Gwazi

Gwazi rose on the former brewery grounds at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where Great Coasters International built a pair of wooden tracks for the park's summer programme in 1999. It opened as a substantial new landmark in the Tampa landscape. bgthistory.com· tampabay.com

Visitors chose between the Lion and Tiger sides, whose trains raced over adjoining timberwork and met one another in a series of close crossings. The arrangement gave the ride a sense of friendly contest as well as the fine, rattling character of a large wooden coaster. coasterpedia.net· bgthistory.com

As the years passed, Gwazi required retracking and new trains, but the hot and humid Florida climate made the structure increasingly difficult to maintain. The Tiger side closed first, leaving the Lion side to carry the remaining service. coasterpedia.net· coaster101.com

Gwazi closed permanently in 2015 because of low attendance, high operating costs, and negative guest feedback. The former site was later selected for a new wood-and-steel hybrid coaster incorporating elements of the original ride. coasterpedia.net· attractionsmanagement.com