WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The clickety-clack sound of an older roller coaster is music to the ears of some thrill-seekers as they ride the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens.
Scary, exciting and nostalgic to ride this beast.
I rode beside Suzy Cheely, Vice President of Design for Busch Gardens.
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“Anti-roll features make that clicking sound, it's nostalgic," said Cheely as we were making our way around the track. "That's what our guest wanted. They wanted a lot of the old stuff, but they appreciate the new stuff."
"We replaced 900 feet of track, part of it we’re on right now,” she continued as we rode.
The Loch Ness Monster made history when it was built here at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.
“It opened in 1978 and it was the first interlocking, interlooping coaster,” said Cheely.
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I don’t want to spoil all the surprises, but there are some new things that will take you for a loop when you ride the renovated coaster. You’ll notice some big changes in the tunnel.
“We had to add theming because that's such a big part of rides nowadays," said Cheely. "And as you saw in the cave, a lot of surprises in there, a lot of visual adds."
Other riders are from a social group called American Coaster Enthusiasts met here 46 years ago when it first opened to the public.
“So much fun, but having a storyline and an immersive theme, takes a ride that we all love and makes it even better,” said Elizabeth Ringas, president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts.
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“The track layout is basically the same, but it's a new ride and the tunnel is amazing, that’s all I gotta say,” said one rider.
“What’s your favorite part?" I asked two members from the Coaster Enthusiasts group.
"The cave, they updated it, they did!" One answered.
"I think it's great I love how they made it smoother to ride, and it's so much funner to ride,” another said.
Whether it's for old times sake, or you just love unique roller coasters, we’re positively stoked that the Loch Ness is back and she is close to home.
