The Rise and Fall of Busch Gardens Tampa (Part 2) | A Complete History

Busch Gardens Tampa is one of the most unique theme parks in the world with its African setting, excellent animal exhibits and a world class coaster line-up. However, the park is not at all what it used to be and so I was interested in doing a deep dive into its history, covering its rise and eventual fall into the state it is today. This is part 2 of the series
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[@garrettreganhobbs6949]

One thing that everybody tends to forget about Akbar's Adventure Tours is that, when you leave the building, they had a TV set up showing bloopers. It showed Martin Short and Eugene Levy actually cracking each other up and proved that they filmed they're parts together.

[@SegwayBossk]

I forgot about Akbar's Adventures! I loved that

[@LordofLiquorice]

It was great. This guy had an issue with the actors being Canadian and not Egyptian. What a weirdo? Name that funny English speaking Egyptian that you'd rather have please

[@plusah1268]

​@@LordofLiquorice you don't know any Egyptians and you say this lol

[@trientertainment7628]

Hour long Poseidon videos never disappoint!

[@sidneywren5315]

Aw, man this was such a nostalgic watch. I've lived in Tampa for most of my life with regular trips to Busch Gardens well into adulthood, even working there and at their sister water park Adventure Island during summers when I was in college. I had forgotten about so many of these rides you covered until now. Such a thoughtful and well researched deep dive into a place that will always have a special place in my heart.

[@SRQmoviemaker]

Same, I started going in 94 or 95, many times a year since I lived so close, moved south of skyway when I was 13 and only went 2 times a year if lucky after that. But when I went to USF and decided to live in Tampa I worked at BG for a year or so. I went to adventure island so many times in college lol great spot for "people watching"

[@3mbracetheSh4dow]

Same bro worked at adventure islands too crazy to watch this video documenting it like its history

[@zoso279]

Always fun to see comments from theme park employees in these type of videos. Get a unique perspective on these rides compared to us guests and all of you helping with the magic of theme parks and bring joy to thousands.

[@willmc42]

I worked for brewery, the catering company, and in the parks as well. Began in 1988 when many of the 'new' exhibits were fresh and possibilities seemed endless. Loved Adventure Island and had lots of employees only events there, working catering for other companies there and at Sea world. I lived directly across the street behind the Putt Putt Golf course/ PizzHut on 40th & Busch Blvd. Good times 😊

[@thecasualatvguy617]

Damn adventure island. I remember going there in 1989 or 90. Lol. I think they had just the 2 coasters then which were fun on 1989. I lived in key west from 88 to 91. The navy sent my dad to Orlando every summer and we got to tag along and do Disney, Universal, then Tampa. We had season passes in Williamsburg until we moved to FL.

[@DreadedWhiteKong]

This was a sad watch because I went there a few weeks ago and I felt the exact same way about it. The park just seems to be deteriorating. I’m happy that I grew up with this park in the 90s and early 2000s which I would argue was their most successful times of expansion. The park just isn’t the same anymore. I hope they can turn it around. Great video, as always.

[@WarGuy19]

Agreed

[@Gibbypastrami]

I worked there too, termites flying everywhere at night in the spring and no talks of how to solve the issue because it was so widespread when I was there

[@MrMac1138]

Scorpion is an underappreciated gem. Compact and fun. Would love to see something similar from a modern manufacturer elsewhere.

[@SolarMoth]

It was the first coaster with loops that I ever went on! Broke the seal for me to try Montu.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree, Schwarzkopf coasters hold up really well (at least the ones I've been on) and would make for great compact additions if someone wanted to tackle those track designs.

[@ACE37man]

First real coaster for me, not counting water coasters. Re rode a couple of months ago and it feels like a spine disintegrator now.

[@bruns-o-tron]

As with @PoseidonEntertainment, Scorpion was my first inverted ride experience, and I agree it's a great coaster.

[@cc_snipergirl]

It was also my first loop. I think it was probably a lot of people's first because it's basically a kiddie coaster with a loop, perfect for testing the waters and plenty of fun.

[@Rolo555]

The problem is that Busch Gardens has nothing to do if it rains. No dark rides and also the food there is horrible (I do like the pretzels they serve however). I think they could also use a on site hotel resort which will add value to the park.

[@LakeHowellDigitalVideo]

They desperately need a dark ride. I always thought the food at the Smokehouse near Sheikra was pretty good, though.

[@baconmantube]

this is a lot of heavy investment for a company who are happy to run skeleton crew on all rides, which is, historically, when accidents happen. They don't want to put more money in for later, they want money out, NOW. and they'll bankrupt the park to do it.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

If they worked on really bettering this park, I think a resort would be perfect too. Their old plans seemed interesting and would make sense if the park was still drawing people in.

[@cc_snipergirl]

To be fair, all theme park food used to be like that. Just a step up from the carnival's, on par with a movie theater's. I went to Disney earlier this year and was stunned that they had so much real food in their parks, and such a variety of it.

[@cjones3710]

When is Busch s food horrid.? Swiss house, festhaus. Not true at least not pre 19!

[@Skylerstories]

As someone who worked for the company many years and was in management! Thank you, I watched my home fall apart over the years without me being able to do anything because nobody said anything, thank you for speaking the truth and if you have any questions I have answers! 👍🏻

[@whydidntigetanysoup]

As a person who grew up going to Busch Gardens and even had an annual pass for a while, this video (even more so than part 1) made me so sad. In fact, I was feeling the nostalgia and wound up going in February of last year, and everything you’ve said rings so true. If someone who knew anything about theme parks and the theme park going community were at the helm of the parks division, I think they could really do something. But what I’m seeing is that the only real audience it’s attracting is young (see: high schoolers) folks with not much money to spend because of the emphasis on coasters (which I do love, but even those are…in need of some TLC). Anyway, thank you for archiving this historic park. Oh didn’t know so much of that because it was before my time so not only was it fascinating, it also just hurt my heart to know what it could be now.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

The biggest disappointment with Busch is that it would be so easy to fix. Pay the operators and train them better, get better food options, invest in more family rides and shows alongside the coasters, etc. It's a fantastic and well themed park but just run poorly.

[@whydidntigetanysoup]

@@PoseidonEntertainment 10,000% that. Like…that’s exactly what I would recommend.

[@Captain_E0]

This is a great video. As someone who has grown up going to Busch Gardens, it hits all the nostalgic spots in all the right ways. It's refreshing to see such in depth content for this park as Disney and Universal always get the spotlight. The ending was quite sad though because I've also seen a rapid decline as well and have worked for this park during this and am now at SeaWorld and watching the same happen there. I know these Parks could really be amazing and I hope to see them make some radical changes to reverse their current course. I'd love to see something like this for SeaWorld Orlando because I do think there is a lot to talk about there and a lot of history that can be covered.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I agree that SeaWorld would be interesting, though it seems much less documented and more difficult to research. Even looking at the park in Jaws 3, it seems unrecognizable from what it is today.

[@WulliameJukerbage]

Yeah

[@phillips2683]

Ditto, great video. I remember Bush Gardens from 1972 when I visited my Aunt and Uncle in Clearwater Florida. It was fun and exciting for a 12 year old visiting Florida for the first time.

[@CheetahNoodles]

I feel like people saying “what fall? It’s great!” never experienced it in the 90s or 2000s. What a magical place it was back then. You unlocked so many memories for me with these two videos. Great work.

[@Hollybrews3]

They had significant layoffs as it changed hands in the 2010s. People who worked there as magicians, musicians and entertainers for 25+ years were let go. The animal exhibits closing was a bummer--- the nocturnal caves closing, Jungala hasn't been open in years. The outdoor stage for American Jukebox is closed off now and is used to collect kids for summer camp. Food stands just aren't open when the park opens so there are dead spots if you want a water or a snack. If you make it to Pantopia for a pretzel, they don't open until 11. My son he fallen downstairs as he exited a ride and the First Aid office near the sky ride was closed. Just a bunch of little things that add up over time made us not renew our passes.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Agreed, it's the removal of the little things, one by one that have led to issues. Could be an easy fix if they bothered to try.

[@2masterofpuppets2]

When they let go of Scott, the creator/brain behind Howl O Scream around that time i knew there was nothing good on the horizon. 😢

[@emersonansley]

Here to provide some insight into the ice show situation. Figure skaters in the area have been hard to find and the cast is CONSTANTLY revolving. It also doesn’t help that the pay isn’t great so all of the skaters have to have 2nd jobs coaching (which they barley have time to do) They scrapped iceplorations for turn it up because it was easier to redo the show to keep it relevant (adding newer music) as well as swap skaters in and out. For years they struggled to fill the roll of the cheetah in iceplorations because that skater had to be a really great male single skater that also had to be able to do a back flip on the ice (even harder to find) I had a friend who eventually filled the roll at 17 years old and did it FOR YEARS but he had to train for months to get that backflip. They also struggled to find a child replacement everytime the kids got too old and they had to even switch the gender at one point. (Fun fact the kid was also usually an ice skater bc thats how they found them) Once their better skaters left for better things they struggled and the show was just to complicated to find replacements for. Currently the cast is the smallest it’s ever been and they are trying to recruit new girls out of the local ice rink everyday. Turn it up was supposed to be temporary originally, but they have found that the format of it works best for their situation right now.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Thanks for the information, it was interesting to read. That seems to track with how the rest of the park is being run though.

[@swimmerkat3965]

Wow a backflip? That’s a crazy move to put in any routine. The fact that it’s banned in most competitions probably turns off most skaters on top of being incredibly dangerous. I’m surprised they didn’t replace it with a more common jump. Those still look theatrical and impressive to general audiences

[@Raptorsified]

Send a delegation to Canada. A young Canadian being told she can live in the warm sun of Florida and get paid to skate? You can definitely get a few talented girls like this.

[@heatherrevezzo]

I've watched Turn It Up like 15 times over the years and I think it is a great show! The skaters always do a fantastic job and the show is just the right length. Thanks for providing this insight.

[@bab008]

Nov. 2022 it was almost empty and many rides were closed due to "tech difficulties" but seemed more like they lacked staff. 2 out of every 3 restaurants were closed. It seemed tired. In May 2023 it was much better however and had a lot of it's old zing back from past years. Still, have the feeling they are in survival mode.

[@genxskeptic5816]

Thanks for the history. We visited Busch Gardens/Tampa back in 2015 and had a great time. The animals and attractions were wonderful. The one thing that was EXTREMELY irritating happened at closing. We were told the park was open till 6 pm. At 5 pm, we had one last coaster we wanted to ride. It was closed down. We asked an employee why and he said they shut down all attractions at 5 and wanted everyone out of the park by 6. It was the only park we had ever visited from Texas, Ohio, California, Tennessee, Missouri or Orlando that ever pulled that kind of nonsense.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I didn't know it was happening back then, but I definitely had that experience at SeaWorld throughout 2018 and 2019. It's a scummy thing to do, but not surprising since AB doesn't run the parks anymore.

[@mattlawson6995]

I've been a season pass holder for 2 years and they aren't doing this anymore. Sorry this happened that night.

[@sytaelf]

As a ride operator for the park im sorry that happened to you. That's not a normal thing to do. Normally the cut off is the closing time of the park meaning if you're in line before that you get to ride

[@patrickbuildsit]

Growing up in FL, through the 80s and 90s, The little kids wanted to go to Disney, the tweens to Universal, and the teens wanted to go to Busch Gardens.

[@jarra789]

I want to say thank you for making this, I have been an employee since 2012. There was a book sold in the park in 2017 that was 50 years of BG and I always recommend that book when I talk with the long time guests, for that nostalgia. I would have loved to work at the park during the golden years. I hope this gets traction.

[@monicahuck]

So much research and work go into your videos. I feel like I am watching a professional documentary when watching your videos. Thanks so much for your hard work and I can’t wait to watch your channel grow.

[@abigailhoover2058]

^^ Couldn’t agree more!!

[@carlyh4315]

I’m a camp counselor at Busch gardens rn. Super cool learning about this stuff because kids always ask a lot of questions about the park so now I’ll have answers !

[@SRQmoviemaker]

I just wanna say as a lifelong (95ish to now) attendee of BG Tampa, these videos were great to see. Very cool seeing how it all started and looked before all the changes. Hell its wayyyy more different than I first remember. Somewhere theres hi8 tapes of my first visit, as well as many other visits. Not to mention the hundreds of photos over the years. I used to go 8 times a year [maybe more as a kid living 30min away] then slowly less to where I'm lucky if I go more than 1x a year for howl-o-scream

[@HowAboutAHug]

Same, I used to go at least yearly when I lived on the east coast of Florida in the early 2000s (three hours away), now I live in Clearwater and I haven't been more than once in years because it just is not the same

[@charlieintampa6769]

Thanks for the video. We used to go a lot when my daughter was little, but have not been for some time until this summer with a visitor. I was shocked how run down and pedestrian it looked like compared to 6-8 years ago. Just as you say, the draw was the variety and very high quality entertainment. Much of that is gone, replaced by dust and and mediocracy. Hope once the current owners run it into the ground someone who cares about the city and about quality buys it up and restores it to its former glory.

[@DOUGandNIKI]

Great Job! As part of those New Yorkers who just moved to the area we love the convenience of having the roller coasters right down the road but we'd love to see it ascend instead of decline.

[@HugoToledo]

I found this as I was looking for footage of the African Queen boat ride circa 1980 when I worked there in high school. It was a lot of fun. Right before I left at the end of my senior year of high school, we had drained the water there to clean out the algae. It was pretty cool to actually get to walk by parts of the waterway we normally wouldn’t get to see ourselves. It was the first time I got to see the “native hut” were the entertainers hung out, waiting for the next boat to come around the corner and scare them. (and, no, we did not *always* smell weed when we went by there. 😆) I love the blue and gold, macaws and scarlet macaws that we would have on the back of our boats. I think that’s the only time they letting non-zoo personnel get anywhere near the animals and, even then, all we were taught to do was hold the stick out so they’d hop on it so we could move them from the purchase on the boat back to the dock and vice versa. One thing you might find interesting is the boats had no steering, so just after the village , there was a gate where we would stop. The boat press a Hidden button and divert the track so we could park the boat in the back where we would clean them and they would be serviced overnight. Because you couldn’t steer them, there was a trick by which we would use the stick for moving the birds on and off the perch to push us off in the right direction then, by alternating forward and reverse, we get the boats to line up and go into the dock. OMG had not thought about this in probably 40 years. Anyway, thanks for posting these out here. I haven’t had a chance to look at the second part yet, but will do so. After I saw the first part, I was going crazy, hoping there was someway to leave a note for you guys. Thanks!

[@happgood]

And thanks again for this thorough and thoroughly entertaining historical study. As always the editing and script are top notch, definitely created by a true devotee. Your videos are always a highlight. I had the pleasure of working closely with the BGT Entertainment Department in the 90's and early 2000's. A great bunch of passionate people, most are gone now. One interesting thing... many of the people in leadership positions had started at the park as teenagers working concession carts and the like. This created a real local family of creative people who loved the park, kept abreast of the competition and traveled frequently to be up to date on rides, entertainers and trends. I loved the chance to be a tiny part of that era (and years of free visits!)

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Traditionally, I did get the impression that a lot of management legitimately liked the park and its experience, so that makes sense that they would have started from the bottom.

[@kylecristino3378]

I'm a simple man, I see Poseidon entertainment and I watch

[@erickent4248]

I used to go to Busch Gardens a lot in the 80s and 90s, and your videos brought back a lot of great memories. I went back last year and so many things were less than they used to be, but the train and the stanleyville flume are still great, I actually really enjoyed the ice skating show, they did some really dangerous stunts, I was a bit scared for the performers. The animals though always are and will be the best part. It was sad to see they closed the nocturnal cave and a few other areas.

[@shinkoryu14]

I went to high school in Hernando County, so my family used to go to Busch Gardens at least once or twice a year back in the early 2000s. I moved away for college in 2009, but got a job in Tampa in 2021 and decided to go to Busch Gardens again for the nostalgia. I remember enjoying the coasters and the vet care exhibit, but feeling like the park wasn't nearly as I remembered it, but not being able to quite put my finger on why. This was a very nice and insightful deep dive into the park history, and helped me to contextualize why the park seemed so much more lackluster than I remembered it being. Well done! As an aside, I also do not enjoy Tigris- I get migraines, and the whiplash of the back and forth ride start reaaally mucked with my head and very nearly triggered one the day I went, not a ride I ever plan to go on again.

[@jaball77]

It's been a rough few years, but I feel like things are starting to turn around. Attendance seems like it's back to normal for a regional park, and with the Flyer and the new family coaster it seems like they're back in the groove with renovations and improvements... I agree that they need to lean into the non-ride side of the park though! They've brought back the seasonal shows at Dragon Fire which is great, but there needs to be more. The new animal show is so-so, and the ice show is a weird fit for the park.

[@tyler1783]

is BGT considered a regional park, its known countrywide

[@TrainsWow]

Attendance is definitely lacking, I feel like this summer was one of the slowest ever.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I don't know how weekends are because I generally try to avoid parks then, but the place is empty during most of the week. I remember it being a lot more crowded 20 years ago when my parents would allow me to skip school and we would go a few times a year.

[@AmandathePandaBooks]

BG forgot millions of us cannot ride roller coasters! Getting rid of the sky rides and the monorail and sit down rest., was a great mistake!! Buy buy profits!

[@alexisyoung9372]

@@PoseidonEntertainment The past few years have been really slow, especially on week days. But I went multiple times this summer and it is getting busy again! Every time I went this summer wait times were at least 40mins for every ride, because the park was packed.

[@LetsbeFrank38]

It's been about 10 years since my last visit to Bush Garden's. About 15 years ago, we were yearly pass holders. We did enjoy it at the time, and the Cheetah Hunt was just introduced, making it my favorite coster.

[@abigailhoover2058]

35:47 Would just love to compliment the way that you discuss attractions… I seriously haven’t seen many other creators who do it as brilliantly as you. Before providing any personal opinions you may have, you explain the entire ride/show/event from start to finish in a detailed, fun, informative, and meaningful way. By doing so, you’re helping us to better understand the concepts, theming, intentions, and even the mechanics behind theme park attractions, BEFORE providing commentary, anecdotes, etc. on them. It allows someone who may never have even been to the theme park to feel more “in the know” and less like an outsider just being told a stranger’s opinion with hardly any objective context. Your passion for theme parks is so evident through the quality of your content. Your effort is greatly appreciated, my friend! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@ashleyferguson9287]

What a treat!!! Thank you for all your hard work.

[@Cwjfreyer]

I have enjoyed these videos very much. I'm not sure how I stumbled onto this channel, but I am glad I did. I worked for BG, Tampa in the early 2000's in Entertainment for both Howl-O-Scream and Katonga, and these videos really brought me back 20 years. I'm hoping you do video essays on both of those specifically in the future.

[@CueDriver]

Watching these 2 videos. There were things I remembered as a child that had changed when I went back when older. Because i remembered the brewery tour and the escalator. But I can say the parks are better today than when i was younger. But it also been great to see these grow from nothing to what they are today.

[@mirkozanda]

I admire your ability to explain things in a interesting yet solid way. Literally looking up to you man

[@lance2465]

So excited to watch part 2 of Busch Gardens history.

[@rayquasticstudios]

bruv this was part 2, part one has already been uploaded :]

[@lance2465]

@@rayquasticstudios I know

[@pumpkinmedic]

Thank you so much for this two-part documentary. I went to Busch Garden a couple of times in the late 70’s to 80’s, and again around 2011. Your video brings back many fond memories of those trips!

[@virgilmatos5638]

Busch Gardens was my introduction to theme parks and started my love for animals. What’s happened with Sea World and Busch has been so tragic. They’re a shell of what they used to be and it sucks not being able to justify the trip out there.

[@Ataraxia462]

I believe they opened the third floor of the Serengeti Overlook as a passholder lounge. Scorpion is great because of it's low height requirement which allowed my son to ride his first looping coaster when he was only 5 years old

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think I do recall hearing something about an AP lounge but I didn't realize it was the top floor. I wish they would reopen it as an actual restaurant.

[@flyingstump2938]

Thank you fir bringing me in a time machine to the good Busch Gardens of my childhood

[@jxplay3r729]

Fun fact! I'm pretty sure the Pharaoh's mirror trick to reveal his gold mask still exists in the park. In the men's bathrooms located in the archway leading to Montu, one of the mirrors has an Easter egg, that if you touch the round bead located at the bottom of the mirror, lights behind the mirror come on and reveal a pharaohs mask behind the mirror. I believe it's the left most mirror, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I don't know if it's the same exact mechanism or model, but it looks almost the exact same as in the original King Tut exhibit, but it looks to be the same! I worked at Busch for a few years, and didn't believe my manager when he told me that it existed. After a shift one day I headed over to investigate and was shocked to find out there really was an pharaohs mask hidden behind the bathroom mirror!

[@earthwormzim]

Born and raised in Tampa in '82, I've been to Busch Gardens likely 20+ times throughout my life...and unfortunately, without a doubt, it is absolutely true that once it was sold, the quality of the park dropped off a cliff. I remember thinking, when I was a kid, how beautiful and immersive everything was...but now, everything looks dirty and like it has fallen into disrepair. Very sad to witness.

[@KarenRamos-x1r]

Living in Tampa my full life this was such a trip back in time I remember when Busch Gardens first opened and it was just for Gardens and birds and of course the tour through the brewery this brought back so many memories thank you so much for your time and research

[@cc_snipergirl]

Part 1 I wasn't alive for, but part 2 feels weird fast forwarding through my childhood. My mom worked in Tampa, annual passes were dirt cheap, and we were good kids who didn't cause any trouble. She would drop us off at Busch Gardens while she went to work and would meet back up with us afterwards to have fun too. First time I went, I was real little and spent most of my time in dragon land, but we didn't start going regularly until we were old enough to be more independent a little after Sheikra opened.

[@bethfrompa]

You brought back a memory of Rhino Rally, when you ride down the river!! And I remember the beer school, and how you could get 2 free beers per visit from the hospitality house. Now no more🙁

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Ah, did they not bring back free beer though? I thought they did for the summer at least.

[@minxlabrada]

Amazing content. In the 80s Busch Gardens was the must-go vacation destination that everyone loved. Appreciate all the effort you put into this doc.

[@LChatmanFL]

I like these documentaries. I am a native and current passholder. I also worked BG one summer while in college. The Blackfish scandal was the big downturn. There were HUGE plans to re invent the Florida parks but that scandal derailed them. They were plans for onsite resorts, etc. Add the Pandemic and now it is hit or miss. But I do see the effort they are making. Gwazi is world class, Pipeline is well reviewed, and the holiday events are still well received. They are moving in the right direction.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Is Pipeline well reviewed? Thoosies loved it, but I don't think it's a hit with general park goers.

[@LChatmanFL]

@@PoseidonEntertainment Well... based on the content I read, most people have fallen in love with the unexpected and unique "airtime" delivered by floating seat. They comment that it caught them completely off guard in a good way. They don't put it in the league with something like Gwazi, but yes... they genuinely enjoyed it and thought it was a positive addition to the line up. I have not had time to go personally but will soon. I need to get my money's worth from my ap's.

[@tobeornottobe9533]

From land of the dragons to he Egyptian digging sights next to coasters, this video brought back so many good memories. I was in elementary school living outside of Orlando and we went to Busch gardens every summer. Nights before phones, where you couldn’t fall asleep the night before, to leave super early and take a road trip of 3-5 hrs to the park to stay all day and sometimes, overnight. Thanks for this. Gained a sub.

[@tobeornottobe9533]

When you mentioned lorys landing and scorpion, both pinnacles of my childhood. The scorpion also being my first inverted roller coaster. And I have some good memories feeding nectar to fuzzy-tongued rainbow parrots. Wow. I miss the days before the internet. I never thought I’d say that. =(

[@anacampanita21]

I used to love going to Busch Gardens growing up, especially going with friends on weekends. I haven’t been since 2013 and have been wanting to go to relive my teenage memories, but seeing the state that it’s in now breaks my heart. I hadn’t heard much about the park after the opening of cheetah hunt, but I didn’t realize how barren it is now. Loved this 2 part series that brought back so many good memories!!!

[@unboxinghype813]

Thanks for covering this. Especially QUESTOR! Loved that ride and the air condition lol. Brought back some great memories!

[@lindseydean3568]

Growing up in Wesley chapel, Busch gardens was always my park. Scorpion was my first roller coaster. I remember measuring myself every visit until I was finally tall enough.

[@dustinkennedy2238]

Wooo another entertaining watch! Keep up the great work y’all 🤠🫏

[@dr.maples]

Absolutely love that your earliest memories are at an amusement park. Same for me: my first memories were at the 1982 World’s Fair. Would love to see other viewers share their early amusement park memories below!

[@debrawray7463]

Went to Disneyland the day it opened in 1955. I was only 4. I do remember a lot of it. I've been there over 100 times.

[@kratze1738]

Cedar Point at around age 11. I remember being terrified of the coasters and refusing to go on any, requiring at least one parent to stay behind with me while the rest had fun, till my sister talked me into one of the tamer ones JUST as we were done. I LOVED it and then we had to go home immediately afterwards. I also remember being the biggest whiner at that age and my parents probably wanted to smack me as I moaned about how I missed the rest of the coaster rides on the several-hour car drive home. PS, I got slightly better about the whining over the years.

[@notpunkproductions]

Hell yeah, I’ve been waiting all week for this video to come out.

[@bruns-o-tron]

The guy in the fez guiding guests in the queue is Scott Swenson! He also appears in the ride safety film wearing a hat and a khaki vest. When I worked there, he was a director, and eventually became Entertainment Department VP. Today, he's at the Florida Aquarium, and directs a ton of other entertainment in the Tampa Bay area. He also regularly performs at Tampa Fringe. (I'm not being paid by anyone to say this. I just think he's awesome.) I worked at Akbar...sort of. There were two queue areas (and possibly two entire simulators, but I forget). During the first two years of the Florida Fun Card, I picked up extra hours selling them in the second queue area, since it wasn't used during the winter. Most of the Mystic Sheikhs of Morocco Band were FAMU students and alumni, at least when I was there from 2000-2002.

[@STSGuitar16]

I've never even been to Busch Gardens but love learning about stuff from your videos. Definitely enjoyed this one!

[@dandrnachmusic]

This is a great 2 part video. Well Done!! I worked for Busch in the early 2000's and it was a very special and important time in my life. I hate seeing the rapid decline of such great parks! Thanks again for a fantastic set of videos

[@blu3622]

My dad and I went to Busch Gardens in Tampa over an eight year span, traveling from Birmingham, Alabama, during the spring break week in March. Starting in 1990 through 1998, I also have many of the same memories of the park.

[@robhamilton8993]

We went to Busch Gardens Tampa in 1975 on our Honeymoon. We were Platinum pass holders for 15 years & always loved Busch. After it was sold we have only been back once in last 5 or 6 years. We really were disappointed when they removed all the Clydesdale horses and closed/removed some of the more interesting things to see. Oh and back in 1975 we were able to see the belly dancers before that was stopped

[@IAMBENNYBLANCO.]

Great work as always!

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Busch Gardens Tampa needs to improve itself! They should include more theming and maintenance, more rides and attractions, more shows, more stores and restaurants, more animals and animal exhibits, better theming and maintenance, better quality, and even a proposed onsite resort hotel in addition to a potential Kalahari Tampa resort for Busch Gardens Tampa to expand into a destination resort with the Busch Gardens Tampa theme park, the onsite waterparks including an African jungle themed one to complement the African theme of Busch Gardens Tampa, the onsite resort hotels, and other stuff!

[@rayraycontray]

Loved this series, amazing job! I grew up in Tampa and I cant tell you how many times I rode Tilde Wave during summer break!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Tidal Wave was so unique too. Definitely wish it was still around.

[@rachelwilliams8340]

Watching this brought back to me so many good memories as I went their as a kid back in 1990s. 😊

[@ryanoc333]

Growing up in west central Florida, Busch Gardens was a favorite destination. It was a common spot for school field trips, family outings, and continued visits as an adult with my family. The feeling of nostalgia washes over me every time I think about it. There are numerous memories, both fond and otherwise. One of the cherished memories I have is the sense of early independence I felt at 10 years old. It was exhilarating to pair up with a friend and be allowed to explore the park for most of the day on our own. I vividly remember riding my first roller coaster, the Scorpion, and touring by the brewery, wishing I was old enough to have a free beer at the Hospitality House. Whenever I hear Chuck Mangione's Feels So Good, I imeadiatly think of roaming Timbuktu's carnival game area while looking up at the Dolphin Theater. However, there were some less pleasant moments. I recall waiting in line for Aakbar's Adventure Tours for almost an hour, only to be turned away at the last minute due to a prior rider's unfortunate bout of sickness that covered the floor and seats. Then, there was the time I rode the Gwazi; the jarring ride gave me such a headache that I had to leave the park shortly after. A particularly somber memory stands out from June 10th, 1995. It was the first time I had ridden the Kumba after sunset due to a special company event. The encompassing darkness made the experience more intense. Tragically, on that same ride, Lacey Ingram suffered a heart attack and died. I often wonder if the heightened intensity from riding in the dark was a factor. My friends and I, unaware of the medical emergency occurring just ahead of us, were not allowed to exit immediately after the ride concluded. Many of us, unaware of the gravity of the situation, were upset and shouting to get off, only to later realize the seriousness of the incident. These memories are etched deeply in my mind, both the good and the bad. Over the years, I've sensed a shift in the park's priorities towards maximizing profits, often at the expense of the more wholesome experiences. While the rides have always been a significant part of the park's allure, the animals were equally captivating for me. Even though fond memories do not stand out to me with the animals, their presence made the park very special for me. Situated in the heart of a vast metropolitan area, the park provided a feeling of escape, making me feel miles away from urban life. Thank you for this video series. It's been a heartwarming trip down memory lane.

[@cheetaking243]

Akbar's Adventure Tours is still the most intense/dynamic simulator I've ever ridden. It was relentless in how violent, scary, and immersive the motion was through the entire film. It was certainly an amazing experience. I wish it didn't have the problematic brownface and cultural stereotypes, but the ride itself was incredible. My teenage coaster-enthusiast self rode it a LOT because it was one of the most thrilling rides in the park.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

Yeah, it seemed wild for sure. I've been on Wild Arctic and even as someone with a strong stomach it bothered me, so I can't imagine Akbar's lol. It was definitely really unique conceptually though and despite the issues, I did think Martin Short's performance was really funny.

[@AnimeSenseiiiiii]

Oh boy!!! I’m excited!!!

[@vcracing]

Excellent video. Well done. Thank you for putting this together. It's really disappointing to see how quickly Busch gardens is declining

[@tomrussell1513]

When I was a kid, I went on the upside down Viking boat at least 10 times in a row. My sister and I would play for hours in Land of Dragons. I remember when the first 4D show, and thought it was corny lol, but I did get to go on the water part of Rhino Run. Montu was my favorite roller coaster... Being a little kid from Maine, this place was like a tropical paradise! Awesome video, I thoroughly enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Hope it turns around!

[@rjsmedia69]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I spent many of summers there with a season pass in the 80"s

[@zemwazhere1489]

I’ve just finished part 1 and 2 being an annual pass member for the past 3 years and going when I was young with my mom but wow so much history about this park truly is fascinating to see how it was over the decades

[@DollywoodShows]

Fantastic video as yours always are. Thank you. We moved to this area 10 years ago and live near Disney. At the time, we visited this park more than any other. And I go to them all. The park had so much entertainment, and we enjoyed the rides even though their operations were poor even then. The shows made the park stand out to us. We went monthly to the park and supported it in many ways and brought many guests with us. Today, the lack of quality entertainment has made it that we basicly stopped going. I hope the park returns its entertainment as if it did, we would go again.

[@jylerjdonovan]

I was just there two weeks ago and fully agree with this! It was dissapointing to see Kumba and Tigris closed in addition to the closures mentioned in this video. The dispatch times were horrible - most coasters were running two train ops, with Iron Gwazi having an average 4 minute dispatch time and the River Rapids legitimately having a 10 minue dispatch. I love coasters so I went to ride these. It was sad to see some of the things they have fully let fall into disrepair. Also - being a vegetarian at this park is incredibly difficult. I ask for a "salad that doesn't have any meat on it" and they gave me the vegatables that go with the chinese food (????). I will not be returning for awhile.

[@jonny-b4954]

Yeah Iron Gwazi had 4-5 minute dispatches when I was there too. It's atrocious. 90 seconds or so is when the queue counter turns red, so they're wayyyy over. They're clearly hiring whoever will work and not training them well. Or low morale. The animal exhibits over in the Serengeti are really decayed. The outdoor ac doesn't work anymore, wood is old and nothing has been painted in 10+ years. Same as it was when I was a teenager 20 years ago. The gorilla walk through walkway was CAKED in bird poo. Like, it was truly insane. Their 360 spinning pirate ship was closed and standing but not operating for 10+ years. Their remote control boats and monster trucks that have been there since I was a kid are still all original and utterly deteriorated. It's crazy. The park is definitely falling behind the last few years. I did really enjoy the additional cost animal tours. Seeing the tigers and their living areas and up close with the keepers was really cool. Feeding the giraffes on the back of a truck was cool too. And was only like an extra $70 bucks or so for both together for me to do. Which I thought was fair for what they're doing.

[@jaball77]

@@jonny-b4954 There's literally a sign explaining the bird poop... That area is used for nesting by some of the birds during mating season. It only lasts for a few weeks.

[@carlosg1165]

I agreed 100 percent with you😢😢😢😢😢😢😢on the latest running of the park just came from there I’m a annual member it’s the only park I can afford to go with fun card deals at 89 dollars that’s the only reason I still go 😢😢great video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👋👋👋👋👋👋

[@deepsea631]

Love to see the old films. I remember going on the brewery tours and riding Python and the Mamba. I actually skipped school the first week that the Congo River Rapids opened so that I could get a souvenir towel that they were giving away to celebrate it's launch. Kumba is one of the best coasters anywhere, and Montu is a close 2nd as long as you're in the front row because being an inverted coaster, the forward view is obscured by the seats and support gear in front of you if you're not in the front. I haven't been since 2017 or so and I hate to hear that the quality of the park is failing.

[@harmonyharris777]

So well documented & detailed. Perfectly done thank you 💜🦁🦓🦒🌍🌞

[@Kreegz]

I'm glad you got to ride Gwazi during its early years. My family had season passes in the late 90s/early 00s and I also agree that it was an incredible ride early on. The last time I rode it in 2013 though was downright painful, and not in a good way.

[@JamesCobalt]

Went to Florida on vacation near the very end of its run and I literally thought maybe some of the wheels had gone off the track. I couldn't believe they were letting people ride that thing. It was only mid day and we immediately left the park due to pounding headaches.

[@Mockingdragon]

Oh my goodness, I love the idea of a comedy film inside one of those simulator rides. Whether THIS is the best one or not it is a great change of pace.

[@DougYeager-i8b]

Former Disney Cast Member here. 9 years working Epcot Dec’84 to Jan’94. I got plenty to say believe me. I enjoyed the 2 part series and enjoy the history of parks in general. I can’t help but cry when I see Disney destroying Disney. You should look into the history of Knoebels. You will be surprised at what you will learn about that place

[@rogertoth8663]

This brought back great memories. I have been dozens of times throughout the years from a teenage to taking my own kids and visitors for decades. But I haven’t been for close to a decade now. I don’t think I would want to see it the way it’s become and prefer to keep my past memories of it. It looks like it would be sad to see it now.

[@johanna7254]

Thanks for another great video! I hope you'll reach 100k soon!

[@GLJosh]

Incredible work on this video essay, really encompasses the history of the park, that is sadly in a state of decline.

[@CharlottePaigeWarren]

Crazy how many duplicate rides there are to the Williamsburg location! I’d love a video going over that park- it’s a big part of my childhood❤️

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think it's a good video idea eventually.

[@joevinski1]

Fantastic video!!!! Looking forward to more :)))

[@pureorganiclove6627]

Thank you!! Great video. I watched both parts. I forgot about bush gardens, and I don’t live too far. I’m inspired to go check it out.

[@MarcoSpelde]

We went there a couple of weeks ago. I remembered from an earlier trip that there were a LOT of animals during the train ride. This time, practically the only thing I saw on this ride, was roller coaster structures. And, as mentioned before, when there is inclement weather, the park shuts down for 99%. For us it was a huge dissapointment. There are enough parks with huge coasters in Florida. We went there to have a quiet animal observing day. Only positive thing about that day is that I ate the most awesome funnel cake I ever had. :) But, for future vacations, we probably won't visit Bush Gardens anymore....

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I think the animals are hit or miss depending on the time of the day for the train and it's always kind of been like that since I can remember.

[@PenguGaymer]

This was probably the most facisinating history video I've ever watched.

[@rockyfalldownstairs]

I've been to Busch Gardens many times in my life. Pre pandemic in 2018 it was as thriving as it had ever been. The next time I went, around the time you dropped this video, I was absolutely shocked at the state of the park. It was empty in many places, of both staff and guests. Everything looked much dirtier. Buildings were closed everywhere. It didn't feel fun, it felt depressing.

[@magixd]

This was a trip down memory lane for me; I had been part of the Adventure Camp summer programs twice between 2012 and 2016 (which to this day are the best summers I ever had) so seeing what it has become of now does really make me a little sad. Thank you so much for your thorough research and timeline; I never knew it used to be a brewery! LOL

[@KAYoLEE]

Loving this series so far- I can't believe I've lived in FL my whole life and have never been to Busch Gardens before. I somehow been to the one in Williamsburg lol.

[@stevezee5568]

Liked and subscribed. Phenomenal job on this documentary!!!

[@chadmcnk]

This took a lot of effort to put together. Thanks Kevin.

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

I'm definitely not Kevin, my scripts are a lot less polished lol

[@ryeinc]

My biggest flex in life is I was once chosen as the navigator and sat in the passenger seat on Rhino Rally. And we did the water section!

[@casebarreoltt5990]

Rhino Rally...did that feature an animatronic Desantis?

[@jacobselleck9750]

I could not imagine the park before Edge of Africa. The access across the park and large immersive exhibits must have been mind blowing back then and really expanded the park

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

It's an awesome area and thankfully fixes Egypt's dead end problem. I wish they would bring back the Skyride though. It's a great transportation option.

[@jacobselleck9750]

It will be coming back at some point thankfully. Can’t come soon enough

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

@@jacobselleck9750 Did they announce something or is it just a rumor?

[@jacobselleck9750]

They posted a small video about a month ago confirming they are working on it but nothing since. A lot of work had to be done since it’s an old ride that didn’t operate for 3 years

[@saranyabiswas2057]

These videos are so enjoyable

[@whisper180]

So sorry to see that Rhino Rally closed! I rode it in 2007, and it felt like a "real safari" to me as a tween. The bridge collapse was a real thrill. An unforgettable experience.

[@CritterCrawler_16]

YAY!!!!! SO HAPPY! loving this series

[@sarahsusan3753]

Questor was my favorite ride omg I loved the footage!

[@mattgonzalez4457]

When I was little (In the mid 80s) Python was the best ride in the park. When it got older the head restraints would give nearly give you a concussion as your head would ricochet from side to side. I still rode it every time I went. I'm glad Scorpion still remains

[@Vorloru]

Man, this is reminding me I've been to this park maybe twice pre-2011. My mental was particularly rough at the time so I can't remember much of anything about the park, just that I went a day or two while visiting my dad in Clearwater. I do have good, albeit fragmented, memories of Williamsburg's Big Bad Wolf, was my first ihigh speed coaster, ignited a love for coasters in me as a kid.

[@sg9414]

Excellent history - tons of work, much appreciated. I wondered what happened to it..used to be so nice. You're line "the six flags"..is exactly what I thought when there's no theming, no shows, and everything is roller coasters...not exactly a family friendly approach. Great job.

[@elpendejo2123]

Well deserved sub. Interesting and quality videos!

[@ryano913]

Yes! Thank you for no longer making me think I was crazy for remembering a pit of crocs at the launch of Montu. My friends don’t believe me and I started to question myself thinking yeah that was probably a misfire of my memory, what if a croc jumped up to grab a leg. Ha!!

[@PoseidonEntertainment]

They definitely wouldn't have stuck around today. The number of people that would drop phones on them would be a problem. Still, it's interesting that they initially tried doing something unique.