Griffon is a steel dive coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in James City County, Virginia, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and opened on May 18, 2007 — a week ahead of schedule. Standing 205 feet tall, it plunges riders at a vertical 90-degree angle and accelerates to 71 mph, making it one of the most viscerally intense dive coasters on the East Coast.
When it debuted, Griffon set records as the tallest and fastest B&M Dive Coaster in the world, and it earned the distinction of being the first such coaster to feature floorless trains — giving riders an unobstructed view of the drop as they dangle over the edge before release. The ride placed third in Amusement Today’s 2007 Golden Ticket Awards for Best New Ride.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia
- Manufacturer: Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M)
- Type: Steel Dive Coaster (floorless)
- Opened: May 18, 2007
- Height: 205 ft (62 m)
- Top Speed: 71 mph (114 km/h)
- Length: 3,108 ft (947 m)
- Inversions: 2 (Immelmann loops)
- Drop Angle: 90°
The Ride Experience
Griffon’s layout begins with a 205-foot lift hill that deposits riders at the crest, where the 30-person floorless train pauses — sometimes for several seconds — perched at the 90-degree precipice before releasing into freefall. The plunge bottoms out with a force of up to 4 Gs before soaring into the first of two Immelmann loops, an inverted looping maneuver that threads riders through a half-loop and half-roll. A second vertical drop and a dramatic splashdown — sending walls of water 50 feet into the air — round out the roughly three-minute experience.
Each of Griffon’s three trains seats 30 riders arranged 10 across in a single row, a configuration unique to dive coasters that ensures nearly everyone rides in the front row. The complete absence of a floor beneath riders’ feet amplifies the sensation of exposure during the vertical hold before the main drop.
Records and Legacy
Griffon opened as a landmark attraction in the dive coaster genre. It was the first B&M Dive Coaster anywhere in the world to use floorless trains, a design innovation that has since been adopted on later installations. At opening it held records for the tallest and fastest dive coaster on the planet, and it has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s Build It Bigger and multiple Travel Channel coaster specials.
The ride replaced the LeMans Raceway attraction and cost approximately $15.6 million to construct. It has remained a flagship coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, consistently drawing enthusiasts who rank it among the premier dive coaster experiences in North America.
Explore more: Roller Coasters.
Griffon FAQs
How tall is Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg?
Griffon stands 205 feet (62 m) tall and features a 90-degree vertical drop as its signature element.
Who manufactured Griffon?
Griffon was designed and built by Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss roller coaster manufacturer, and opened in 2007.
What makes Griffon different from other dive coasters?
Griffon was the first B&M Dive Coaster ever built with floorless trains, removing the floor beneath riders’ feet and maximizing the exposure sensation during the vertical hold and drop.
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Photo: Sebastian Hirsch (Diskussion) / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.