Credit: Busch Gardens Tampa BayWhen Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced that the Scorpion roller coaster was closing, there was a massive outpouring of fan support. The response was so overwhelming that Busch Gardens extended the closing date from September 1 to September 8.
With the roller coaster’s extended closing date, guests flocked to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to take one final ride. But that’s when things went wrong for the park, leaving hundreds of fans waiting hours for a ride and leaving the theme park disappointed.
On the afternoon of September 8, a thunderstorm in Central Florida forced most of the park’s outdoor attractions to close. This is a fairly common occurrence in late summer in Florida.
Most of the theme park’s attractions remained closed for most of the afternoon as lightning strikes were seen in the area. This includes the soon-to-close forever coaster.
Scorpion fans remained in line despite the storms, waiting for one final ride on the beloved roller coaster.
Related: Florida Theme Park Faces Massive Security Overhaul After Violent ‘Takeover’
However, as closing time approached, fans who had been waiting in line for hours were informed that the attraction would not return to operation. So, despite the wait, fans were turned away from Scorpion, but that wasn’t the most infuriating part for guests.
Guests’ anger was fueled by the fact that the storms had passed. Despite not having seen lightning for more than 30 minutes and the theme park still being within its operating hours, the roller coaster did not resume operations for one final ride.
A Busch Gardens manager told guests who waited in line, “I cannot make my staff stay late.” Thus, Scorpion’s run came to an abrupt end.
As a ride operator myself, we don’t owe you that. We’re not staying late because you wanna ride a ride that you’ve had weeks notice that it’s closing
If there’s a storm, you cannot ride
Plan ahead, be mindful of these situations, and be considerate of us https://t.co/HbsmlSMamc
— Fazcoasters (@Fazcoasters) September 9, 2024
Despite the uproar on social media, with many calling this incident “typical” of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, some came to the defense of the ride operators and staff. One person on X, claiming to be a ride operator, wrote:
As a ride operator myself, we don’t owe you that. We’re not staying late because you wanna ride a ride that you’ve had weeks notice that it’s closing
If there’s a storm, you cannot ride. Plan ahead, be mindful of these situations, and be considerate of us.
So with a whimper rather than a bang, one of Busch Garden’s oldest thrill rides closes, disappointing fans.
What do you think of Busch Gardens shutting Scorpion forever without letting fans ride one final time?