Iron Gwazi

Iron Gwazi
Previously known as Gwazi (1999–2015)
A script text of "Iron Gwazi Busch Gardens", with the word "Iron" being at the top, followed by the next line word "Gwazi" and then "Busch Gardens" at the bottom. The word "Iron" appears slightly larger than "Gwazi", with "Busch Gardens" being the smallest text centered. "Iron" is colored silver, with a darker green hue outlining the text at the top which transitions into a yellow gradient towards the bottom of the word. The words "Gwazi" and "Busch Gardens" are colored purple, with "Busch Gardens" appearing in a slanted text. Atop the script text is a geometric crocodile colored in shades of green and yellow. The crocodile appears to sink its white teeth into the "Iron" text, with yellow appearing on one of the scales on its head, its eyes, and its nostrils.
Appearing from the central plaza, Iron Gwazi's lift hill is prominently shown in the skyline with the barrel roll-down drop under the lift structure. Parts of the building that houses the hybrid roller coaster are imaged at the bottom, with a thatched roof in the center-right. Trees are also visible on either side of the image.
Iron Gwazi's lift hill and barrel roll downdrop
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
LocationBusch Gardens Tampa Bay
Coordinates28°02′02″N 82°25′23″W / 28.03389°N 82.42306°W / 28.03389; -82.42306
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateFebruary 13, 2022 (2022-02-13)
Opening dateMarch 11, 2022 (2022-03-11)
ReplacedGwazi
General statistics
Type – Hybrid
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction (RMC)
DesignerAlan Schilke
ModelI-Box track
Track layoutTwister
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height206 ft (63 m)
Drop206 ft (63 m)
Length4,075 ft (1,242 m)
Speed76 mph (122 km/h)
Inversions2
Duration1:50
Max vertical angle91°
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
ThemeCrocodile
Quick Queue available
Iron Gwazi at RCDB
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Iron Gwazi (formerly called Gwazi) is a steel-track hybrid roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, a theme park in Tampa, Florida, United States. Development of the original Gwazi began in July 1998, when Busch Gardens announced that it would build a wooden roller coaster on land formerly occupied by the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Great Coasters International (GCI) built Gwazi, a wooden dueling roller coaster with two separate tracks. The ride was named after a fabled creature with a tiger's head and a lion's body. Trains riding on both tracks, respectively named Lion and Tiger, reached a height of 105.4 feet (32.1 m) and a maximum speed of 51 mph (82 km/h).

Gwazi opened on June 18, 1999, and received positive reviews from critics and the public. Over time, the wooden roller coaster became difficult to maintain, resulting in the Tiger side closing in 2012. Following rising maintenance costs, rough track, and declining ridership, the remaining side was closed in 2015. The wooden structure sat dormant for several years, and the park considered several replacement attractions, including a remodeled roller coaster, an amphitheater, and a new attraction. The park indicated it would refurbish the wooden structure, and site preparation began in late 2018.

In 2019, Busch Gardens announced the replacement as Iron Gwazi, a steel-tracked roller coaster. The park hired Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) to retrofit the original wooden structure's layout. It was initially scheduled to open in 2020 but was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. Iron Gwazi soft-opened to passholders on February 13, 2022, and to the public on March 11. The refurbished ride was marketed and opened as North America's tallest, steepest, and fastest hybrid roller coaster, featuring a height of 206 feet (63 m), a maximum speed of 76 mph (122 km/h), and a track length increase of 567 feet (173 m) over its predecessor. Iron Gwazi debuted to positive reviews from critics, later winning the 2022 Best New Roller Coaster category in Amusement Today magazine's annual Golden Ticket Awards.