Busch Gardens Theme Park in Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, located in Tampa, Florida, is one of the state’s premier theme parks, offering a unique blend of exhilarating roller coasters, family-friendly rides, and incredible animal encounters. Opened in 1959, the park originally started as a beer garden and brewery tour, but it has since evolved into a world-class adventure park known for its exciting attractions and expansive zoological collection. Covering 335 acres, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay combines the thrill of a traditional amusement park with the beauty and education of a zoo, making it a popular destination for families, animal lovers, and adrenaline seekers alike.
Busch Gardens is part of the larger SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment family, known for its focus on animal conservation and rescue efforts. The park features thrilling roller coasters, captivating live shows, themed areas inspired by exotic locales, and up-close experiences with animals from all over the world.
Attractions and Experiences
1. Thrill Rides and Roller Coasters: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is home to some of the most exhilarating roller coasters in the world, offering intense thrills and heart-pounding excitement.
- Iron Gwazi: The park’s newest and most anticipated roller coaster, Iron Gwazi is the tallest hybrid coaster in North America. It combines wood and steel track elements to deliver an unforgettable ride, with steep drops, sharp turns, and speeds reaching up to 76 mph.
- SheiKra: A floorless dive coaster that plunges riders down a 200-foot vertical drop at a 90-degree angle. SheiKra also features two heart-stopping inversions and a water element splashdown.
- Cheetah Hunt: This multi-launch coaster mimics the speed and agility of a cheetah, with sudden accelerations, twists, and turns. The ride offers stunning views of the park’s Serengeti Plain and delivers a smooth, thrilling experience.
- Montu: An inverted coaster that has long been a fan favorite, Montu features seven inversions and high-speed twists and drops, all while riders hang beneath the track with their feet dangling.
- Tigris: Florida’s tallest launch coaster, Tigris propels riders forward and backward through heart-racing twists, loops, and drops, offering a unique and intense ride experience.
- Kumba: Known for its intense G-forces and looping design, Kumba is a steel coaster that provides thrilling spirals, drops, and cobra rolls.
2. Family-Friendly Rides: In addition to its high-adrenaline attractions, Busch Gardens offers several rides suitable for families with children.
- Cobra’s Curse: This family-friendly coaster takes guests on a whirlwind adventure, with spinning cars and immersive storytelling centered around an ancient Egyptian curse.
- Stanley Falls Flume: A classic log flume ride with two drops, including a 40-foot plunge into the water, providing fun for all ages.
- Sesame Street Safari of Fun: This section of the park is designed for younger guests, offering kid-friendly rides, splash areas, and opportunities to meet beloved Sesame Street characters. Attractions include Air Grover, a junior roller coaster, and Elmo’s Safari Go-Round.
3. Animal Encounters and Zoological Exhibits: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is renowned for its expansive zoological areas, where guests can observe and interact with over 200 species of animals from around the world. The park emphasizes conservation, education, and the importance of protecting endangered species.
- Serengeti Plain: This massive, open-air habitat allows guests to view African wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and antelope. Visitors can embark on the Serengeti Safari, an open-air vehicle tour where they can get up close and personal with the animals, including feeding giraffes.
- Jungala: A lush tropical environment featuring animal exhibits, including Bengal tigers, orangutans, and other exotic species. Guests can watch tigers roam their habitats or observe orangutans swing through the trees.
- Edge of Africa: This walking trail provides guests with stunning views of African wildlife, including hippos, lions, meerkats, and crocodiles, in naturalistic habitats.
- Animal Care Center: Visitors can learn about animal care, conservation efforts, and veterinary treatments at this interactive facility. Live demonstrations allow guests to witness veterinary procedures and animal training sessions.
4. Live Shows and Entertainment: Busch Gardens offers a variety of live shows, featuring music, dancing, and animal performances.
- Turn It Up!: A vibrant ice-skating show held at the Moroccan Palace Theater. This high-energy performance blends dazzling choreography with modern pop music, creating an unforgettable spectacle.
- Critter Castaways: A lighthearted animal show featuring rescue animals such as dogs, cats, and birds performing tricks and demonstrating their natural behaviors in a fun, family-friendly setting.
- Sesame Street® Shows: Young visitors can enjoy live stage shows starring their favorite Sesame Street characters, such as Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster, along with interactive sing-alongs.
Seasonal Events
1. Howl-O-Scream: Busch Gardens’ annual Halloween event, Howl-O-Scream, transforms the park into a terrifying haunted experience. Featuring haunted houses, scare zones, roaming monsters, and themed entertainment, Howl-O-Scream is known for its intense scares and immersive horror elements. It’s one of the most popular Halloween events in Florida, attracting thrill-seekers each fall.
2. Christmas Town: During the holiday season, Busch Gardens is transformed into Christmas Town, a festive winter wonderland filled with holiday lights, seasonal shows, and Christmas-themed attractions. Guests can meet Santa Claus, experience holiday performances, and enjoy seasonal treats like hot cocoa and cookies.
3. Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival: Held each spring, the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival celebrates culinary delights and beverages from around the world. Guests can sample gourmet food, craft beers, and fine wines while enjoying live music from top artists and bands. The event also includes cooking demonstrations and specialty food booths.
Dining and Shopping
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers a variety of dining options, ranging from quick-service eateries to sit-down restaurants.
- Zambia Smokehouse: A popular spot for barbecue lovers, serving smoked ribs, brisket, chicken, and sausage with sides like baked beans and mac and cheese.
- Serengeti Overlook Restaurant: Offering a mix of international cuisine and American favorites, this restaurant provides beautiful views of the Serengeti Plain, making it a great spot for a relaxing meal.
- Dragon Fire Grill: A food court-style restaurant offering a variety of international dishes, including pizza, tacos, and stir-fry.
- Snack Carts and Food Stands: Throughout the park, guests can find snack stands offering items like soft pretzels, funnel cakes, popcorn, and refreshing drinks.
The park also features numerous gift shops, where visitors can purchase souvenirs, Busch Gardens-branded merchandise, and animal-themed gifts. Popular spots include Xcursions, which offers unique animal gifts and clothing, and Emporium, the largest shop in the park with a wide variety of collectibles and apparel.
Vicinity of Busch Gardens
Conservation and Animal Care
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is dedicated to wildlife conservation and is actively involved in the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, which supports projects aimed at preserving endangered species and habitats around the world. The park also plays a key role in animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts, focusing on marine animals, birds, and endangered species.
Nearby Attractions
- Adventure Island
A water park located just across from Busch Gardens, featuring water slides, pools, and lazy rivers that cater to visitors of all ages. - ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Explore a family-friendly zoo home to over 1,300 animals, interactive exhibits, and educational shows, located approximately 5 miles from Busch Gardens. - Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)
Discover hands-on science exhibits, planetarium shows, and interactive displays about space, technology, and more, just 2 miles away. - Ybor City Historic District
Visit this historic neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife, dining, and shopping, situated roughly 7 miles from Busch Gardens.
Additional Details
- Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is located at 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa, Florida. It is easily accessible from major highways and is just a short drive from downtown Tampa and the Gulf Coast beaches.
- Ticket Options: The park offers various ticketing options, including single-day admission, annual passes, and combo tickets that include entry to SeaWorld Orlando or Adventure Island (a water park next to Busch Gardens).
- Quick Queue Pass: For an additional fee, guests can purchase the Quick Queue Pass, which allows them to skip regular lines for most attractions and save time during their visit.
- Accessibility: Busch Gardens is wheelchair accessible, and guests with disabilities can enjoy the park with the help of accessibility guides and accommodations. The park also offers stroller and wheelchair rentals.
For more information visit: https://buschgardens.com 
