Busch Garden’s Iron Gwazi Looks Freaking Awesome!

The world’s fastest and steepest hybrid roller coaster is almost ready to open!

Tom Daley Visits Busch Gardens With Boyfriend Dustin Lance Black And Friends TAMPA, FL - AUGUST 10: Tom Daley and boyfriend Lance Black ride the Cheetah Hunt rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Tampa on August 10, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. OLYMPIC diver Tom Daley has been spotted making a splash at an American theme park. The bronze medallist took time out of his gruelling schedule to belatedly celebrate his 21st birthday with a host of friends and long-term boyfriend, Dustin Lance Black. The spirited party laughed their way through the Busch Gardens Tampa theme park in sunny Florida. The birthday boy rode in the front row of roller coasters like the SheiKra and the Cheetah Hunt, a ride inspired by the parks big cat exhibit. One photo shows his friends comically sporting masks with his face on them while he fearlessly rides with both hands in the air. After enjoying a round of bacon pretzels, the group also toured the Serengeti Safari where they got up close and personal with giraffe - snapping selfies and hand feeding the giant animal. PHOTOGRAPH BY Ruaridh Connellan / Barcroft Media (Photo credit should read Ruaridh Connellan / Barcroft via Getty Images) (Barcroft Media/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

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!