I am a self confessed adrenaline junkie, thrill addict, roller coaster freak, etc. Which is why living in this part of Florida is right in the sweet spot. Not only do we have more theme parks than probably anywhere else, but we have lots of options too. From story tellers at Disney World and Universal Studios, to straight up fast and furious rides at Sea World and Busch Gardens, and everything in between, we’re spoiled for amusement park rides.

And now another big hit is getting ready to open at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Its a remodel of an old wooden coaster that was called Gwazi. Now its the world’s fastest AND steepest, and North America’s tallest hybrid coaster, Iron Gwazi. The hybrid coaster part comes from the original wood frame structure of Gwazi, with the addition of steel tracks, thus the Iron addition to the name. Originally slated to open back in the spring of 2020, the pandemic put the plans on hold, but not forever. Now Busch Gardens is nearing completion, and with a grand opening date now possible at any time (most are saying spring 2021), we’re finally seeing more and more of what’s to come on this record breaker.

According to Busch Gardens website: “Iron Gwazi takes thrills to new heights, plunging riders from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Riders on Iron Gwazi will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, as they sink their teeth into crocodile-inspired thrills.”

Take a first person ride with this POV video released showing a test run. And sign me up to go first!

Cox Media Group