The worst part of closing this is the fact they didn't give enough notice so fans could honor the ride one last time. They could've even sold merch calling it one last string. They missed out on money opportunities while also disappointing fans
Yeah, I agree. I was lucky enough to be flexible this week to drive over and get a last ride on it, but they should have at least given a month's warning.
@@PoseidonEntertainment This could made a excellent video, (If there's enough documentation out there) seeing how past rides and shows did their final run e.g. like the final Terminator Universal showing.
Sad to see it go. This was the first ever “big” coaster I ever rode as a kid that wasn’t in a Disney park. Before riding, I was terrified of the loop but came out of the coaster loving it and wanting to go again. Goodbye, old friend.
I have been riding Scorpion for 30 years. I went back to say goodbye to it a couple days ago. Then I realized I have to be there on closing day. I have aquired custom-made shirts for my son and I to wear on our last ride. I just hope the park puts something awesome there to replace it. Looking down from falcon's fury on the plot of land scorpion that occupies and the unused gaming space next to it. I can see an RMC single rail fitting there just fine. If they did that it wouldn't hurt as bad to see scorpion go.
I really liked the one raptor that I tried at Magic Mountain and I've been wanting Florida to get one since. Since Fun Spot works with RMC, I thought one would be good in the Orlando location, but I agree that Busch would benefit from one there as well.
I was so fortunate to get a ride in July with a 360 camera. I was gonna skip it because I injured my ribs on montu because I got my restraints too tight. Fortunately, I did ride it and got a beautiful pov. My first thought after hearing it would be closed was a raptor track rmc. We marathoned Wonder Woman at Magic Mountain. It is as smooth as silk and offers unbelievable air time. I believe it's top 5 in the park and arguably top 3. We can certainly hope for one in Tampa, but who knows. I'm keeping hopes high.
For me it's more like 25 years (I was scared of coasters until I was an adult). I don't remember if this or Python was my first ever real coaster, but it was one of the two and now they're both gone. I was able to ride it last week one last time.
Scorpion trivia: It's one of the few coasters in the world to have a vertical loop with a circular shape as opposed to the more common teardrop shape. With a circular loop you have huge g-forces at the entry and then weightlessness at the top as the train slows down. It's a completely different experience compared to Kumba's loop where you ease into the vertical section and then whip over the top.
This REALLY hits close to home for me. Although I now find myself living in the UK, I grew up in Tampa, and the Scorpion was the very first coaster I've ridden on. For the longest time prior to my Scorpion experience, I was horrifically and irrationally fearful of coasters. It wasn't until I rode the Scorpion that I not only got over my irrational fear, but also began my lifelong love of coasters. Hearing this news truly breaks my heart. I know this is gonna sound cheesy, but it does feel like a part of me is now gone forever.
I was there in July and passed on riding this gem after an extensive rainstorm. I had ridden it many times before and felt I could catch it again during my next visit. What a bummer.
I went and rode her two last times. I will miss this punchy little girl, she’s still so smooth and fun. They are doing Scorpion dirty, she deserves better. Gone but never forgotten ❤️
Aww, I actually really liked this little guy when I rode last winter. Glad I got on before it closed. Was smooth as glass. RIP another classic Schwarzkopf
Me and my brother both refer to this as “our first coaster” I remember him being tall enough to ride it and not wanting to, out of fear, but getting over that hurdle he then wanted to go on everything at the park once he got tall enough, I followed up and made sure I didn’t make the same mistake he did and the instant I measured tall enough to ride this I did, I must’ve rode it 5 times in a row that day so proud of overcoming that fear, this ride is so important to so many people out there it’s sad to see it go, thanks for giving it the respect it deserves
This coaster was definitey a kind of "Stepping-Stone" for alot of people, young and old. Very solid, very fun and comfortable, great for easing new ride-goers into more intimidating rides. It will be missed
This coaster is historic. I grew up in Orlando and this was my first inverted coaster as a little guy. I felt so brave afterward. LOL Been a coaster enthusiast ever since.
Scorpion was my first upside down rollercoaster as well. I got to ride it recently, a few weeks before they announced its closure. I'm glad I got to ride it one last time.
When I saw the announcement last weekend I immediately had a "what? why?" moment. Losing a Schwarzkopf is sad. It's like management went "Well Phoenix is operating time to axe the scorpion." As if adding a coaster with poor capacity makes up for it or something. BGT should have invested more into Phoenix to give it a longer layout. The B&M Family invert has a lot of potential for a fun coaster system that isn't a super extreme monster. I hope Son of the Big Bad Wolf at BGW gets good theming along it's layout to bring a good experience.
It's definitely time for it to go. It overshoots the brake run every 5-6 cycles. They have to manually tighten the brakes to keep it going. I'm guessing an air part broke and they can't get replacements. At one point on Friday it went straight through the station and 1/3 up the lift hill before stopping. It's literally on its last legs. It's sad. But they can't get parts for it since it's a rare model
@@coastercube838 to an extent yes. But custom parts are very, very, very expensive. And who's to say those custom parts work. We all know how the trains on mindbendler at over GA turned out. And how the replacement track at the bottom of the Helix drop is. Id rather a coaster die from lack of investment after 40 years than it to be redone and it be way sucker than it was before. But again. They could spend thousands on a replacement air system for the brakes just for the computer to not register it or for it to not hook on right. Custom parts should only be done by a company that has the blueprints and specifications to that ride or have enough experience with those type of rides. See loch Ness monsters trains and retrack. But it's a 44 year old coaster that ran 365. In a very harsh climate. Constant rain everyday and thunderstorms, hurricanes. Hot conditions. It's taken a toll. Maybe it's just time for it to go. At first I was pissed by the decision. But all good things must end. My favorite coaster will also be torn down some day. Even coaster we deem as new will be gone in 50ish years. One day fury will be removed or iron gwazi. But it lived a long life and way more than the lifespan as advertised by Schwarzkopf
@CarolinaCycloneJames that's not a hard thing to fix. Buy new brakes. You can 1000% get custom parts made by dozens of companies. No problem. You're just paying for it. And they're cheap. Or more accurately, they're stupid with their money. Build coaster after coaster for year after year from the most expensive companies, then buy 1 train or do lazy theming haha. Let their areas and rides fall into disrepair (jungle, animal exhibits by Montu, Scorpion, the 360 ride that sat for 10 years where Pheonix is now)
This is so sad. Scorpion holds a special place in my personal history because it was my first coaster with an inversion as a kid. In my family it was seen as a right of passage, and I’m especially disappointed that I won’t be able to continue that tradition if I have kids someday.
Growing up, I refused to ride any coasters. Only few years ago decided to get over it and give it a go and Scorpion was my first vertical loop (my first time going upside down was actually Cheetah Hunt with it's heartline roll which I rode earlier the same day). I absolutely adore this ride; it's not the biggest or the baddest, but its a classic and I love the positive G's in the descending helix's. I'm very disappointed to see it closed and even more disappointed I didn't have a chance to get another ride in. Thanks for the video, it's nice seeing appreciation for a classic like this.
Sad as it is to see Scorpion go, I'm not too surprised. It's been showing it's age a bit lately and my family was starting to skip it because it got really rough on the last helix and gave us all headaches. It was a great coaster, my little cousins who are too short to ride the big stuff loved it since there aren't many family-oriented coasters at the park, but it's days were already numbered, corporate greed just accelerated its demise.
I have a strong feeling someone will save this. I'm holding out hope it's Gene Staples, because this would be a wonderful addition to Clementon Park, a park that could definitely use something "new."
Great video. I was very disappointed by the news of closure. I'm old enough to remember when this was the big ride in the park. I remember driving down to Florida as a 10 year old, with the brochure in hand for Busch gardens. We were going to Disney world first, but I kept looking at the picture of scorpion going through the loop with the Timbuktu tower in the background. I had only gone on my first upside down roller coaster the year before ( the now defunct rocky point in Rhode island) so I was super excited to see and ride it. I went to Busch gardens last year, for the first time in 20 years, and while I loved iron gwazi, montu, and all the newer thrills, I still rode scorpion several times, more than some of the newer additions. I loved the nostalgia, it made me feel like the 10 year old again, and it still packed quite the thrill. I wish therly'd keep it, but since that horse as left the barn, please relocate it. Canobie lake Park currently has a vacant plot after removing their arrow corkscrew a couple years ago, this would fit perfectly there and be an instant hit for that classic family park.
Love your work! Video idea: the decline of guest interaction in attractions. MGM studio tour, earthquake, ghostbusters just thinking off the top of my head. Keep ‘em coming
This was an excellent video discussing Scorpion! It is very sad to see this classic Schwarzkopf coaster go, but thank you for highlighting it one more time.
This was my first "real" coaster experience when I was a kid! It seemed like such an exciting and futuristic roller coaster in the 80s. This and the Python were our badges of honor!
I remember riding this with my best friend at the time like 15 times in a row because there was no line. We were probably 10-12ish. Some incredible memories on there. Thank you so much for documenting it before it shut down. Very sad to hear about its closing.
Always great when you cover my home city park, Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay. Used to take the bus down Busch Blvd. and go to the park whenever I had a few days off of work.
So glad you put out a video on this. As has been stated by so many others, Scorpion was my first coaster that gave me the guts to later ride Kumba, and then Kraken when it opened. It is also a reminder for me of a time in Busch Gardens history when the theming was much more cohesive, extremely beautiful and well-maintained, and immersive.
Rode this as my first ever coaster with a loop, i spent my whole childhood liking rollercoasters but very limited because i was terrified of loops... i injured my neck somehow and am more scared of loops now
Couldn't have said it better myself! This was also my first coaster with an inversion and I hold all of the same sentiments toward the ride as you. I was fortunate to go and get my final few rides the other day, but it is truly saddening to see it go. This video pays great respect. Well done!
As a FL native and someone that has had season passes to Busch Gardens for 20 years this made me really sad when I heard about it. I ended up talking about with my mom and we both realized that this was both her and my first rollercoaster. So to see this ride go really hurts.
The scorpion was the first real coaster I ever rode. It was my 8th grade physics day and my friends promised me they would get me a soft pretzel if I went. I made it a point to ride it twice every trip (at least monthly as a $50 fun pass was all I could afford for summer fun throughout college) and there was always a very short line. It is so nostalgic to look back and I am sad to see it go.
Like many others in the comments, this was my first rollercoaster. I even remember how I was technically too short to ride it, and the only reason I was able to ride it was cause I was wearing a little pair of cowboy boots that gave me that extra half an inch I needed. Rest in peace, Scorpion. We always savored your sting.
Thank you very much for uploading this. I am going here the 1st of September, and I wouldn't have even known it was closing without the video. Will be sure to ride it one last time o7
So sad to see this one go. Have a lot of nostalgic attachment to it going back to the early 90s. The photo you used in the thumbnail is a beautiful tribute.
As a tampa native, it was sad to hear of this closing. My first coaster with a loop and the experience that made me a coaster enthusiast. I always thought they'd keep this standing due to it's compact layout, tenure, and legacy as the only permanent schwarzkoff. Planning to take the family for the day tomorrow for one last thrill and to say farewell. Thank you Scorpion for all these years of coaster happiness
Thank you for the Kumba recognition at the beginning. Sad to Scorpion close though as it was my sisters first ever ride with an loop and definitely was her gateway to the other rides.
I took two of my younger cousins to Busch Gardens this summer (literally less than a month ago)- I had never been since I’m not from the area, but they both had. All three of us LOVED this ride: found it ran smoothly and operations were good (especially considering how bad operations were everywhere else at the park). The ride experience was GREAT and we much preferred it to Phoenix rising- it definitely did not show its age. This is such a low blow to coaster history and the guest experience as a whole. And I’m so sad we didn’t re-ride it considering we were on it in its last month and we had no idea.
I didn't even think about how rare that is, or was. I remember bopping my head on the sides of the restraint on Python and how uncomfortable that was in comparison.
I'm sad Scorpion is leaving us- only got to first ride it a couple years ago, but was delighted by it. You're so right about the Gs, I wasn't expecting this ride to be as forceful as it is.
I was at Busch Gardens on Monday. Scorpion was the first not-a-kiddie-coaster I rode on, and got to ride it one last time. It struck me while I was there that Kumba, Montu, the Skyride, train, and the Stanleyville Log Flume are the only attractions left from when I was a kid, and unless it gets retracked Kumba might not be long for this world. If the people desecra- I mean running Busch Gardens see this, I and many regulars would prefer a retrack.
Python is so iconic because they used it for so many of their marketing materials back in the day, but we LOVED Scorpion more. My friend and I had all-year passes back in 2002, and we both ditched work one day to hang at BG all day. The park was so empty, we were able to exit Scorpion and literally run back to the loading platform for the next run. We did it about five times in a row, until one of the employees was like "Just stay in your seats if you want", lol. And we did!! Seriously feel like I'm gonna cry knowing it's being removed. So many great memories of that coaster.
I happened to be at BGT the day they announced its closure. I was actually in line for Falcon's Fury right next door to this coaster. I ran over there and rode it one last time with someone who had never done it before. The whole ride staff were very saddened by the news, as you would expect. It seems like the ride crew for this attraction really appreciate the history of the ride. It will definitely be missed, but I can understand why the park would want to move on from it. A beloved attraction closing is always sad news.
I’m sad I’m not able to attend the closure of Scorpion. It was my first rollercoaster when I was like 5-6 years old. Thank you Scorpion for getting me into the thrill of coasters.
Born and raised in Florida. Grew up on the east coast, but my family had a stretch of probably close to a decade where Busch gardens was our favorite theme park. Scorpion was my first. The first time I went was in spring of ‘97 back when the only coasters they had were Python, Scorpion, Kumba and Montu. Montu was obviously the new bad boy on the block so the lines were longer. You could ride scorpion back to back. And I still have a soft spot for it. I’m sad to see it go, but it’s had a good run.
I'm glad I rode the Scorpion one more time with my daughter in 2017. It reminded me of the other Schwarzkopf coaster Teststrecke that used to be at Dorney Park (Laser).
Growing up in Tampa, this was my first ‘big girl coaster’. I vividly remember riding this with my dad who was terrified of roller coasters but rode with me anyway. This was my brothers first big coaster too and I will never forget being the one to ride with him as his big sister 😢
Poseideon, first of all love your videos man. Scorpion was my first inverted coaster too! Got the same spot in my heart. Last time I went on it a summer or two ago it was such a nostalgia hit. For how small it is I think it's fun. It fits the area it's at as well.
The Scorpion will be missed. I remember many hot summer days waiting in that queue. I used to love BGT but I cancelled my annual passes last year. So much of the charm has gone. I miss the band.
Like you and others, this was my first ‘upside-down roller coaster’. It was (and is) a great starter coaster for tweens. It’s short enough so that if you’re begging to get off, it won’t be too long, but still packs a good thrill in its short runtime. (Ps. Yes, the orange paint was a better look, too. In fact the Pantopia color scheme is pretty garish overall.)
This ride caught me and subsequently everyone else I rode it with off guard. It’s surprisingly punchy despite looking so small against the backdrop of 200-300ft attractions nearby. It throws you around with some awkward (lack of heartline?) transitions, but it’s still smooth oddly enough. It’s the only Schwarzkopf I’ve ridden and I really haven’t ridden anything else like it. The completely circular loop alone is reason enough to keep it in my book, it’s so different from every other teardrop shaped loop I’ve ever ridden
I got to ride it earlier this week, it seemed a bit rough to me, but I had no idea that coaster was older than I am! Thanks for the great video! My first upside down coaster was Vortex at Kings Island, I had similar feelings when that got shut down.
I hope it is sold. Would be a perfect looper for a smaller park. It was still running smooth when I road it in May. If someone bought T3, someone can definitely buy Scorpion.
I'm from Tampa, it's the first roller coaster I rode as a kid that went upside down. I also have fond memories of being there with my dad, when the announcer said prepare to feel the sting of the Scorpion he would Pinch Me In the arm and laugh
So many memories attached to this ride it really is sad to see it go! and so quickly too! I remember my elementary school science teacher worked on scorpion when he was younger and used to use it to teach us about G-Force. I used to ride it back to back during howl-o-scream when there was no line. RIP Scorpion I hope they find a home for it
I’ve rode Scorpion during my first and only visit to BGT in 2019. I thought it was a solid roller coaster and do appreciate its historical value. What really stood out to me was how aggressive the brakes were in the first brake run. In general, it’s sad to see a classic Anton Schwarzkopf bite the dust. Anton Schwarzkopf has built up a historical legacy. They had the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast in SooperDooperLooper at Hersheypark and Revolution at Magic Mountain, which was the first modern looping coaster in the world. RIP Scorpion.
This ride had the most G Force for years after the big rides were built. It packed a wallop. I'll never forget riding it nonstop in the final hour as a teen in the early 2000s. When they let us stay on and skip that terrible walk around.
I also grew up in tampa under the original ownership and Scorpion was the first ever roller coaster I rode. Deeply upsetting that I am unable to ride it one last time. I've witnessed the downfall in real time as I spent my early childhood running around dragonland as a makeshift playground, my young childhood summers going every monday, and my young adult hood working for the parks (both HOS and regular park employment) post-buy out. It is so tragic seeing the decline of this amazing park.
I understand where you’re coming from on this. I’m not sure how to feel about such things. I’ve lived in the Orlando area now for over 26 years and love theme and amusement parks. But I grew up in Michigan until I was 19. Although it was a good 5 hour drive from where I lived, I grew up going to Cedar Point a good handful of times. There have been and still are a few rides there that are pretty old now. One similar to Scorpion that comes to mind there is the Corkscrew. It opened in 1976, and is still there. By today’s standards it’s VERY simple and not all that thrilling. But for the time it was a juggernaut of a thrill. They also have the Blue Streak, opened in 1964, that’s a very simple and classic wooden coaster similar on at to something like the Cyclone at Coney Island. Again, by today’s standards extremely simple and tame, but I think being a classic woody and maybe the oldest coaster in the park, it will likely always be kept around. So where do you draw the line with things like that? Just because a ride isn’t the oldest, should it not be kept? I don’t know. At Cedar Point, especially during the coaster wars of the 90’s and early 2000’s, almost every year there was a brand new type of coaster that broke some record and blew people’s minds. And I remember so many of those years visiting with great nostalgia. But looking at some today, their records have long since been broken, their lines are short, the hype has died down, and when I go on them, while still fun, I’m left with a little of a “meh” reaction. But I still remember how crazily huge of a deal they were when they premiered. So I think it just has to be a case by case basis decision whether to keep something or not, with a lot of factors taken in. Fan support, historic value, location in the park and if it’s holding back progress, age and safety of the ride itself, etc. But overall, I do like parks holding on to most rides if they can, and just continuing to build and build. If there’s room and budget, then you can always go back to the older rides. If for nothing else, nostalgic factor.
I think Scorpion is different than a lot of those older coasters though. Python was a lot like Corkscrew (without the loop) but was very rough at the end of its life. Scorpion still runs extremely well and is very forceful for its small size. If anything, Scorpion deserves to stay because its engineering holds up so much better than anything that Arrow produced.
Look at all the love for this coaster. It's so awesome. Hopefully, this noise makes it to the busch gardens executives, and they consider giving great coasters a proper send-off.
My family visited Tampa when I was at an age where I was becoming interested in thrill rides but was a bit too young for Sheikra & co. I rode the Scorpion and loved it, my first ever looping coaster. I feel like these “lower tier” thrills are a really overlooked area of park rides. They’re so good for tweens or others without theme park experience but outgrew the kiddie stuff.
I went to Busch Gardens Tampa for the first time on September 7th and I wanted to ride all the coasters. When on the trams an announcer mentioned that Scorpion would be permanently closing the following day. I don't keep up with coaster news, so I didn't hear about this news until that moment. I got my first and last ride on Scorpion that day. If I decided to go a week after, I would have missed the chance to ride this historic coaster at least once.
As a kid I was afraid of coasters that had inversion. Our family visited Busch Gardens several times a year and my brother and cousins always rode the big coasters. So as a test, I decided Scorpion would be a good entry to doing the bigger stuff. Mom came along with me and I loved it. I instantly became a fan of coasters and it breaks my heart to hear it will be gone. Edit - It's so wholesome and heartwarming to read how similar my experience was to so many. This was truly a special coaster.
This is the first rollercoaster I been on and it was my first date. I had to hide how terrified I was while I was waiting in line. This coaster brings back a rollercoaster of emotions
I work at Busch Gardens (mainly adventure island) and no employees even got a warning about the announcement. We all found out at the same time as everyone else. I went to ride it on the last day at 3pm right after i got off my shift and it was already shut down, gates closed, sign removed, and logo painted over. Absolutely devistated
loved the video. scorpion was my first coaster ever, 17 years ago! i'm hoping they relocate it strictly for its rarity, but you're prob right that itll get junked. :(
Scorpion was lots of people's first coaster. It was my first in Florida because we went to a 6 Flags in Illinois but I think it was also my first upside down coaster. After that trip, I loved Busch more than Disney. After moving to Florida as an adult, I worked a few years at HOS to earn extra money. That was when they still had an amazing entertainment department. Not sure how it is now but it is sad to me to learn that this new company running the parks seems to be running it cheaply and guest experiences ate suffering.
This was on the planned path of progression for my daughter who has been looking to gain confidence in riding coasters. She's still earlier into her desire to ride bigger and bigger coasters and as of now is confident with Barnstormer and Penguin Trek with Slinky Dog Dash being the next coaster that I think she'll be confident riding. She did ride Ice Breaker for the first time just this past weekend but by the time I heard about the planned closure on Sunday it was too late to plan for a quick trip to ride Scorpion as her first looping coaster. It was my first looping coaster with my dad back in the mid-90s and I wanted to have that memory with her. 😭
Scorpion was my first ever roller coaster back in the day. Its sad to hear its getting shut down but luckily i am going today to ride it one last time and can say goodbye.
Man I didn’t know that Busch gardens was your home park. As someone that loves/loved Busch gardens I’ve only ridden scorpion a handful of times. But knowing its history alongside the parks makes me sad to see it go. Makes me sad thinking about the path Busch gardens seems to be on.
The Scorpion had the blue supports back in 2006 in the summer and in 2007 spring March (obviously) when I returned to the area. This was the greatest park I'd ever been to in 2006.
Scorpeon was the first looping rollar coaster that helped me overcome my fear of going upside down on a rollar coaster. If it wasn't for the Scorpion, I wouldn't be brave enough to conquer Wildcats Revenge at Hersheypark, or the Rock n Rollar Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great Adventure, or my favorite coaster, The Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando.
Great video! This coaster has a lot of personal fond memories for me as well. Sadly, I don't think there's a chance that it will be relocated. Someone would really have to step up to the plate and want to purchase it because I can't imagine BGT seeking out a buyer. I'm certain it will be scrapped. Fun ride, packs a lot of family thrills in a small space and I've always enjoyed it on every visit. The plot of land will be really desolate without it (just like Vortex). Really sorry to see it go without a last ride and will certainly be more saddened when I visit in October (minus a beloved coaster and classic BGT attraction).
I’ve been on hundreds of roller coasters, and this was the first. It’s not one of my favorite rides ever, but I’ve had very few uncomfortable rides on it and it’s been running really well recently. I wish they would keep it open through the year so I and others could try to find time to get on it, and I’m skeptical as to what they could possibly add to replace it. I know parks are always changing and it makes sense that this ride would be next to go, but the replacement needs to be really solid.
I can't believe they're closing the scorpion and so quickly. That was my very first roller coaster loop back in the '80s. That is an iconic and great coaster and I don't know why they're closing it because every time in my life I've been to Busch Gardens never once have I seen the scorpion without a line stacked up in front of it so people can ride it it. Very sad to see it go
Ok this one is a genuine surprise for me. Scorpion plays a pretty important role in the park being the first "big" coaster many in the Tampa area will experience (though it seems that's why they built Phoenix Rising to fill that gap now). It is one of those generational coasters, "my parents took me on it, i'm going to take my kids on it" type thing, and with such a small footprint I have no idea what you could put there that would be better. Maybe being an old Schwarzkopf Busch Gardens didn't see it as worth the maintenance investment and just wanted to get it off the books (as a former ride op of Whizzer at SFGAm I take personal offense to this lol). On the other hand Kumba takes up a huge plot of land. It's rough, unpopular, and it seems like that whole side of the park is dead because no one goes back there to ride it. I thought for sure it would be the next one to go.
I do think that maybe Cheetah Hunt now fills that role as a "steeping stone" coaster that Scorpion did, but either way, I don't want to see it gone. I agree that Kumba is rough though. It has a great legacy and is visually great, but it's not particularly comfortable. If another large ride was added back in the Congo though, like the giga that everyone seems to want, then I can see it and the rapids becoming a lot more popular.
As a kid, we visited Madera Beach every year (before moving to Tampa), and went to Busch Gardens every year. As an adult, I worked eight years as a stage manager at both Busch parks. I love them both so much, and as sad as I am about losing Scorpion, I'm far more sad to see what current ownership is doing to them. They'll be falling behind Six Flags and Cedar Fair soon at this rate, if not already.
This was the first coaster I ever road. My dad snuck me on it even though I was a couple inches below the height requirement. I remember having to keep my head back through the loop haha. It will be missed ♥️
I sadly have not been to Busch Gardens for almost 6 years due to financial reasons, but I did get to ride Scorpion while being a passholder for that year I was. Seeing this be tossed away makes me sad, even moreso that I will not be able to go ride it one final time.
The worst part of closing this is the fact they didn't give enough notice so fans could honor the ride one last time. They could've even sold merch calling it one last string. They missed out on money opportunities while also disappointing fans
Oh that’s a good idea.
yeah i want to ride it one last time but im busy this weekend so im not gonna be able to ride it
Yeah, I agree. I was lucky enough to be flexible this week to drive over and get a last ride on it, but they should have at least given a month's warning.
It’s a common practice nowadays not giving attractions any historical significance. Same sort of stuff at Disney.
@@PoseidonEntertainment This could made a excellent video, (If there's enough documentation out there) seeing how past rides and shows did their final run e.g. like the final Terminator Universal showing.
This was the first Rollercoaster I ever road as a kid. It was a special day...I'll miss this little loop coaster
Same here. First coaster in 6th grade that gave me the confidence to ride Montu and other coasters after.
This was a great starter coaster! It was perfect for showing kids that loops are not that scary.
Same for me, 7 years old. When BG was really good and the theming was perfect. Timbuktu, not *vomit* pantopia
Me too. I even had a t-shirt that said, “I just rode my first roller coaster. Scorpion.” Something like that. Sadge
This was my first coaster too
Sad to see it go. This was the first ever “big” coaster I ever rode as a kid that wasn’t in a Disney park. Before riding, I was terrified of the loop but came out of the coaster loving it and wanting to go again. Goodbye, old friend.
Yes, exactly. It's a good first step into the bigger stuff
I have been riding Scorpion for 30 years. I went back to say goodbye to it a couple days ago. Then I realized I have to be there on closing day. I have aquired custom-made shirts for my son and I to wear on our last ride. I just hope the park puts something awesome there to replace it. Looking down from falcon's fury on the plot of land scorpion that occupies and the unused gaming space next to it. I can see an RMC single rail fitting there just fine. If they did that it wouldn't hurt as bad to see scorpion go.
I really liked the one raptor that I tried at Magic Mountain and I've been wanting Florida to get one since. Since Fun Spot works with RMC, I thought one would be good in the Orlando location, but I agree that Busch would benefit from one there as well.
I was so fortunate to get a ride in July with a 360 camera. I was gonna skip it because I injured my ribs on montu because I got my restraints too tight. Fortunately, I did ride it and got a beautiful pov. My first thought after hearing it would be closed was a raptor track rmc. We marathoned Wonder Woman at Magic Mountain. It is as smooth as silk and offers unbelievable air time. I believe it's top 5 in the park and arguably top 3. We can certainly hope for one in Tampa, but who knows. I'm keeping hopes high.
For me it's more like 25 years (I was scared of coasters until I was an adult). I don't remember if this or Python was my first ever real coaster, but it was one of the two and now they're both gone. I was able to ride it last week one last time.
Scorpion trivia: It's one of the few coasters in the world to have a vertical loop with a circular shape as opposed to the more common teardrop shape. With a circular loop you have huge g-forces at the entry and then weightlessness at the top as the train slows down. It's a completely different experience compared to Kumba's loop where you ease into the vertical section and then whip over the top.
Few as in there's dozens of them.
Kumba is the only roller coaster that can consistently make me vomit.
@@jonny-b4954For real. Name a Schwarzkopf and it's got one
This was my daughters first rollercoaster.. we have fond memories of Scorpion, and will never forget it.
Yes, I always recommended
it to my friends who are scared of riding coasters
This REALLY hits close to home for me. Although I now find myself living in the UK, I grew up in Tampa, and the Scorpion was the very first coaster I've ridden on. For the longest time prior to my Scorpion experience, I was horrifically and irrationally fearful of coasters. It wasn't until I rode the Scorpion that I not only got over my irrational fear, but also began my lifelong love of coasters. Hearing this news truly breaks my heart. I know this is gonna sound cheesy, but it does feel like a part of me is now gone forever.
I was there in July and passed on riding this gem after an extensive rainstorm. I had ridden it many times before and felt I could catch it again during my next visit. What a bummer.
I went and rode her two last times. I will miss this punchy little girl, she’s still so smooth and fun. They are doing Scorpion dirty, she deserves better.
Gone but never forgotten ❤️
Aww, I actually really liked this little guy when I rode last winter. Glad I got on before it closed. Was smooth as glass. RIP another classic Schwarzkopf
Me and my brother both refer to this as “our first coaster” I remember him being tall enough to ride it and not wanting to, out of fear, but getting over that hurdle he then wanted to go on everything at the park once he got tall enough, I followed up and made sure I didn’t make the same mistake he did and the instant I measured tall enough to ride this I did, I must’ve rode it 5 times in a row that day so proud of overcoming that fear, this ride is so important to so many people out there it’s sad to see it go, thanks for giving it the respect it deserves
This coaster was definitey a kind of "Stepping-Stone" for alot of people, young and old. Very solid, very fun and comfortable, great for easing new ride-goers into more intimidating rides. It will be missed
This coaster is historic. I grew up in Orlando and this was my first inverted coaster as a little guy. I felt so brave afterward. LOL Been a coaster enthusiast ever since.
Scorpion was my first upside down rollercoaster as well. I got to ride it recently, a few weeks before they announced its closure. I'm glad I got to ride it one last time.
When I saw the announcement last weekend I immediately had a "what? why?" moment. Losing a Schwarzkopf is sad. It's like management went "Well Phoenix is operating time to axe the scorpion." As if adding a coaster with poor capacity makes up for it or something. BGT should have invested more into Phoenix to give it a longer layout. The B&M Family invert has a lot of potential for a fun coaster system that isn't a super extreme monster. I hope Son of the Big Bad Wolf at BGW gets good theming along it's layout to bring a good experience.
Yeah, I don't see why this and Phoenix can't co-exist. I just hope that it gets sold off and installed elsewhere at the very least
It's definitely time for it to go. It overshoots the brake run every 5-6 cycles. They have to manually tighten the brakes to keep it going. I'm guessing an air part broke and they can't get replacements. At one point on Friday it went straight through the station and 1/3 up the lift hill before stopping. It's literally on its last legs. It's sad. But they can't get parts for it since it's a rare model
@@CarolinaCycloneJamesthey just don’t wanna spend money, it’s always possible to get custom parts for anything
@@coastercube838 to an extent yes. But custom parts are very, very, very expensive. And who's to say those custom parts work. We all know how the trains on mindbendler at over GA turned out. And how the replacement track at the bottom of the Helix drop is. Id rather a coaster die from lack of investment after 40 years than it to be redone and it be way sucker than it was before. But again. They could spend thousands on a replacement air system for the brakes just for the computer to not register it or for it to not hook on right. Custom parts should only be done by a company that has the blueprints and specifications to that ride or have enough experience with those type of rides. See loch Ness monsters trains and retrack. But it's a 44 year old coaster that ran 365. In a very harsh climate. Constant rain everyday and thunderstorms, hurricanes. Hot conditions. It's taken a toll. Maybe it's just time for it to go. At first I was pissed by the decision. But all good things must end. My favorite coaster will also be torn down some day. Even coaster we deem as new will be gone in 50ish years. One day fury will be removed or iron gwazi. But it lived a long life and way more than the lifespan as advertised by Schwarzkopf
@CarolinaCycloneJames that's not a hard thing to fix. Buy new brakes. You can 1000% get custom parts made by dozens of companies. No problem. You're just paying for it. And they're cheap. Or more accurately, they're stupid with their money. Build coaster after coaster for year after year from the most expensive companies, then buy 1 train or do lazy theming haha. Let their areas and rides fall into disrepair (jungle, animal exhibits by Montu, Scorpion, the 360 ride that sat for 10 years where Pheonix is now)
This is so sad. Scorpion holds a special place in my personal history because it was my first coaster with an inversion as a kid. In my family it was seen as a right of passage, and I’m especially disappointed that I won’t be able to continue that tradition if I have kids someday.
Growing up, I refused to ride any coasters. Only few years ago decided to get over it and give it a go and Scorpion was my first vertical loop (my first time going upside down was actually Cheetah Hunt with it's heartline roll which I rode earlier the same day). I absolutely adore this ride; it's not the biggest or the baddest, but its a classic and I love the positive G's in the descending helix's. I'm very disappointed to see it closed and even more disappointed I didn't have a chance to get another ride in. Thanks for the video, it's nice seeing appreciation for a classic like this.
Thank you scorpion. I have so many memories about the my first ride with an inversion. Fly high ❤
Sad as it is to see Scorpion go, I'm not too surprised. It's been showing it's age a bit lately and my family was starting to skip it because it got really rough on the last helix and gave us all headaches. It was a great coaster, my little cousins who are too short to ride the big stuff loved it since there aren't many family-oriented coasters at the park, but it's days were already numbered, corporate greed just accelerated its demise.
I have a strong feeling someone will save this. I'm holding out hope it's Gene Staples, because this would be a wonderful addition to Clementon Park, a park that could definitely use something "new."
Great video. I was very disappointed by the news of closure. I'm old enough to remember when this was the big ride in the park. I remember driving down to Florida as a 10 year old, with the brochure in hand for Busch gardens. We were going to Disney world first, but I kept looking at the picture of scorpion going through the loop with the Timbuktu tower in the background. I had only gone on my first upside down roller coaster the year before ( the now defunct rocky point in Rhode island) so I was super excited to see and ride it.
I went to Busch gardens last year, for the first time in 20 years, and while I loved iron gwazi, montu, and all the newer thrills, I still rode scorpion several times, more than some of the newer additions. I loved the nostalgia, it made me feel like the 10 year old again, and it still packed quite the thrill. I wish therly'd keep it, but since that horse as left the barn, please relocate it. Canobie lake Park currently has a vacant plot after removing their arrow corkscrew a couple years ago, this would fit perfectly there and be an instant hit for that classic family park.
Love your work! Video idea: the decline of guest interaction in attractions. MGM studio tour, earthquake, ghostbusters just thinking off the top of my head. Keep ‘em coming
This was an excellent video discussing Scorpion!
It is very sad to see this classic Schwarzkopf coaster go, but thank you for highlighting it one more time.
This was my first "real" coaster experience when I was a kid! It seemed like such an exciting and futuristic roller coaster in the 80s. This and the Python were our badges of honor!
I remember riding this with my best friend at the time like 15 times in a row because there was no line. We were probably 10-12ish. Some incredible memories on there. Thank you so much for documenting it before it shut down. Very sad to hear about its closing.
Always great when you cover my home city park, Busch Gardens of Tampa Bay. Used to take the bus down Busch Blvd. and go to the park whenever I had a few days off of work.
So glad you put out a video on this. As has been stated by so many others, Scorpion was my first coaster that gave me the guts to later ride Kumba, and then Kraken when it opened. It is also a reminder for me of a time in Busch Gardens history when the theming was much more cohesive, extremely beautiful and well-maintained, and immersive.
Rode this as my first ever coaster with a loop, i spent my whole childhood liking rollercoasters but very limited because i was terrified of loops... i injured my neck somehow and am more scared of loops now
Scorpion was the first coaster I rode with a loop in it as a kid. Glad I had the chance to ride it again last year. I'm gonna miss it
Couldn't have said it better myself! This was also my first coaster with an inversion and I hold all of the same sentiments toward the ride as you. I was fortunate to go and get my final few rides the other day, but it is truly saddening to see it go. This video pays great respect. Well done!
As a FL native and someone that has had season passes to Busch Gardens for 20 years this made me really sad when I heard about it. I ended up talking about with my mom and we both realized that this was both her and my first rollercoaster. So to see this ride go really hurts.
The scorpion was the first real coaster I ever rode. It was my 8th grade physics day and my friends promised me they would get me a soft pretzel if I went. I made it a point to ride it twice every trip (at least monthly as a $50 fun pass was all I could afford for summer fun throughout college) and there was always a very short line. It is so nostalgic to look back and I am sad to see it go.
Thank you for standing up for Scorpion I wish I could’ve rode it one last time only finding out now one day after it’s closed…
I only got to ride it once, but it was my first experience of a real rollercoaster as a kid, and I’ll never forget it
Like many others in the comments, this was my first rollercoaster. I even remember how I was technically too short to ride it, and the only reason I was able to ride it was cause I was wearing a little pair of cowboy boots that gave me that extra half an inch I needed. Rest in peace, Scorpion. We always savored your sting.
Thank you very much for uploading this. I am going here the 1st of September, and I wouldn't have even known it was closing without the video. Will be sure to ride it one last time o7
So sad to see this one go. Have a lot of nostalgic attachment to it going back to the early 90s. The photo you used in the thumbnail is a beautiful tribute.
That's highly edited lol. I just took a screenshot of some of my footage and added a stock sunset sky
As a tampa native, it was sad to hear of this closing. My first coaster with a loop and the experience that made me a coaster enthusiast. I always thought they'd keep this standing due to it's compact layout, tenure, and legacy as the only permanent schwarzkoff. Planning to take the family for the day tomorrow for one last thrill and to say farewell. Thank you Scorpion for all these years of coaster happiness
Thank you for the Kumba recognition at the beginning. Sad to Scorpion close though as it was my sisters first ever ride with an loop and definitely was her gateway to the other rides.
I took two of my younger cousins to Busch Gardens this summer (literally less than a month ago)- I had never been since I’m not from the area, but they both had. All three of us LOVED this ride: found it ran smoothly and operations were good (especially considering how bad operations were everywhere else at the park). The ride experience was GREAT and we much preferred it to Phoenix rising- it definitely did not show its age.
This is such a low blow to coaster history and the guest experience as a whole. And I’m so sad we didn’t re-ride it considering we were on it in its last month and we had no idea.
The shots of the crazy camel and sandstorm! 😢 my favorite rides as a kid.
Loved this coaster 😢
First and maybe only time I can think of that went upside down without the shoulder restraints
I didn't even think about how rare that is, or was. I remember bopping my head on the sides of the restraint on Python and how uncomfortable that was in comparison.
I'm sad Scorpion is leaving us- only got to first ride it a couple years ago, but was delighted by it. You're so right about the Gs, I wasn't expecting this ride to be as forceful as it is.
So glad I snagged that credit last year. Great right, held up surprisingly well. Very intense as well for such a tiny thing
I was at Busch Gardens on Monday. Scorpion was the first not-a-kiddie-coaster I rode on, and got to ride it one last time. It struck me while I was there that Kumba, Montu, the Skyride, train, and the Stanleyville Log Flume are the only attractions left from when I was a kid, and unless it gets retracked Kumba might not be long for this world. If the people desecra- I mean running Busch Gardens see this, I and many regulars would prefer a retrack.
Python is so iconic because they used it for so many of their marketing materials back in the day, but we LOVED Scorpion more.
My friend and I had all-year passes back in 2002, and we both ditched work one day to hang at BG all day. The park was so empty, we were able to exit Scorpion and literally run back to the loading platform for the next run. We did it about five times in a row, until one of the employees was like "Just stay in your seats if you want", lol.
And we did!! Seriously feel like I'm gonna cry knowing it's being removed. So many great memories of that coaster.
Python was rough and I wasn't sad to see it leave, but I get why it was great for marketing. Scorpion though? It still runs great
This was my first loop coaster when I was 6 years old. I’m glad I took my kids last month to experience it.
I happened to be at BGT the day they announced its closure. I was actually in line for Falcon's Fury right next door to this coaster. I ran over there and rode it one last time with someone who had never done it before. The whole ride staff were very saddened by the news, as you would expect. It seems like the ride crew for this attraction really appreciate the history of the ride. It will definitely be missed, but I can understand why the park would want to move on from it. A beloved attraction closing is always sad news.
I’m sad I’m not able to attend the closure of Scorpion. It was my first rollercoaster when I was like 5-6 years old. Thank you Scorpion for getting me into the thrill of coasters.
Born and raised in Florida. Grew up on the east coast, but my family had a stretch of probably close to a decade where Busch gardens was our favorite theme park. Scorpion was my first. The first time I went was in spring of ‘97 back when the only coasters they had were Python, Scorpion, Kumba and Montu. Montu was obviously the new bad boy on the block so the lines were longer. You could ride scorpion back to back. And I still have a soft spot for it. I’m sad to see it go, but it’s had a good run.
Growing up in Florida, this was the first ride I road that went upside down, it will be missed!
My local theme park and my first coaster! Thanks for making the video
to say the "park is not run well' is a MASSIVE understatement
I'm glad I rode the Scorpion one more time with my daughter in 2017. It reminded me of the other Schwarzkopf coaster Teststrecke that used to be at Dorney Park (Laser).
Growing up in Tampa, this was my first ‘big girl coaster’. I vividly remember riding this with my dad who was terrified of roller coasters but rode with me anyway. This was my brothers first big coaster too and I will never forget being the one to ride with him as his big sister 😢
Poseideon, first of all love your videos man. Scorpion was my first inverted coaster too! Got the same spot in my heart. Last time I went on it a summer or two ago it was such a nostalgia hit. For how small it is I think it's fun. It fits the area it's at as well.
The Scorpion will be missed. I remember many hot summer days waiting in that queue. I used to love BGT but I cancelled my annual passes last year. So much of the charm has gone. I miss the band.
Like you and others, this was my first ‘upside-down roller coaster’. It was (and is) a great starter coaster for tweens. It’s short enough so that if you’re begging to get off, it won’t be too long, but still packs a good thrill in its short runtime.
(Ps. Yes, the orange paint was a better look, too. In fact the Pantopia color scheme is pretty garish overall.)
This ride caught me and subsequently everyone else I rode it with off guard. It’s surprisingly punchy despite looking so small against the backdrop of 200-300ft attractions nearby. It throws you around with some awkward (lack of heartline?) transitions, but it’s still smooth oddly enough. It’s the only Schwarzkopf I’ve ridden and I really haven’t ridden anything else like it. The completely circular loop alone is reason enough to keep it in my book, it’s so different from every other teardrop shaped loop I’ve ever ridden
I got to ride it earlier this week, it seemed a bit rough to me, but I had no idea that coaster was older than I am! Thanks for the great video!
My first upside down coaster was Vortex at Kings Island, I had similar feelings when that got shut down.
Scorpion was my first coaster. Glad I rode it again two years ago. RIP king!
I hope it is sold. Would be a perfect looper for a smaller park. It was still running smooth when I road it in May.
If someone bought T3, someone can definitely buy Scorpion.
It would be neat to see the Fun Spot parks buy this. There's enough room for it at the Atlanta property, and they could use another investment.
God, I love Tampa!! Been here my whole life, born and raised 😎
I'm from Tampa, it's the first roller coaster I rode as a kid that went upside down. I also have fond memories of being there with my dad, when the announcer said prepare to feel the sting of the Scorpion he would Pinch Me In the arm and laugh
So many memories attached to this ride it really is sad to see it go! and so quickly too! I remember my elementary school science teacher worked on scorpion when he was younger and used to use it to teach us about G-Force. I used to ride it back to back during howl-o-scream when there was no line. RIP Scorpion I hope they find a home for it
I’ve rode Scorpion during my first and only visit to BGT in 2019. I thought it was a solid roller coaster and do appreciate its historical value. What really stood out to me was how aggressive the brakes were in the first brake run. In general, it’s sad to see a classic Anton Schwarzkopf bite the dust. Anton Schwarzkopf has built up a historical legacy. They had the first looping roller coaster on the East Coast in SooperDooperLooper at Hersheypark and Revolution at Magic Mountain, which was the first modern looping coaster in the world. RIP Scorpion.
This was an excellent little coaster. Scorpion will be missed.
This ride had the most G Force for years after the big rides were built. It packed a wallop. I'll never forget riding it nonstop in the final hour as a teen in the early 2000s. When they let us stay on and skip that terrible walk around.
I also grew up in tampa under the original ownership and Scorpion was the first ever roller coaster I rode. Deeply upsetting that I am unable to ride it one last time. I've witnessed the downfall in real time as I spent my early childhood running around dragonland as a makeshift playground, my young childhood summers going every monday, and my young adult hood working for the parks (both HOS and regular park employment) post-buy out. It is so tragic seeing the decline of this amazing park.
I understand where you’re coming from on this. I’m not sure how to feel about such things. I’ve lived in the Orlando area now for over 26 years and love theme and amusement parks. But I grew up in Michigan until I was 19. Although it was a good 5 hour drive from where I lived, I grew up going to Cedar Point a good handful of times. There have been and still are a few rides there that are pretty old now. One similar to Scorpion that comes to mind there is the Corkscrew. It opened in 1976, and is still there. By today’s standards it’s VERY simple and not all that thrilling. But for the time it was a juggernaut of a thrill. They also have the Blue Streak, opened in 1964, that’s a very simple and classic wooden coaster similar on at to something like the Cyclone at Coney Island. Again, by today’s standards extremely simple and tame, but I think being a classic woody and maybe the oldest coaster in the park, it will likely always be kept around. So where do you draw the line with things like that? Just because a ride isn’t the oldest, should it not be kept? I don’t know. At Cedar Point, especially during the coaster wars of the 90’s and early 2000’s, almost every year there was a brand new type of coaster that broke some record and blew people’s minds. And I remember so many of those years visiting with great nostalgia. But looking at some today, their records have long since been broken, their lines are short, the hype has died down, and when I go on them, while still fun, I’m left with a little of a “meh” reaction. But I still remember how crazily huge of a deal they were when they premiered. So I think it just has to be a case by case basis decision whether to keep something or not, with a lot of factors taken in. Fan support, historic value, location in the park and if it’s holding back progress, age and safety of the ride itself, etc. But overall, I do like parks holding on to most rides if they can, and just continuing to build and build. If there’s room and budget, then you can always go back to the older rides. If for nothing else, nostalgic factor.
I think Scorpion is different than a lot of those older coasters though. Python was a lot like Corkscrew (without the loop) but was very rough at the end of its life. Scorpion still runs extremely well and is very forceful for its small size. If anything, Scorpion deserves to stay because its engineering holds up so much better than anything that Arrow produced.
Look at all the love for this coaster. It's so awesome. Hopefully, this noise makes it to the busch gardens executives, and they consider giving great coasters a proper send-off.
My family visited Tampa when I was at an age where I was becoming interested in thrill rides but was a bit too young for Sheikra & co. I rode the Scorpion and loved it, my first ever looping coaster. I feel like these “lower tier” thrills are a really overlooked area of park rides. They’re so good for tweens or others without theme park experience but outgrew the kiddie stuff.
I went to Busch Gardens Tampa for the first time on September 7th and I wanted to ride all the coasters. When on the trams an announcer mentioned that Scorpion would be permanently closing the following day. I don't keep up with coaster news, so I didn't hear about this news until that moment. I got my first and last ride on Scorpion that day. If I decided to go a week after, I would have missed the chance to ride this historic coaster at least once.
As a kid I was afraid of coasters that had inversion. Our family visited Busch Gardens several times a year and my brother and cousins always rode the big coasters. So as a test, I decided Scorpion would be a good entry to doing the bigger stuff. Mom came along with me and I loved it. I instantly became a fan of coasters and it breaks my heart to hear it will be gone.
Edit - It's so wholesome and heartwarming to read how similar my experience was to so many. This was truly a special coaster.
This is the first rollercoaster I been on and it was my first date. I had to hide how terrified I was while I was waiting in line. This coaster brings back a rollercoaster of emotions
I work at Busch Gardens (mainly adventure island) and no employees even got a warning about the announcement. We all found out at the same time as everyone else. I went to ride it on the last day at 3pm right after i got off my shift and it was already shut down, gates closed, sign removed, and logo painted over. Absolutely devistated
loved the video. scorpion was my first coaster ever, 17 years ago! i'm hoping they relocate it strictly for its rarity, but you're prob right that itll get junked. :(
Scorpion was lots of people's first coaster. It was my first in Florida because we went to a 6 Flags in Illinois but I think it was also my first upside down coaster. After that trip, I loved Busch more than Disney. After moving to Florida as an adult, I worked a few years at HOS to earn extra money. That was when they still had an amazing entertainment department. Not sure how it is now but it is sad to me to learn that this new company running the parks seems to be running it cheaply and guest experiences ate suffering.
This was on the planned path of progression for my daughter who has been looking to gain confidence in riding coasters. She's still earlier into her desire to ride bigger and bigger coasters and as of now is confident with Barnstormer and Penguin Trek with Slinky Dog Dash being the next coaster that I think she'll be confident riding. She did ride Ice Breaker for the first time just this past weekend but by the time I heard about the planned closure on Sunday it was too late to plan for a quick trip to ride Scorpion as her first looping coaster. It was my first looping coaster with my dad back in the mid-90s and I wanted to have that memory with her. 😭
Scorpion was my first ever roller coaster back in the day. Its sad to hear its getting shut down but luckily i am going today to ride it one last time and can say goodbye.
Man I didn’t know that Busch gardens was your home park. As someone that loves/loved Busch gardens I’ve only ridden scorpion a handful of times. But knowing its history alongside the parks makes me sad to see it go. Makes me sad thinking about the path Busch gardens seems to be on.
It's not any longer, but it was for most of my life
The Scorpion had the blue supports back in 2006 in the summer and in 2007 spring March (obviously) when I returned to the area. This was the greatest park I'd ever been to in 2006.
Scorpeon was the first looping rollar coaster that helped me overcome my fear of going upside down on a rollar coaster.
If it wasn't for the Scorpion, I wouldn't be brave enough to conquer Wildcats Revenge at Hersheypark, or the Rock n Rollar Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great Adventure, or my favorite coaster, The Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando.
Scorpion was my first coaster with an inversion! Tough loss.
Four generations of my family will always hold fond memories of The Scorpion.
This is sad. This was my first coaster with a loop that I rode. This coaster was the start of my love for roller coasters
It was my first "real" rollercoaster ride, back in 1998. It was great.
My first coaster with a loop! Now Montu is my favorite coaster.
Great video! This coaster has a lot of personal fond memories for me as well. Sadly, I don't think there's a chance that it will be relocated. Someone would really have to step up to the plate and want to purchase it because I can't imagine BGT seeking out a buyer. I'm certain it will be scrapped. Fun ride, packs a lot of family thrills in a small space and I've always enjoyed it on every visit. The plot of land will be really desolate without it (just like Vortex). Really sorry to see it go without a last ride and will certainly be more saddened when I visit in October (minus a beloved coaster and classic BGT attraction).
I’ve been on hundreds of roller coasters, and this was the first. It’s not one of my favorite rides ever, but I’ve had very few uncomfortable rides on it and it’s been running really well recently. I wish they would keep it open through the year so I and others could try to find time to get on it, and I’m skeptical as to what they could possibly add to replace it. I know parks are always changing and it makes sense that this ride would be next to go, but the replacement needs to be really solid.
I can't believe they're closing the scorpion and so quickly. That was my very first roller coaster loop back in the '80s. That is an iconic and great coaster and I don't know why they're closing it because every time in my life I've been to Busch Gardens never once have I seen the scorpion without a line stacked up in front of it so people can ride it it. Very sad to see it go
rode it on monday for the last time so sad. have many memories of ridding this coaster as a child.
As someone who is terrified of rollercoasters this is one of the handful of rides that I was not scared to do, sucks I’ll never ride it again!
This was my first ever invert. Glad I got to ride it a few months ago before it closed. o7
Ok this one is a genuine surprise for me. Scorpion plays a pretty important role in the park being the first "big" coaster many in the Tampa area will experience (though it seems that's why they built Phoenix Rising to fill that gap now). It is one of those generational coasters, "my parents took me on it, i'm going to take my kids on it" type thing, and with such a small footprint I have no idea what you could put there that would be better. Maybe being an old Schwarzkopf Busch Gardens didn't see it as worth the maintenance investment and just wanted to get it off the books (as a former ride op of Whizzer at SFGAm I take personal offense to this lol).
On the other hand Kumba takes up a huge plot of land. It's rough, unpopular, and it seems like that whole side of the park is dead because no one goes back there to ride it. I thought for sure it would be the next one to go.
I do think that maybe Cheetah Hunt now fills that role as a "steeping stone" coaster that Scorpion did, but either way, I don't want to see it gone. I agree that Kumba is rough though. It has a great legacy and is visually great, but it's not particularly comfortable. If another large ride was added back in the Congo though, like the giga that everyone seems to want, then I can see it and the rapids becoming a lot more popular.
As a kid, we visited Madera Beach every year (before moving to Tampa), and went to Busch Gardens every year. As an adult, I worked eight years as a stage manager at both Busch parks. I love them both so much, and as sad as I am about losing Scorpion, I'm far more sad to see what current ownership is doing to them. They'll be falling behind Six Flags and Cedar Fair soon at this rate, if not already.
One of the only rollercoasters i would ride as a kid because i felt safe on it lol hugely saddened by the loss of the old ride
This was the first coaster I ever road. My dad snuck me on it even though I was a couple inches below the height requirement. I remember having to keep my head back through the loop haha. It will be missed ♥️
I sadly have not been to Busch Gardens for almost 6 years due to financial reasons, but I did get to ride Scorpion while being a passholder for that year I was. Seeing this be tossed away makes me sad, even moreso that I will not be able to go ride it one final time.
Kumba is my favorite. I hated it as a kid because it was so rough but as an adult it's addicting. I'll cry if they ever get rid of it!!