Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre Africa-themed park in Tampa, Florida, that doubles as one of the region’s premier accredited zoos. Opened on March 31, 1959, as a hospitality attraction for the Anheuser-Busch brewery, it evolved over decades into a full-scale theme park featuring more than 200 animal species roaming expansive habitats alongside world-class thrill rides. Today the park is owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts and draws around 4 million guests annually.
What sets Busch Gardens Tampa apart from most theme parks is the seamless blend of zoological exhibits and high-octane coasters. Guests can watch a cheetah sprint across an open savanna, then sprint themselves aboard Iron Gwazi, named North America’s tallest, steepest, and fastest hybrid roller coaster when it opened in 2022. With nine roller coasters ranging from family-friendly spins to record-breaking steel beasts, the park consistently ranks among Florida’s top thrill destinations outside of the Orlando corridor.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Opened: March 31, 1959
- Owner/Operator: United Parks & Resorts
- Size: 335 acres (136 ha)
- Roller Coasters: 9 (as of 2025)
- Animal Species: 200+
- Signature Coaster: Iron Gwazi (206 ft, 76 mph)
- Annual Visitors: ~4 million
Roller Coasters and Thrill Rides
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has built one of the most decorated coaster lineups in the southeastern United States. Iron Gwazi, a Rocky Mountain Construction wood-steel hybrid that opened in March 2022, towers 206 feet and hits 76 mph across 4,075 feet of track, earning the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Roller Coaster in 2022. Montu, a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster that debuted in 1996, was the world’s tallest and fastest inverted coaster at the time, standing 150 feet tall and reaching 60 mph through seven inversions. SheiKra made history in 2005 as North America’s first vertical dive coaster, while Falcon’s Fury ranks as the second-tallest free-standing drop tower on the continent.
More recent additions have broadened the park’s appeal beyond hardcore thrill-seekers. Tigris, a launched coaster added in 2019, sends riders through a twisting steel course at up to 62 mph. Phoenix Rising, a family inverted coaster that opened in July 2024, gives younger guests their first taste of inversion thrills. The variety means families, casual riders, and coaster enthusiasts can all find something to love within the same gates.
Wildlife and the African Safari Experience
Long before its first roller coaster, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was recognized for its wildlife exhibits. The park’s Serengeti Plain, completed in 1965, lets hundreds of African animals—including giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and white rhinos—roam a vast open habitat that guests can tour by rail or safari truck. The zoological collection spans more than 200 species across habitats replicating environments from the Serengeti to the Congo.
The zoo credential gives the park a distinct character compared to purely ride-focused competitors. Conservation programs, keeper talks, and up-close animal encounters are woven throughout the day, making Busch Gardens Tampa Bay a destination where a family can spend equal time marveling at a silverback gorilla and white-knuckling a 91-degree drop. It is this combination that has kept the park relevant—and packed—for more than six decades.
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay FAQs
What is the biggest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?
Iron Gwazi is currently the park’s signature thrill ride. The Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid coaster stands 206 feet tall, reaches 76 mph, and features 4,075 feet of track with 12 airtime moments and two inversions. It opened in March 2022 and was named North America’s tallest, steepest, and fastest hybrid coaster.
When did Busch Gardens Tampa Bay open?
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened on March 31, 1959. It originally served as a hospitality and tourism attraction for the Anheuser-Busch brewery on the same property before expanding into the full theme park and zoo it is today.
Does Busch Gardens Tampa have animals as well as rides?
Yes—the park is both an accredited zoo and a major theme park. It houses more than 200 animal species across Africa-themed habitats including the expansive Serengeti Plain, where giraffes, rhinos, and zebras roam freely and guests can observe them from a train or safari vehicle.
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