Drachen Fire was a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. Manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, the ride opened to the public in 1992. Drachen Fire featured a lift hill, six inversions, and a zero-gravity camelback element. One of the inversions was removed after the 1994 season to improve ride comfort. The track was light blue with silver supports, and it was located in the Oktoberfest portion of the park behind Big Bad Wolf and Das Festhaus. It was originally configured with three trains, each consisting of red cars with grey seats, and featured red trim lights that illuminated the trains at night. Drachen Fire was closed in the middle of the 1998 season following a history of low ridership and complaints of roughness. It remained standing until its demolition in 2002.
History
Construction and opening
On July 5, 1991, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced that a new steel roller coaster would be added to the park in 1992. Built by Arrow Dynamics, the ride would be located towards the back of the park next to Big Bad Wolf. The ride would be named Drachen Fire, after the word for "dragon" in German. It would become the park's third major roller coaster. The attraction would feature six inversions, That year, the Anheuser-Busch Entertainment Corporation announced a myriad upcoming attractions for their various amusement parks. Keith M. Kasen, then General Manager for Busch Gardens Williamsburg, commented on the addition of Drachen Fire for the 1992 season stating, "Anheuser-Busch has shown a commitment to reinvestment and making a real strong quality statement." Construction of the new coaster was completed in early 1992, placing it on schedule to open the same year on April 4. The tagline marketed for the ride was "Feel the Heat".
The park hired comedian Dana Carvey to meet and greet visitors, as well as cut the ribbon at a special preview opening ceremony on April 3, 1992.
Operation
The ride drew large crowds and was initially well-received by many coaster enthusiasts. In 1995, another guest sued Busch Gardens, Arrow Dynamics, and technical consultant William N. Carlson, alleging that he had received "severe permanent injuries" two years earlier because of the ride's restraint system.
Riders were routinely advised by announcers to remove any clip-on earrings before riding and keep their heads pressed against headrests during the ride. This resulted in ride operators in the station not only checking the train's restraints, but also checking riders' ears for earrings. The train would not dispatch unless these instructions were followed. After increasing complaints, the corkscrew directly after the mid-course brake run was replaced with a straight section for the 1995 season.
Closure and demolition
The removal of the corkscrew after the mid-course brake run failed to resolve ongoing issues with ride safety and comfort. and Alpengeist in 1997. The opening of the latter attraction had made Drachen Fire obsolete, as guests preferred to ride Alpengeist. Local residents also complained that the screams of riders on Drachen Fire were disturbing them. Ultimately, the attraction was closed indefinitely in July 1998. The following year, the park would debut another Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster, Apollo's Chariot, while Drachen Fire sat abandoned.
The Daily Press reported in January 1999 that the park planned to further modify the coaster. The park had several offers but failed to reach agreements with prospective buyers. However, in September 2024, the park announced plans to build a Bolliger & Mabillard family inverted coaster on this plot instead. The new ride is named Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf's Revenge, in homage to the former Big Bad Wolf suspended coaster that once operated next to Drachen Fire.
Ride experience
The ride had about of track.