Busch Gardens keeps expanding its original mythology with Return to Corkscrew Hill
Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s newly announced Return to Corkscrew Hill continues the park’s growing focus on original storytelling. The park announced on social media on Monday, August 3, 2026, that ‘Return to Corkscrew Hill’ will debut in 2027, promising “all-new immersive storytelling, new technology, and incredible new effects” while continuing the story of one of Busch Gardens’ most beloved adventures.
The announcement follows this year’s debut of Verbolten: Forbidden Turn, which reimagined the coaster’s storyline with new characters, scenes, and special effects. Busch Gardens expanded the attraction’s original mythology.
That trend appears to continue with Return to Corkscrew Hill. While Busch Gardens has not yet revealed specific details about the attraction itself, its emphasis on storytelling suggests guests can expect another experience rooted in the park’s original lore.
A possible strategy
Looking at what the park has done over the last two years:
- 2025: Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge revived a beloved IP with a new ride.
- 2026: Verbolten: Forbidden Turn refreshed an existing attraction with richer storytelling and effects.
- 2027: Return to Corkscrew Hill revives another fan-favorite attraction with “new technology.”
Watch our on-board interview while riding Verbolten: Forbidden Turn.
Key details confirmed
- Return to Corkscrew Hill is coming in 2027.
- Busch Gardens describes it as “the story continues” for one of the park’s most beloved attractions.
- The attraction will feature:
- All-new immersive storytelling
- New technology
- New special effects
Corkscrew Hill attraction history
Corkscrew Hill was a 3D motion simulator attraction in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Ireland village. It was a fantasy adventure that combined a large motion simulator with 3D film, practical effects, and Irish mythology.
Timeline
- Opened: 2001
- Closed: September 7, 2009 at the end of the 2009 season to make way for Europe in the Air, which opened in 2010.
What happened after it closed?
The same theater building has housed three attractions:
- Corkscrew Hill (2001–2009)
- Europe in the Air (2010–2016)
- Battle for Eire (2018–2024, initially with VR before the headsets were later removed)
Busch Gardens Williamsburg says it will share behind-the-scenes looks at the project throughout development, with Return to Corkscrew Hill scheduled to open in 2027.
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