Here is a timeline for the SheiKra at Busch Gardens Africa:
April 2004: A new roller coaster is rumored to appear in the Stanleyville section of the park, part of a major expansion project for Stanleyville, which includes a new restaurant (Zambia Smokehouse), and new shops.
August 4, 2004 - Tikis have gone up on the construction walls.
October 5, 2004: Track starts to arrive for the new coaster.
October 15, 2004: The tunnel has been installed.
October 27, 2004 - SheiKra is announced.
November 18, 2004: Work on the fan turn begins beginning track work.
November 22, 2004: Fan turn completed.
November 26, 2004: Work on the station and maintenance building begins.
December 5, 2004: Final brakes, and station track have gone up.
December 12, 2004: First turn has gone up.
December 27, 2004: Lift hill begins construction. Zambia Smokehouse opens.
December 31, 2004: The first lift hill support has gone up.
January 21, 2005: The final lift hill support has gone up. The tunnel has been poured. The bottom of the first drop has been installed.
January 26, 2005: SheiKra's lift has been topped off.
January 29, 2005: SheiKra's first drop begins track work.
February 2, 2005: The track above the tunnel (the splash down track), and some of the track on the lift hill turn, has been installed.
February 6, 2005: The bunny hop has been installed, along with the rest of the lift turn.
February 11, 2005: Some of the lift turn has been removed. Construction on the Immelmann begins. The railings on the lift hill have been installed.
February 16, 2005: The Immelmann Loop has been installed.
February 23, 2005: The carousel turn has been installed.
February 26, 2005: The second drop has been installed.
March 6, 2005: The first drop is complete.
March 15, 2005: The final turn has been installed, thus completing track work.
March 23, 2005: Construction on the tunnel structure begins.
April 1, 2005: Testing on SheiKra begins.
April 11, 2005: Filling of the splash down begins.
April 24, 2oo5: The splash down is complete.
May 20, 2005: Media Day. Tunnel structure finishes painting.
May 21, 2005: SheiKra opens to the public.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thanksgiving Photos (Day 1)
The pictures of Busch Gardens on Thanksgiving have arrived:
It appears that I'm at the Edge of Africa exhibit. That's mom and I.
I think we're in an aquarium at the Edge of Africa.
That's mom and I on Sandstorm.
That's it for now. There will be more pictures from Day 1 soon.
It appears that I'm at the Edge of Africa exhibit. That's mom and I.
I think we're in an aquarium at the Edge of Africa.
That's mom and I on Sandstorm.
That's it for now. There will be more pictures from Day 1 soon.
Interview on "Balls of Steel": Part 4
This is the final part of the interview on "Balls of Steel." I was so happy that I did SheiKra, America's first dive machine. I have 3 favorite rides in Busch Gardens now: Kumba, Montu, and SheiKra.
I just got off SheiKra the 1st time and I was proud that I did it.
I just got off SheiKra the 1st time and I was proud that I did it.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Interview on "Balls of Steel": Part 3
This one, dad took a view of the SheiKra while on one of the bridges leading to the station. We did not have time as our ride was coming.
You notice at the end the sounds of a train ascending the lift hill and a train going 90 degrees straight down. Like the others dad filmed it.
You notice at the end the sounds of a train ascending the lift hill and a train going 90 degrees straight down. Like the others dad filmed it.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Interview on "Balls of Steel": Part 2
Part 2 has arrived. This takes place in the SheiKra queue line. Like part of the first video, dad filmed me. It's on the final staircase of the queue.
Manta timeline
Here is a timeline for the upcoming roller coaster Manta in SeaWorld Orlando, opening spring 2009:
May 4, 2007 - Rumors start to spread that SeaWorld Orlando could be planning their next coaster for 2009. It will most likely be a B&M flying coaster. It is said to complete with Universal's rumored Harry Potter expansion.
July 17, 2007 - It is said that the bus/taxi lot will be moved, with the current one being used as construction access to the Project 2009 coaster. The coaster is said to be right by the entrance of the park, in the area of the now demolished aquarium all the way back towards the Journey to Atlantis and Penguin Encounter area and between Key West and Waterfront. They may actually close off access to this side of the park during construction and force all of the guests to take the path through the Waterfront area from the main gate area for several months. Other rumors point that the coaster will be a B&M flyer, a B&M hypercoaster (like Apollo's Chariot), or an indoor coaster (like ROTM).
September 25, 2007 - Some land is getting cleared to move support buildings around.
October 22, 2007 - The coaster is said to have shorter trains (only 3-4 rows long) which is themed to different types of rays (Manta ray, Sting ray, Bat ray, etc), have a ground-hugging layout like Air in Alton Towers and less like Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags, and a water splashdown (like Griffon and SheiKra), but SWO wants the coaster to swoop down over rolling waves, skimming the surface of the water. In fact, the tips of the Ray’s wings sticking out to the sides would dip into the water itself, tossing up big rooster-tails of water. It is also said that there will be a dual-loading station like Tatsu.
October 24, 2007 - Seems like BGT is getting nothing new in 2009, so the timing is right for a new coaster at SWO.
January 13, 2008 - Construction walls are said to go up within 1-2 weeks.
January 16, 2008 - One of the entrances of Blue Horizons is said to be closed for construction.
February 5, 2008 - A large area of land has been fenced off for a rumored B&M flying coaster opening summer 2009. Here is the progress:
March 11, 2008 - A large area has been closed off in the parking lot for future parts of the rumored flying coaster:
March 24, 2008 - The coaster is said to be called "Manta." The themed area could be called "Lost Cay."
April 2, 2008 - Concept art was leaked, showing an aquarium and the coaster, thus semi-confirming it.
April 8, 2008 - The coaster will be a B&M flying coaster, and will have an animal exhibit around possibly the queue. It is said that the coaster might not have 8-to-10 row seating.
April 18, 2008 - Site prep for the flying coaster, rumored to be Manta, is finished:
May 29, 2008 - The B&M flying coaster has been announced under the name Manta.
June 8, 2008 - Construction on the tank (where an aquarium and the queue lines will be) begins:
August 3, 2008 - Construction on the station house begins:
September 20, 2008 - Vertical construction begins:
Tracks and supports have been brought:
September 28, 2008 - Tracks and supports have began to go up:
October 5, 2008 - The switch track and the final brake run have gone up:
October 26, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building has been installed:
October 30, 2008 - The 140 ft. lift hill is complete:
Bricks have gone up on the roof of the maintenance building:
November 2, 2008 - The 113 ft. drop is complete:
November 5, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building was painted gray:
November 17, 2008 - The pretzel loop has gone up:
November 20, 2008 - The diving helix, as well as the first in-line spin has gone up:
Concrete has been poured on top of the tank:
November 23, 2008 - They begin putting bricks on top of the station house:
The maintenance building is getting a fresh coat of paint of blue:
The first in-line spin has gone up:
November 27, 2008 - Manta's opening date has changed to Spring 2009. The maintenance building has been painted blue:
They added more bricks on top of the station house:
December 3, 2008 - The block brake has gone up:
December 5, 2008 - The last of the supports went up. The final dip has gone up:
Bricks on the top of the station have expanded:
December 10, 2008 - More track has been hung, including the flat spin and turn just after the wing dip:
The roof of the maintenance building is being repainted lighter gray:
December 12, 2008 - Track work has been completed as all track (the rest of the turn after the wing dip, the wing dip, and the second drop) has been hung:
Here is a picture of the last piece of track getting hung:
The track work is not the only thing completed. The paint trim of the roof of the maintenance building (light gray) has finished too, thus completing the maintenance building on the outside:
As you can see, digging has began on the splash area. Once the coaster passes the wing dip, on-lookers or passers can get splashed. Same with the final dip.
January 4, 2009 - They are starting to plant trees in the construction area:
As for the pond area, some deep holes have been dug:
Lots of structural work is occurring with the tank:
January 18, 2009 - The foundation for the water splash effects have started to go:
The photo shop has been erected:
The station is starting to take shape as the blue construction roof is starting to get paved with concrete and wood. The roof of the tank area is getting paved as well:
As you can see on the photo above, the emergency exit platform has been installed.
The lift chain has been installed:
February 1. 2009 - Concrete for the splash effects have been installed:
The photo shop is getting its roof:
What was once the construction roof of the station building is now a paved roof. The wooden roofs of the station are steel now:
Construction on the seaside village begins, and the maintenance building is getting a trim of red:
February 3, 2009 - SeaWorld announced the opening of Manta: May 22, 2009. Commercials begin:
March 4, 2009 - Manta's train was unveiled:
That's all for now. The next update for Johnnyupsidedown.com (the website where I got the pictures) is February 15, 2009. What is my best thought of when Manta will open? Well, SeaWorld already announced the opening: May 22, 2009. So I believe in them.
May 4, 2007 - Rumors start to spread that SeaWorld Orlando could be planning their next coaster for 2009. It will most likely be a B&M flying coaster. It is said to complete with Universal's rumored Harry Potter expansion.
July 17, 2007 - It is said that the bus/taxi lot will be moved, with the current one being used as construction access to the Project 2009 coaster. The coaster is said to be right by the entrance of the park, in the area of the now demolished aquarium all the way back towards the Journey to Atlantis and Penguin Encounter area and between Key West and Waterfront. They may actually close off access to this side of the park during construction and force all of the guests to take the path through the Waterfront area from the main gate area for several months. Other rumors point that the coaster will be a B&M flyer, a B&M hypercoaster (like Apollo's Chariot), or an indoor coaster (like ROTM).
September 25, 2007 - Some land is getting cleared to move support buildings around.
October 22, 2007 - The coaster is said to have shorter trains (only 3-4 rows long) which is themed to different types of rays (Manta ray, Sting ray, Bat ray, etc), have a ground-hugging layout like Air in Alton Towers and less like Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags, and a water splashdown (like Griffon and SheiKra), but SWO wants the coaster to swoop down over rolling waves, skimming the surface of the water. In fact, the tips of the Ray’s wings sticking out to the sides would dip into the water itself, tossing up big rooster-tails of water. It is also said that there will be a dual-loading station like Tatsu.
October 24, 2007 - Seems like BGT is getting nothing new in 2009, so the timing is right for a new coaster at SWO.
January 13, 2008 - Construction walls are said to go up within 1-2 weeks.
January 16, 2008 - One of the entrances of Blue Horizons is said to be closed for construction.
February 5, 2008 - A large area of land has been fenced off for a rumored B&M flying coaster opening summer 2009. Here is the progress:
March 11, 2008 - A large area has been closed off in the parking lot for future parts of the rumored flying coaster:
March 24, 2008 - The coaster is said to be called "Manta." The themed area could be called "Lost Cay."
April 2, 2008 - Concept art was leaked, showing an aquarium and the coaster, thus semi-confirming it.
April 8, 2008 - The coaster will be a B&M flying coaster, and will have an animal exhibit around possibly the queue. It is said that the coaster might not have 8-to-10 row seating.
April 18, 2008 - Site prep for the flying coaster, rumored to be Manta, is finished:
May 29, 2008 - The B&M flying coaster has been announced under the name Manta.
June 8, 2008 - Construction on the tank (where an aquarium and the queue lines will be) begins:
August 3, 2008 - Construction on the station house begins:
September 20, 2008 - Vertical construction begins:
Tracks and supports have been brought:
September 28, 2008 - Tracks and supports have began to go up:
October 5, 2008 - The switch track and the final brake run have gone up:
October 26, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building has been installed:
October 30, 2008 - The 140 ft. lift hill is complete:
Bricks have gone up on the roof of the maintenance building:
November 2, 2008 - The 113 ft. drop is complete:
November 5, 2008 - The roof of the maintenance building was painted gray:
November 17, 2008 - The pretzel loop has gone up:
November 20, 2008 - The diving helix, as well as the first in-line spin has gone up:
Concrete has been poured on top of the tank:
November 23, 2008 - They begin putting bricks on top of the station house:
The maintenance building is getting a fresh coat of paint of blue:
The first in-line spin has gone up:
November 27, 2008 - Manta's opening date has changed to Spring 2009. The maintenance building has been painted blue:
They added more bricks on top of the station house:
December 3, 2008 - The block brake has gone up:
December 5, 2008 - The last of the supports went up. The final dip has gone up:
Bricks on the top of the station have expanded:
December 10, 2008 - More track has been hung, including the flat spin and turn just after the wing dip:
The roof of the maintenance building is being repainted lighter gray:
December 12, 2008 - Track work has been completed as all track (the rest of the turn after the wing dip, the wing dip, and the second drop) has been hung:
Here is a picture of the last piece of track getting hung:
The track work is not the only thing completed. The paint trim of the roof of the maintenance building (light gray) has finished too, thus completing the maintenance building on the outside:
As you can see, digging has began on the splash area. Once the coaster passes the wing dip, on-lookers or passers can get splashed. Same with the final dip.
January 4, 2009 - They are starting to plant trees in the construction area:
As for the pond area, some deep holes have been dug:
Lots of structural work is occurring with the tank:
January 18, 2009 - The foundation for the water splash effects have started to go:
The photo shop has been erected:
The station is starting to take shape as the blue construction roof is starting to get paved with concrete and wood. The roof of the tank area is getting paved as well:
As you can see on the photo above, the emergency exit platform has been installed.
The lift chain has been installed:
February 1. 2009 - Concrete for the splash effects have been installed:
The photo shop is getting its roof:
What was once the construction roof of the station building is now a paved roof. The wooden roofs of the station are steel now:
Construction on the seaside village begins, and the maintenance building is getting a trim of red:
February 3, 2009 - SeaWorld announced the opening of Manta: May 22, 2009. Commercials begin:
March 4, 2009 - Manta's train was unveiled:
That's all for now. The next update for Johnnyupsidedown.com (the website where I got the pictures) is February 15, 2009. What is my best thought of when Manta will open? Well, SeaWorld already announced the opening: May 22, 2009. So I believe in them.
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