Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, that opened on May 27, 2011, alongside the park’s Cheetah Run habitat in the Edge of Africa section. Built by Intamin with design input from the park’s Mark Rose, it uses three linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches instead of a traditional lift hill to send riders sprinting across the park at speeds meant to evoke a cheetah’s burst of acceleration.
At 4,429 feet, Cheetah Hunt is the longest coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa, threading through a 102-foot figure-eight tower, a trench dive, and a heartline roll inversion before a final launch carries riders back to the station. Rose has said the ride’s launch-driven layout was partly inspired by the speeder bike chase through the forests of Endor in Return of the Jedi.
Quick Answer
Cheetah Hunt reaches a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) during its second launch, drops 130 feet, and stands 102 feet tall at its figure-eight tower. It opened at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on May 27, 2011, and remains the park’s longest coaster, though Iron Gwazi (76 mph) and SheiKra (70 mph) are both faster.
How Fast Is Cheetah Hunt?
Cheetah Hunt’s top speed is 60 mph (97 km/h), reached during its second and largest LSM launch, which fires the train from 0 to 60 mph in about 2.4 seconds. That launch alone generates roughly 4 Gs, among the strongest bursts of acceleration at Busch Gardens Tampa. It’s a fast ride, but not the park’s fastest: Iron Gwazi tops out at 76 mph and SheiKra reaches 70 mph.
The ride actually uses three separate launches rather than one continuous acceleration. The first, out of the station, sends the train to about 30 mph in roughly 1.8 seconds. The second, the ride’s signature moment, rockets riders to the full 60 mph top speed in about 2.4 seconds. A third launch, late in the course after the heartline roll, pushes the train to around 40 mph to send it back toward the station. Because there’s no lift hill, every increase in speed on Cheetah Hunt comes from these magnetic launches rather than gravity.
Cheetah Hunt’s Drop and Height
Cheetah Hunt’s tallest structure is a 102-foot figure-eight tower built around the park’s Windcatcher Tower landmark, and the ride’s steepest descent is a 130-foot drop that follows the second launch. Because the coaster is launched rather than lift-hill driven, that drop comes from height gained through momentum on the figure-eight element, not from a slow climb to a peak.
After the figure-eight, the layout dives into a low trench and a series of ground-hugging helixes that keep the train close to the terrain before crossing the park’s Skyride cable line on an airtime hill and rolling into the ride’s single inversion.
When Did Cheetah Hunt Open?
Cheetah Hunt opened to the public on May 27, 2011, as part of a roughly seven-year development process from initial concept to completion. It debuted the same day as the park’s real Cheetah Run habitat, which the ride and its station theming are named after.
The coaster was recognized shortly after opening, placing second for Best New Ride of 2011 in the Golden Ticket Awards, and it has remained one of Busch Gardens Tampa’s signature attractions in the years since.
The Ride Experience
Cheetah Hunt begins with a 30 mph LSM launch out of the station into a wide left turn and a gradual dip, setting up the ride’s signature second launch, which rockets riders to 60 mph in just 2.4 seconds. From there, trains climb into the 102-foot figure-eight element around the park’s Windcatcher Tower before diving through a series of helixes and a low trench.
The layout then crosses over the park’s Skyride cable cars on an airtime hill and executes a heartline roll, the ride’s only inversion, before a third LSM launch of about 40 mph sends the train back toward the station. Riders are secured with over-the-shoulder harnesses, and five trains, each seating 16 riders across four cars, keep the launch coaster’s lines moving quickly through this circuit.
Design and Theming
Cheetah Hunt was designed by Mark Rose, the park’s vice president of design and engineering, who initially considered a conventional lift hill before realizing the height required would be impractical; that constraint led him to build the ride around LSM launch technology instead. The coaster’s name and station theming tie into Busch Gardens’ real cheetah habitat, Cheetah Run, which opened the same day as the ride.
Rose has cited both the speeder bike sequence from Return of the Jedi and SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta as influences on the ride’s fast, twisting layout. The result is a coaster that emphasizes sustained acceleration and low-to-the-ground maneuvers over height, distinguishing it from the park’s taller, drop-focused attractions.
Cheetah Hunt speed and stats FAQs
How fast is Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa?
Cheetah Hunt’s top speed is 60 mph (97 km/h), reached during its second LSM launch, which accelerates the train from a stop to 60 mph in about 2.4 seconds.
How fast is each Cheetah Hunt launch?
Cheetah Hunt has three launches: about 30 mph out of the station, 60 mph on the main launch toward the figure-eight tower, and about 40 mph on the final launch back to the station.
When did Cheetah Hunt open?
Cheetah Hunt opened at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on May 27, 2011, the same day as the park’s Cheetah Run habitat.
How tall is Cheetah Hunt and what is its drop height?
Cheetah Hunt’s tallest element is a 102-foot figure-eight tower, and its biggest drop measures 130 feet.
How many inversions does Cheetah Hunt have?
Cheetah Hunt has one inversion, a heartline roll, which comes after the ride’s trench and airtime hill sections.
Who manufactured Cheetah Hunt?
Cheetah Hunt was built by Intamin, with the layout and launch concept developed alongside Busch Gardens Tampa’s Mark Rose.
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