Iron Gwazi Construction Preview

Touring the Iron Gwazi Construction Site at Busch Gardens, Tampa and a preview of Solar Vortex at Adventure Island

Today we were invited down to Busch Gardens, Tampa to explore the new RMC Iron Gwazi construction site that featured a tour of the new station. We also got to check out the new Dual Tailspin water slide at Adventure Island.

Before we get to the photos here is what we learnt:

85% of the track is complete for Iron Gwazi.
Still pushing for the Spring 2020 opening date but no further details were announced.
206 feet tall, speeds of 76 mph and a 91 degree drop.
Will become North America’s tallest and the world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster.
The new Iron Gwazi station track fits into the Tiger side of old Gwazi. Lion has been covered over for more station queue line.
Working with Rocky Mountain Construction has been great and the collaboration is one of the most exciting additions to the park.
Two gator themed trains, both of which are in the station & maintenance bay.
24 seater trains
120 seconds of ride time.
Three inversions.
12 airtime hills.

For more information check out the Iron Gwazi page here.

Now, lets get to the photos. Make sure to click on them for some closer detail.

We’ve added photos at the end of the post of construction photos from September 2019 to show much has changed. Also at the end of the pictures check out the drone footage shot by Busch Gardens of the Iron Gwazi site.

Photos – Outside the station

Iron Gwazi looms over the park and even on a foggy morning looks intimidating on approach to the park.

Iron Gwazi Construction Lift Hill — Here is the redone station with the 206 ft lift hill looming behind. Check out those tiny workers on that lift hill.

Closer look at the workers at the top of the lift hill.

Iron Gwazi Construction Entrance — The new entrance Iron Gwazi, nicely painted and looks similar to the old Gwazi with a fresh coat of paint.

Iron Gwazi Construction Station — The station for Iron Gwazi and the lockers beneath. Sporting a new green and purple paint job. Heavily banked turn over the station as well.

Iron Gwazi Construction Walls — New paint job for Iron Gwazi. More walls to take photos in front of if that is your kind of thing.

Iron Gwazi Construction Queue Line — A sneak of peak of the queue line. Lockers already good to go in the background.

Iron Gwazi Construction Station Exit — The ride will leave the station here. To the right was the old entrance slope to the Unearthed Howl O Scream house.

Iron Gwazi Construction View from the Quick Queue line to the Gwazi Station — View towards the Quick Queue line from the Station.

Iron Gwazi Construction View from the Quick Queue line — View of the heavily banked track over the station. Inversion to the left.

Station

Iron Gwazi Construction Old Lion side — View of the boarded up old Lion side of Gwazi exit.

Iron Gwazi Construction Boarded over Lion side. — A view of the boarded up Lion side of Gwazi which will be used for station queuing.

Iron Gwazi Lion — The old Lion side return to the station fenced up.

Iron Gwazi Construction Control Booth — View of the Control Booth which was the same location of Old Gwazi’s.

Iron Gwazi Construction inversion — View from the station of the inversion and start of the banked turn.

Iron Gwazi Construction Station return view — View out the back of the station where the ride vehicle will return. This mass of wood is the banked turn. You can also spot the second ride vehicle parked.

Iron Gwazi View of Station return — Track returning to the station.

Ride Vehicle

Iron Gwazi Construction Ride Car parked 1 — Front of the ride car parked in the station.

Iron Gwazi Construction Close up of the seats — Closer look at the ride seat.

Iron Gwazi Construction Car in station 2 — Ride in the station with work going on behind.

Iron Gwazi Construction Leaving the station — The ride station exit towards the lift hill.

Iron Gwazi station exit 2 — Train not quite ready to leave the station.

Iron Gwazi Construction Full Train — Rear view of the full train.

Iron Gwazi Construction second train — View of the second train peaking through the wood.

Iron Gwazi Construction Front car — A closer look at the front car. Seat belts and lap bars in operation.

Iron Gwazi Construction Final Look — A final look at the full train.

And that covers our tour of the Iron Gwazi station. We can’t wait to come back and visit when this beast finally opens!

To see how the construction has progressed since our last visit in September 2019, check out the photos below.

September 2019

Iron Gwazi 2019 — View of the entrance. September 2019.

Now take a look at how this compares to the drone footage released by Busch Gardens Tampa below:

Drone Footage

Keep on reading for a few views of the new Solar Vortex slide coming to Adventure Island. This will be America’s first dual tailspin water slide. This 706 feet long, 20 mph slide will open this spring.

Solar Vortex Adventure Island

Solar Vortex 2 — One of the final pieces of Solar Vortex waiting to be installed.

Solar Vortex 3 — Solar Vortex almost complete.

Solar Vortex 4 — View of the final splash down for Solar Vortex.

And that covers our day at Busch Gardens for the Iron Gwazi Construction update and Adventure Island.

Thanks to Busch Gardens, Tampa for inviting us out.

Are you excited for RMC Iron Gwazi? We at Expedition Theme Park cannot wait to experience it this spring. We hoped you enjoyed this construction update. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more updates. We will see you next time.

For pictures of our last hard hat construction tour of Ice Breaker at SeaWorld, Orlando click here.

For photos of our November Construction update of Iron Gwazi update click here.