‘Legendary’ Busch Gardens Coaster to Close After 33 Years as Guests Have Only Weeks to Ride It One Last Time
‘Legendary’ Busch Gardens Coaster to Close After 33 Years as Guests Have Only Weeks to Ride It One Last Time
Natalia SenanayakeWed, July 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM UTC
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The Kumba roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa BayCredit: Parkerphotography / Alamy Stock Photo -
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced its Kumba roller coaster will permanently close on August 2 after 33 years
Kumba was Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest coaster when it debuted in 1993 and featured a record-breaking vertical loop, according to the park
The park plans to replace Kumba with a reimagined ride called Kumba’s Revenge as part of a $100 million investment
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is preparing to say goodbye to one of its “legendary” rides.
In a July 14 announcement shared to its official Instagram account, the Tampa, Fla., theme park revealed it will be permanently closing its Kumba roller coaster after 33 years of operation. Guests will have until Sunday, August 2 to ride the coaster one last time before it shuts down for good, the post added.
“After 33 years, it’s time for Kumba to take its final roar on August 2nd…” the caption begins, before diving into the history of the coaster.
“Debuting in 1993, Kumba set a new standard for thrill rides! It was Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster when it opened, and it featured the world’s tallest vertical loop,” the announcement continued.
The park also highlighted a number of unique qualities the coaster boasts, from “its 7 exhilarating inversions to its iconic roar sound.” The beloved ride “left its mark on Busch Gardens and will be remembered as an icon of the park,” the caption added.
While guests will have to say goodbye to Kumba this summer, they can look forward to the ride’s legacy continuing on with a reimagined version of the coaster, per the park.
“We are happy to announce Kumba’s Revenge! This new attraction is a part of our $100 million investment that will elevate Busch Gardens as Florida’s thrill leader and enhance our guest experience,” the caption said.
The park describes the forthcoming coaster as “an extension of an already legendary coaster,” and concluded the post by telling guests to “stay tuned” for more details.
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The Kumba roller coasterCredit: Jack Flowers / Alamy Stock Photo
In the comments, fans expressed conflicted feelings about the ride’s closure, with some excited for the new version and others sad to hear the original Kumba ride will soon be no more.
“Literally one of the most iconic rides just going away now,” one user wrote, followed by another who added, “A truly legendary roller coaster! It will be greatly missed!”
Others shared how the news was “really sad” to hear, with one noting how they have “so many memories” with the beloved attraction.
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Meanwhile, some wrote how they were looking forward to seeing what’s to come: “Very excited to see what Kumba’s Revenge entails!” one wrote. Another added, “Kumba will be missed by many, but I’m confident that Busch Gardens will give us a coaster that makes up for the loss of Kumba!!”
The Stanley Falls FlumeCredit: Shutterstock / Peter Etchells
The news of Kumba’s retirement comes almost one year after the Tampa, Fla., amusement park announced on Instagram that another one of its iconic attractions, Stanley Falls Flume, would be closing after 52 years.
“After more than 50 years of splashes, smiles, and summer memories, Stanley Falls Flume is taking its final plunge,” the park wrote in the September 2025 post. “As one of the original rides from the park’s opening in 1973, this classic has been a fan favorite for generations.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
