Busch Gardens Tampa Bay certainly has its share of unique and thrilling roller coasters. One of them dates back to the 80’s and is one of three of its kind left in the world today – the Scorpion.
It may not be the longest, it may not be the fastest, it may not be the smoothest… but this looping Silverarrow model manufactured by Schwarzkopf of Germany is a true classic.
Located in the park’s Pantopia section, Scorpion is a steel roller coaster that made its debut on May 16, 1980. It’s 1,817 feet long, 60 feet tall and features one 39 foot tall, 360-degree loop. While the ride lasts only 90 seconds, it does reach speeds of 41 mph.
You load in trains that take you back to the days of big hair, Boy George and leggings. A chain lift takes you up where you immediately begin your 360-degree journey then spend the rest of your time circling around the track before returning to the station, all the while wondering what it was like to ride this beast when it was new 38 years ago.
While the Scorpion is a permanent installation of Busch Gardens, the other two ever manufactured are portable models which call the UK and Africa home. So to take a ride on the Scorpion it a true one-of-a-kind experience not just to be taken back in time, but to ride something so unique.
If you’ve taken a ride on the Scorpion at Busch Gardens, let me know what you thought of it in the comments. If you haven’t, or want to take a virtual ride, check out my front-row POV HD video I took in February 2018.