Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's new triple-launch steel roller coaster will open on April 19, as it becomes the tallest launch coaster in the state.
The more than 1,800-foot long ride named Tigris will catapult riders through looping twists, dropping them repeatedly and sending them both forward and backward -- reaching top speeds of more than 60 miles per hour. It's designed to mimic the agility of a real tiger and will include built-in messages about the importance of wild tigers.
"Animals are a big part of our brand and our messaging," Stewart Clark, president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, told 10News during a previous tour. "We want you to leave having a great experience but also with a little bit of a message of how you can help tigers."
Tigris is a Sky Rocket II coaster, similar to the Tempesto in Busch Gardens Williamsburg and the Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego. When it's complete, it'll join the list of either other Sky Rocket II rides around the world.
Tigris will be the eighth thrill ride at Busch Gardens, strengthening the park's nickname of Florida's roller coaster king.
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