| Curse of DarKastle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | |
| Area | Oktoberfest |
| Coordinates | 37°14′5″N 76°38′40″W / 37.23472°N 76.64444°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 1, 2005 |
| Closing date | January 23, 2018 |
| Replaced | Wild Maus |
| Replaced by | DarKoaster: Escape The Storm |
| Ride statistics | |
| Manufacturer | Oceaneering |
| Designer | Falcon's Treehouse |
| Length | 1,000 ft (300 m) |
| Capacity | 1,450 riders per hour |
| Duration | 3:20 |
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) |
 Quick Queue was available | |
Curse of DarKastle was a dark ride located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia.[1] It was a hybrid dark ride which combined roving motion-simulating vehicles, 3D projection animation, physical sets, in-vehicle audio, and special effects (wind, water, fog, and lighting). Curse of DarKastle carried a rider height requirement of 42 inches, but with a sign warning that scenes within the attraction may be too intense for young audiences. The ride took place in an abandoned Bavarian castle, haunted by evil ghosts and a demonic werewolf.
The attraction closed on September 4, 2017, to make room for a new Howl-O-Scream haunted house named "FrostBite".[2] It was assumed that the ride would return after the end of the event, however, plans were announced to utilize portions of the attraction’s space for a Christmas themed event.[3] In an interview with the park’s Vice President of Marketing, Dan Dipiazzo, it was discovered that returning the attraction to operational status was undetermined. Dipiazzo confirmed that, as of late 2017, the attraction was still operable. However, due to high maintenance and operating costs, low ridership, and ongoing budget cuts at Busch Gardens' parent company SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, the ride was officially announced as closed on January 23, 2018.[4] The building became a special events space themed to a fictional German castle in 2018, with much of the gothic theming removed from the exterior and interior.
On September 6, 2022, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that a new, multi-launch coaster named DarKoaster would open within the existing structure during 2023.[5]
- ^ "Curse of DarKastle - Busch Gardens". Archived from the original on 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
- ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "FrostBite | Howl-O-Scream | Busch Gardens Williamsburg". seaworldparks.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Meet Santa Claus at His New Workshop". SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2017-12-09. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
- ^ "Curse of DarKastle to be replaced after 13 years at Busch Gardens". 25 January 2018.
- ^ "DarKoaster - Launching 2023".