Python (roller coaster)

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Python
Python's double-corkscrew element (chain lift and first drop in background).
Location	Busch Gardens Africa
Park Section	Congo
Type	Steel
Status	Closed
Opened	July 1, 1976
Closed	October 31, 2006
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Ron Toomer
Model	Steel Corkscrew coaster
Track layout	Custom
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	70 feet (21.3 m)
Length	1,250 feet (381 m)
Max speed	50 mile per hour (80.5 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	1:10
Capacity	480 riders per hour
Height Restriction	48 inches (121.9 cm)
Python at RCDB
Pictures of Python at RCDB

Python was a steel corkscrew roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa. Built by Arrow Dynamics in 1976, it opened as the first roller coaster since the park's opening in 1959. At the time of its closing, it was the second smallest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa. The smallest is Scorpion. It was located in the Congo section of the park, nearby Stanley Falls Flume and Congo River Rapids.

The ride received a repaint in 2003, along with the trains repainted with the park's current logo from the classic Python logo.

Python was permanently closed on October 31, 2006, and demolished for scrap shortly after. Busch Gardens officials have yet to announce what would replace Python. However, the removal of Python is a part of the park's renovation of the Congo section (the largest renovation in Busch Gardens history). According to Serengeti Express (the park's train attraction) commentators, the renovation is expected to be completed in 2008, with new attractions "unlike anything else".

Along with Python, the area's Tiger's Den gift shop, and Python Soft Serve have been torn down as a part of the Congo renovation.

1 Layout
2 Incidents
3 Reviews
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Layout

Python was a stock model roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics, which was a clone of Knott's Berry Farm's now defunct Corkscrew roller coaster (which now operates at Silverwood amusement park in Athol, Idaho).

The ride began when the train slithered out of the station into a short U-turn. Following the turn was the seventy foot tall lift hill. Once the train was at the top of the hill, the train dipped down again into a banked turn. The banked turn then took riders down toward the first drop, which gave a sensation of airtime. Following the drop, the train then ascended a small hill and goes down a turn towards the double corkscrew element.

Following the signature double corkscrew element, the train then went through another U-turn into the brake run.

[edit] Incidents

A few weeks after Python opened in 1976, a 6-foot-6, 340 pound, 39-year-old heart patient died after riding. The ride was advertised previous to this accident with the tagline "I challenged the Python and lived!" This campaign was pulled quickly afterwards. [5]

[edit] Reviews

Python was often noted for being intense on the upper body. Its main criticism was that it violently shook riders' heads and shoulders. Also, the ride was criticized for being short. Although some roller coaster enthusiasts saw it as a classic ride, it was generally viewed as outdated and painful by the time of its closing.