Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay logo
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| Slogan | Born for Busch Gardens |
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| Location | Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 28°02′16″N 82°25′18″W / 28.0379°N 82.4216°WCoordinates: 28°02′16″N 82°25′18″W / 28.0379°N 82.4216°W |
| Theme | Africa |
| Owner | SeaWorld Entertainment |
| Operated by | SeaWorld Entertainment |
| Opened | March 31, 1959 |
| Previous names |
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: 1990s–2006, 2008–present Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent: 1976–1990s Busch Gardens Africa: 2006–2008 |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Visitors per annum | 4,252,000 (2015) |
| Area |
335 acres (136 ha) |
| Rides | |
| Total | 23 (as of 2015) |
| Roller coasters | 7 |
| Water rides | 3 |
| Website | seaworldparks |
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: 1990s–2006, 2008–present Busch Gardens: The Dark Continent: 1976–1990s
335 acres (136 ha)
Busch Gardens Tampa (formerly known as Busch Gardens Africa) is a 335-acre (136 ha) 19th century African-themed animal theme park located in the city of Tampa, Florida. It opened on March 31, 1959, as an admission-free hospitality facility for Tampa Anheuser-Busch; in addition to various beer tastings, they had a bird garden and the Stairway to the Stars, which was an escalator that took guests to the roof of the brewery.
Busch Gardens continued to grow, and in 1965, opened the 29-acre (12 ha) Serengeti Plains, which allowed the African wildlife to roam freely. It continued to focus on its tropical landscape, exotic animals, and amusements to draw visitors. Busch Gardens began charging admission as the entertainment became more complex, with extra fees for the thrill rides, such as the roller coasters for which Busch Gardens is now known.
Alongside sister waterpark Adventure Island (30-acre (12 ha)), Busch Gardens is the anchor of Tampa's 365-acre (148 ha) amusement multiplex. Currently Busch Gardens competes with other such parks in Florida and charges comparable fees. The park is operated by SeaWorld Entertainment, majority owned by the private equity firm The Blackstone Group. Busch Gardens is currently accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). In 2015, the park hosted 4.2 million people, placing 11th as the most-visited theme parks in the United States.
The park's main entrance. Treats can be purchased at the Sultan's Sweets and the Zagora Cafe. The Moroccan Palace is located here, as well as the outdoor Marrakesh Theater. Gwazi was the major ride in this area.
The original section of the park that opened back in 1959. The area for the most part remains mostly gardens and animal exhibits. A staple attraction that once stood in this section was the brewery. However, the brewery closed in 1995 and Gwazi now sits where the brewery was located. In 2014, the Bird Gardens theater was demolished, and the former show (Critter Castaways) is now housed in the Pantopia Theater under the new name "Opening Night Critters".
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Wikipedia