balloon was in the process of being deflated when it broke free and was carried into Griffon's path due to strong winds.[37]

On June 29, 2021, one of Griffon's trains carrying 28 riders stopped midride near the ground. All passengers were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.[38]

References edit

  1. ^ Gieszl, Eric (June 30, 2006). "Busch Gardens To Close Le Mans Raceway July 5". UltimateRollercoaster.com. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Vowell, Roberta (July 5, 2006). . Pilot Online/Hampton Roads. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Busch Gardens Europe Goes Over the Edge with "Griffon"". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. ^ "Griffon". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. ^ Marden, Duane. "It's all downhill from here, literally". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  6. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Busch Gardens Europe's Dive Coaster Reaches New Milestone". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  7. ^ a b c Zielinski, Danielle (March 21, 2007). . Daily Press. Virginia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  8. ^ Marden, Duane. "Bolliger & Mabillard Coaster's By Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  9. ^ Marden, Duane. "Bolliger & Mabillard Coaster's By Height". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  10. ^ Marden, Duane. "Dive Coasters By Bolliger & Mabillard". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  11. ^ Marden, Duane. "Diving Coaster  (Happy Valley Shanghai)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  12. ^ a b Vogel, Scott (July 22, 2009). "A Coaster Tour That's a Real Scream". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  13. ^ "Images: Start-to-finish". Daily Press. Virginia. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  14. ^ "Griffon Front Row Seat on-ride HD POV Busch Gardens Williamsburg". YouTube. January 2, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Griffon  (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  16. ^ Albright, Mark (August 14, 2005). . Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  17. ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Griffon Photos  (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  18. ^ Scott & Carol (December 11, 2008). . NewsPlusNotes. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  19. ^ "Typical Clermont Steel Fabricators". Clermont Steel Fabricators. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  20. ^ Wong, Preston (May 20, 2007). "757: Griffon is a short ride, but a pure adrenaline rush". Hampton Roads. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  21. ^ Paitsel, Nicole (May 27, 2013). "90 seconds of fear & fun". Daily Press. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  22. ^ "A Whirlwind Trip to 'The Gardens' Part 1". NewsPlusNotes. August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  23. ^ a b c (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  24. ^ a b (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  25. ^ (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  26. ^ (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  27. ^ (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  28. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012.
  29. ^ (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  30. ^ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014.
  31. ^ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015.
  32. ^ "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017.
  33. ^ "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018.
  34. ^ . Sam Purse/YouTube. April 25, 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  35. ^ . Travel Channel. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  36. ^ "Insane Coaster Wars: World Domination Pictures". Travel Channel. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  37. ^ . WTKR. August 6, 2010. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  38. ^ Beaman, Jeremy (June 30, 2021). "28 people rescued after being stuck on stopped roller coaster". Washington Examiner. from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Griffon (Busch Gardens Williamsburg).

December 14, 2023
griffon, roller, coaster, griffon, steel, roller, coaster, located, busch, gardens, williamsburg, amusement, park, james, city, county, virginia, united, states, designed, bolliger, mabillard, dive, coaster, model, opened, public, 2007, climbs, height, feet, r. Griffon is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park in James City County Virginia United States Designed by Bolliger amp Mabillard B amp M the Dive Coaster model opened to the public on May 18 2007 It climbs to a height of 205 feet 62 m and reaches a maximum speed of 71 mph 114 km h The roller coaster features two Immelmann loops a splashdown two vertical drops and was the first B amp M Dive Coaster to use floorless trains Griffon was well received by media and enthusiasts and it placed third in 2007 in the category of Best New Ride polled by Amusement Today for their annual Golden Ticket Awards Since its debut it has also consistently ranked in the top 50 among steel roller coasters worldwide in the same annual publication peaking at a rank of 19 in 2010 GriffonGriffon s lift hill and vertical dropBusch Gardens WilliamsburgLocationBusch Gardens WilliamsburgPark sectionAquitaine France StatusOperatingOpening dateMay 18 2007 2007 05 18 Cost 15 6 millionReplacedLeMans RacewayGeneral statisticsTypeSteel Dive CoasterManufacturerBolliger amp MabillardModelDive CoasterTrack layoutTwisterLift launch systemChain liftHeight205 ft 62 m Length3 108 ft 947 m Speed71 mph 114 km h Inversions2Duration3 00Max vertical angle90 Capacity1400 riders per hourG force4Height restriction54 in 137 cm Trains3 trains with 3 cars Riders are arranged 10 across in a single row for a total of 30 riders per train Quick Queue availableSingle rider line not availableGriffon at RCDBVideo source source source source source source source source Contents 1 History 2 Ride experience 3 Characteristics 3 1 Track 3 2 Trains 4 Reception 5 Incidents 6 References 7 External linksHistory editOn June 30 2006 Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that LeMans Raceway would be closing to the public on July 5 2006 in order to make room for the next year s new attraction 1 2 Construction for Griffon began the next day with the demolition of the raceway 2 3 A trademark for the name Griffon was filed by SeaWorld Parks amp Entertainment on July 12 2006 4 The roller coaster was announced to the public on August 23 2006 3 On December 11 2006 two cranes installed the highest piece of Griffon with an evergreen tree 5 The vertical drop and Immelmann loop were completed in January 2007 and the final piece of track was installed in late February 6 After testing was complete the roller coaster opened on May 18 2007 one week earlier than its original scheduled opening date 6 7 When Griffon opened it 2007 it held the records for the tallest and fastest Dive Coaster in the world both of which were previously held by SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 8 9 Griffon was also the first Dive Coaster to feature floorless trains 3 10 When Happy Valley Shanghai opened Diving Coaster in 2009 it took the drop length record at 213 3 feet 65 0 m 11 Ride experience edit nbsp One of Griffon s trains passing through the splashdown elementAfter the floors drop and the front gate opens the train is dispatched from the station and makes a downward right turn immediately followed by an upward right turn which leads directly to the 47 degree inclined chain lift hill 12 Once the train reaches the top of the 205 foot 62 m lift it makes a right turn into a holding brake where the train slowly moves over the first drop stops for five seconds and then is released down the 90 degree drop By the time the train makes it to the bottom of the drop it reaches its maximum speed of 71 miles per hour 114 km h Then the train enters a 146 foot 44 m Immelmann loop before dropping back to the ground and making a banked upward left turn into the mid course brake run After the train slows down it enters a second 130 foot 40 m near 90 degree drop into another Immelmann loop Following a small airtime hill the train goes through a splashdown which sprays two 50 foot 15 m lines of water in the air 13 Finally the train makes a banked turn to the left leading into the final brake run 14 One cycle of the ride lasts three minutes 15 Characteristics editTrack edit The steel track of Griffon is 3 108 feet 947 m long and the lift is approximately 205 feet 62 m high 15 The ride is equipped with an elevator that can return riders to ground level if a train must be evacuated while on the lift hill 12 16 The supports are light blue while the track is a darker blue 17 The track was fabricated by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia Ohio which manufactures Bolliger amp Mabillard s roller coasters 18 19 Trains edit Griffon operates with three steel and fiberglass trains colored red yellow and black 7 17 Each train has three rows that seat ten riders across for a total of 30 riders per train each seat has its own individual over the shoulder restraint with a seatbelt 7 15 17 This configuration allows the ride to achieve a theoretical hourly capacity of 1 400 riders per hour 15 Unlike traditional roller coasters Griffon s trains are floorless allowing the riders legs to dangle throughout the ride Riders also experience up to 4 times the force of gravity 15 Reception editPreston Wong from Hampton Roads said The floorless trains giv e riders a sense of vulnerability and for those in the front row an idea of what it must feel like to fly and that enthusiasts would like the ride 20 Nicole Paitsel Lisa Deaderick and Joe Atkinson from Daily Press each rated the roller coaster for its vomiting and scream factors Nicole and Lisa rated the vomiting factor a one out of five for the roller coaster s smoothness Joe gave a four as he began feeling ill after his second ride For the scream factor Nicole gave a five Lisa gave a ten and Joe gave a four 21 Mike from NewsPlusNotes praised the first drop for its freefall experience 22 In Griffon s opening year it was voted the third best new ride for 2007 and the 27th best steel roller coaster in Amusement Today s Golden Ticket Awards 23 The roller coaster peaked at position 19 in 2010 when it tied with SheiKra another Dive Coaster 24 Golden Ticket Awards Best New Ride for 2007Ranking 3 23 Golden Ticket Awards Top steel Roller Coasters Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018Ranking 27 23 20 25 26 26 19 24 20 27 26 28 33 29 33 30 33 31 48 32 43 33 Griffon has also made several television appearances It was featured on Discovery Channel s television series Build It Bigger 34 and Travel Channel s television series Bert the Conqueror and Insane Coaster Wars World Domination 35 36 Incidents editMain article Incidents at SeaWorld parks On August 5 2010 five riders who sustained minor injuries were sent to a hospital after being hit with a 25 foot 7 6 m balloon while riding the roller coaster The balloon was in the process of being deflated when it broke free and was carried into Griffon s path due to strong winds 37 On June 29 2021 one of Griffon s trains carrying 28 riders stopped midride near the ground All passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported 38 References edit Gieszl Eric June 30 2006 Busch Gardens To Close Le Mans Raceway July 5 UltimateRollercoaster com Retrieved August 6 2013 a b Vowell Roberta July 5 2006 Cars take their last lap at Busch Gardens Le Mans Raceway Pilot Online Hampton Roads Archived from the original on August 6 2013 Retrieved August 6 2013 a b c Marden Duane Busch Gardens Europe Goes Over the Edge with Griffon Roller Coaster DataBase Griffon United States Patent and Trademark Office Retrieved August 2 2013 Marden Duane It s all downhill from here literally Roller Coaster DataBase a b Marden Duane Busch Gardens Europe s Dive Coaster Reaches New Milestone Roller Coaster DataBase a b c Zielinski Danielle March 21 2007 Coaster opens May 25 Daily Press Virginia Archived from the original on August 10 2011 Retrieved August 6 2013 Marden Duane Bolliger amp Mabillard Coaster s By Speed Roller Coaster DataBase Marden Duane Bolliger amp Mabillard Coaster s By Height Roller Coaster DataBase Marden Duane Dive Coasters By Bolliger amp Mabillard Roller Coaster DataBase Marden Duane Diving Coaster Happy Valley Shanghai Roller Coaster DataBase a b Vogel Scott July 22 2009 A Coaster Tour That s a Real Scream Washington Post Archived from the original on August 6 2013 Retrieved July 26 2013 Images Start to finish Daily Press Virginia Retrieved July 26 2013 Griffon Front Row Seat on ride HD POV Busch Gardens Williamsburg YouTube January 2 2011 Archived from the original on 2021 12 19 Retrieved February 18 2013 a b c d e Marden Duane Griffon Busch Gardens Williamsburg Roller Coaster DataBase Albright Mark August 14 2005 King of the thill Tampa Bay Times Archived from the original on May 16 2006 Retrieved February 9 2013 a b c Marden Duane Griffon Photos Busch Gardens Williamsburg Roller Coaster DataBase Scott amp Carol December 11 2008 Scott amp Carol Present Getting On Track With B amp M NewsPlusNotes Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved July 23 2013 Typical Clermont Steel Fabricators Clermont Steel Fabricators Retrieved January 31 2013 Wong Preston May 20 2007 757 Griffon is a short ride but a pure adrenaline rush Hampton Roads Retrieved August 6 2013 Paitsel Nicole May 27 2013 90 seconds of fear amp fun Daily Press Retrieved August 6 2013 A Whirlwind Trip to The Gardens Part 1 NewsPlusNotes August 7 2009 Retrieved August 6 2013 a b c Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 11 6 2 36 37 September 2007 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 a b Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 14 6 2 34 35 September 2010 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 12 6 2 36 37 September 2008 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 13 6 2 32 33 September 2009 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 15 6 2 38 39 September 2011 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 16 6 2 36 37 September 2012 2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 17 6 2 34 35 September 2013 Archived from the original PDF on October 19 2013 2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 18 6 2 46 47 September 2014 2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters PDF Amusement Today 19 6 2 49 50 September 2015 2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters Golden Ticket Awards Amusement Today September 2017 2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters Golden Ticket Awards Amusement Today September 2018 Build It Bigger Coaster Build Off Part 1 Sam Purse YouTube April 25 2009 Archived from the original on 2013 09 21 Retrieved August 6 2013 Bert The Conqueror Series 2 Travel Channel Archived from the original on June 1 2013 Retrieved August 6 2013 Insane Coaster Wars World Domination Pictures Travel Channel Retrieved August 6 2013 Griffon riders injured at Busch Gardens during Thursday s storm WTKR August 6 2010 Archived from the original on March 8 2012 Retrieved August 6 2013 Beaman Jeremy June 30 2021 28 people rescued after being stuck on stopped roller coaster Washington Examiner Archived from the original on July 1 2021 Retrieved July 1 2021 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Griffon Busch Gardens Williamsburg Griffon s Official Page Archived 2013 08 07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Griffon roller coaster amp oldid 1163025104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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