Kumba, one of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s signature roller coasters, took its final ride on Sunday, August 2, 2026, closing permanently after 33 years of operation. The Bolliger & Mabillard steel looper had been a Tampa Bay thrill-ride staple since it opened on April 21, 1993.
The closure was announced by the park in mid-July 2026 and comes as part of a $100 million investment to modernize the park’s ride lineup. Kumba will be replaced by a new attraction called Kumba’s Revenge, though the park has not yet released specifics on its layout or opening date.
Stats at a Glance
- What: Kumba permanently closed after 33 years of operation
- Where: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida
- When: Final ride Sunday, August 2, 2026 (opened April 21, 1993)
- Why it matters: One of the park’s most iconic coasters is being replaced as part of a $100 million park-wide investment
The Story
When Kumba debuted in 1993, it was Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, and its opening loop was the tallest vertical loop in the world at the time. The 143-foot-tall B&M coaster reaches a 135-foot first drop, hits speeds of 60 mph, and packs seven inversions — including a dive loop, zero-gravity roll, cobra roll, and interlocking corkscrews — into a ride lasting just under three minutes. It ranked among Amusement Today’s top 50 steel coasters nearly every year since 1998 and, following the retirement of Scorpion in 2024, had become Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s oldest operating roller coaster.
Busch Gardens gave passholders exclusive ride time on August 1 before opening Kumba’s “Final Roar” to the general public through its last operating day. Park president Jon Vigue said the successor, Kumba’s Revenge, will ‘honor everything guests loved about the original while delivering an entirely new level of thrills.’ The closure follows the park’s recent retirements of Scorpion in 2024 and Stanley Falls Flume in 2025, continuing a broader overhaul of its ride collection.
What It Means for Visitors
Kumba is no longer operating at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, so guests planning a visit should not expect to find it on the park map. No opening date or construction timeline has been announced for Kumba’s Revenge, so riders looking to experience its replacement will need to watch for future park announcements. In the meantime, the park’s other coasters, including SheiKra and Cheetah Hunt, remain in operation.
Explore more: more roller coaster news.
Kumba FAQs
When did Kumba close for good?
Kumba’s last day of operation was Sunday, August 2, 2026, after 33 years at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
What is replacing Kumba?
Busch Gardens announced a successor called Kumba’s Revenge as part of a $100 million park investment, but has not yet released details on its layout or opening date.
What made Kumba a notable coaster?
When it opened in 1993, Kumba was Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster and featured the world’s tallest vertical loop at the time, with seven inversions total. It later became Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s oldest operating coaster after Scorpion’s 2024 retirement.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson from United States of America / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.