Rising from the Egypt section of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Montu is one of the most decorated inverted roller coasters ever built. When it opened on May 16, 1996, it was the world’s tallest and fastest inverted coaster, and its seven inversions still tie it (with Banshee at Kings Island) for the most on any inverted coaster — earning it a permanent spot among the roller coasters with the most inversions in the world.
Key Stats
| Height | 150 ft (46 m) |
| Drop | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Length | 3,983 ft (1,214 m) |
| Inversions | 7 |
| Duration | 3:00 |
| G-force | 3.8 |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard (inverted coaster) |
| Opened | May 16, 1996 |
| Capacity | 1,710 riders per hour |
Seven Inversions Under Your Feet
With trains hanging beneath the track and nothing below riders’ dangling feet, Montu strings together a ferocious sequence: a 104-foot vertical loop (one of the tallest on any inverted coaster), a 90-foot Immelmann, a zero-g roll, a batwing (two inversions), a second 60-foot vertical loop, and a final corkscrew. Much of the action happens in trenches carved below grade, so the ground rushes up to meet you at 60 mph while the train pulls up to 3.8 g over three full minutes of ride time.
The God of War in Egypt
Montu anchored the debut of the park’s Egypt-themed area, a $20 million expansion, and takes its name from Montu, the falcon-headed Egyptian god of war. Built by Swiss masters Bolliger & Mabillard with layout engineering by Werner Stengel, it seized the world records for tallest and fastest inverted coaster at opening and held them until March 1997. Nearly three decades later it’s still routinely cited among the best inverted coasters on Earth.
Riding Montu Today
Montu runs three trains of eight cars, seating 32 riders four-across, and moves roughly 1,710 guests per hour — throughput that lands it in the conversation with the highest-capacity coasters. Its three-minute journey is also unusually long for an inverted coaster. Pair it with Iron Gwazi and SheiKra and Busch Gardens Tampa makes a serious case as Florida’s best thrill park.
FAQ
How many inversions does Montu have?
Montu has 7 inversions — a 104-foot vertical loop, an Immelmann, a zero-g roll, a batwing, a second vertical loop, and a corkscrew — tying it with Banshee for the most on an inverted coaster.
Was Montu ever a world-record coaster?
Yes. At its May 1996 opening, Montu was the world’s tallest (150 ft) and fastest (60 mph) inverted roller coaster, records it held until March 1997.
What does the name Montu mean?
The ride is named after Montu, the ancient Egyptian god of war usually depicted as a man with the head of a falcon — a fitting namesake for the coaster anchoring the park’s Egypt area.
Photo: Suedepop via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)