Busch Gardens Williamsburg is tapping the brakes on Verbolten.
The park announced this week that the 13-year-old roller coaster will temporarily close, starting Jan. 5.
When it reopens later in 2026 as Verbolten: Forbidden Turn, the German Autobahn-themed ride will feature a new storyline and other changes.
“In 2026, Black Forest Motor Tours will be under new management, welcoming adventurers eager to explore Germany’s legendary countryside,” the park said in a teaser announcement. “The drive promises charm and folklore at every turn, but what comes next is far from charming. Signs appear where they shouldn’t, shadows move when they shouldn’t, and whispers tell of something growing within the forest.
“What was once a whimsical land of fairy tales will feel darker, heavier, as though the woods themselves are watching.”
Verbolten, an indoor/outdoor, multi-launch coaster opened in 2012 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. (Courtesy/Busch Gardens)
On the new Verbolten, Busch Gardens said “the line between story and reality blurs, and escape is never certain.”
Park spokeswoman Cassady Watson declined to comment on what specific changes Verbolten will receive, saying in an email that “more details will be announced in the coming weeks.” The original Verbolten will operate through Jan. 4, the final scheduled day of the park’s annual Christmas Town event, she said. The park hasn’t said when it will reopen.
Located in the park’s Oktoberfest area, Verbolten first opened on May 18, 2012. The current version travels outdoors and indoors, where riders experience one of three different scenes. The ride reaches a top speed of over 50 mph along its run of about 2,800 feet of track, which includes an 88-foot drop, according to an enthusiast site, the Roller Coaster Database.
“I’m not sure exactly what we can expect with Verbolten in 2026, but I imagine that I’ll love it,” Derek Perry, communications director with nonprofit group American Coaster Enthusiasts, said in an email. “Verbolten is such a unique attraction with surprises that appeals to a wide range of audiences. It’s family friendly yet still delivers enough thrills to satisfy coaster enthusiasts. Busch Gardens Williamsburg always excels at theming, which makes me even more excited to experience this new version next year.”
In May, Busch Gardens debuted a brand new roller coaster, The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge, at the start of the theme park’s 50th anniversary year. That ride, also located in the Oktoberfest area near Das Festhaus, is a nod to the original Big Bad Wolf coaster that closed in 2009.
Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, said the new Big Bad Wolf has been a great addition to the park. “We look forward to giving our guests a chance to experience the ride during Christmas Town,” he said.
The park’s annual Christmas event opens today and runs on select dates through Jan. 4. Christmas Town includes family favorites such as Santa’s Workshop and ‘Twas that Night ice skating show along with Christmas Town LIVE! A Holiday Special, a new show in Das Festhaus that mimics a holiday TV special featuring classic carols and more.
Posted by Zach Clarke, Community Contributor
Verbolten decorated for Christmas Town at Busch Gardens. (File)
Nate Delesine III, nate.delesine@virginiamedia.com
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