Loch Ness Monster
G8 · American Steel
G8 · № 96/150
Loch Ness Monster
Busch Gardens Williamsburg · US · Arrow Development Custom Looping Coaster
“A Highland legend curls its steel loops beside the Williamsburg water.”
UNOFFICIAL · NOT PARK-ENDORSED
Collect this card free →Fast facts
- Opened at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in June 1978. buschgardens.com
- Built by Arrow Development as a Custom Looping Coaster. coasterpedia.net
- The steel track rises 130 feet, or 39.6 metres. en.wikipedia.org
- The ride reaches 97 km/h, or 60 mph. buschgardens.com
- Its course includes two interlocking vertical loops. buschgardens.com
- Its original capacity was reported as 2,000 passengers per hour. en.wikipedia.org
- Construction cost was listed at $5,000,000. coasterpedia.net
The story of Loch Ness Monster
Busch Gardens announced the Loch Ness Monster on July 27, 1977, and work began that December. By April 13, 1978, the great steel frame had been topped off, ready to preside over the park’s Scotland section. coasterpedia.net
When the ride opened on June 2, 1978, it gave Williamsburg a striking Arrow Development showpiece: two interlocking loops, two chain lift hills, a tunnel, and a descent toward the park’s Rhine River. en.wikipedia.org· buschgardens.com
The Monster quickly became part of the park’s summer story. After its arrival, Busch Gardens Williamsburg recorded its earliest millionth visitor on July 22, 1978, and the season closed with a reported 2.1 million visitors. en.wikipedia.org
After many seasons of service, the coaster returned on May 10, 2024, following a full restoration. The work included replacement of 900 feet of its steel track, a careful renewal rather than a farewell. prnewswire.com· amusementtoday.com
Sources
- buschgardens.com Acceptable source
- coasterpedia.net Preferred source
- en.wikipedia.org Acceptable source
- prnewswire.com Acceptable source
- amusementtoday.com Acceptable source
This background is AI-drafted from public sources and human-reviewed before publishing — approved 20 August 2026.