Just two weeks until opening, construction walls are coming down at Cheetah Hunt

By Don Gworek

New views of Busch Gardens new roller coaster, Cheetah Hunt, are now available. The ride opens on Memorial Day, May 27, 2011.

Above is a view of the most powerful of the three launches on the ride. This launch sends the coaster train up into the elevated figure eight and down the first drop. (All photos were taken on May 1, 2011.)

Construction walls are now down at the pedestrian bridge over the mid-section of Cheetah Hunt. In this view, track is passing both above the bridge and through a tunnel under the bridge. You can also see the track as it hops over the Skyway cables. In the far distance, behind the “A” support, is the elevated figure eight and first drop.

Here’s the view on the other side of the pedestrian bridge. See anything interesting about the track as it heads under the bridge?

What’s interesting is the track makes a side-to-side motion as it passes through the tunnel. This is very unconventional. Usually coasters pass straight through tunnels. Cheetah literally does the twist!

The pond at the far north end of Cheetah Hunt is empty. You can see a waterline on the concrete foundation. Water was ponded here a few weeks ago, then drained.

Construction walls in the Cheetah Hunt station area have been replaced with barricades.

If you look at this picture too fast, you’ll miss something. Look closer at the center of the frame. Ah!

These are the first theming banners to go up on Cheetah Hunt.

As seen with a zoom lens from the Cheetah Hunt Overlook, at the Crown Colony House third level.

A wider shot of the plaza from the Cheetah Hunt Overlook.

The theming looks great, but work is continuing. It’s interesting to see temporary bindings on these poles.

It seems like this will be an outdoor cafe of some sort. Maybe with tables with large umbrellas. (As seen from the Crown Colony second level.) A construction wall has also been removed here, revealing the view.