Busch Gardens Williamsburg unveils Viking-themed wooden coaster for 2017

By Seth Kubersky
Hold onto your horned helmets, because Busch Gardens Williamsburg is building a Viking-themed wooden roller-coaster for the 2017 season.

After months of teasing the attraction through web videos and social media posts using the hashtag #BGProject2017, Bush Gardens Williamsburg finally unveiled details on the ride, which will be the Virginia park’s first wooden coaster.

The coaster will be built in the New France section of the park, and the storyline will pit fur trappers against invading Vikings who threaten to pillage their village. On the technical side, the wooden coaster will boast a 74 foot drop and 9 airtime-inducing hills, reaching a maximum speed of 48 miles per hour.

Here’s Busch Gardens’ official intro video, featuring a few more details on the 2017 attraction:

One thing that isn’t yet clear is the new ride’s name, which Busch Gardens Williamsburg has left in the hands of its fans. From now through April 1, you can cast your ballot online for Viking Raider, Battle Klash, or InvadR as the new coaster’s name.

Update 4/8/2016: It’s now official, Busch Gardens fans have selected InvadR as the new coaster’s name. Fans will be able to vote online for further elements of the attraction in the coming months.