Two long-awaited roller coasters have updated opening dates. SeaWorld Orlando’s Ice Breaker will debut in February 2022, followed by Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in March.
Both thrill rides were delayed for months as the coronavirus pandemic continued, but both attractions also have looked completed from the ground for months. Both have had test runs that the public could observe.
“We recognize there was a lot of anticipation and excitement for this new ride, and then due to the unprecedented challenges of the last two years, the opening was delayed.” SeaWorld Orlando president Kyle Miller said in a news release. “We apologize for this delay and thank our fans for their patience.”
Ice Breaker was announced in September 2019, although construction had already begun at the site next to the theme park’s Bayside Stadium. The ride has had a number of targeted opening dates, while recently the park said it had an “anticipated” opening for sometime in 2021.
A distinguishing element of Ice Breaker, aside from its bright orange rail, will be a backward launch from a steep 93-foot-tall spike that’s banked at 100 degrees. It will have four launches, forward and backward. Ice Breaker will be SeaWorld’s first new coaster since Mako debuted in June 2016.
Iron Gwazi has been built on the land that previously was the site for Gwazi, a twin roller coaster that was dismantled in 2015. Iron Gwazi peaks out at 206 feet tall and goes as fast as 76 mph.
Both theme parks are operated by Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
The new rides are part of a coaster surge in Central Florida. Universal’s Islands of Adventure opened Jurassic World VelociCoaster in its Jurassic Park area earlier this year. Walt Disney World is in the midst of construction on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and Tron Lightcycle Power Run at Magic Kingdom. No opening dates have been announced for the Disney projects.
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