Thrill ride enthusiasts can take home a little bit of history while giving back to charity this summer. Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, VA,is auctioning off legendary roller coaster ride vehicles, signage, and other memorabilia on eBay for the benefit of Give Kids The World Village (www.gktw.org) – an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families from around the world with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost. It is a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of management and staff at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, which has supported Give Kids The World through its Coasting for Kids fundraising program since 2017.
“We are grateful for Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s generous support,” said Give Kids The World President & CEO Pamela Landwirth. “This charity auction, together with their participation in Coasting for Kids, will help us create priceless memories and unforgettable experiences for children and families facing unimaginable challenges.” Links to all of the online auctions can be accessed at www.gktw.org/BGW.
Until 11 July, coaster enthusiasts can bid on a Big Bad Wolfe ride vehicle. Big Bad Wolf was a suspended roller coaster in the Oktoberfest section of the park. Designed by Arrow Dynamics, the ride was in service for more than 25 years before closing permanently in September 2009. The footers, queue line and station were re-purposed for Verbolten, a roller coaster that was introduced in 2012 – with ride vehicles and other items donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.
From 11 July through to 18 July , enthusiasts can bid on the Loch Ness Monster front car featuring 40th Anniversary branding. Classified as a Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts, Loch Ness Monster is a steel roller coaster which was the first coaster coaster with two interlocking loops. Located over one of the park’s water features, the Loch Ness Monster’s design includes a helix tunnel, two lift hills and a 114-foot drop. The ride sits within Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Scotland area and relates the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.
Enthusiasts can bid on a log flume vehicle from 18 July 18 through to 25 July. This unique coaster vehicle is from the park’s Le Scoot log flume ride, located in the New France area and themed after mountains and a sawmill. Once seated in the “logs,” riders are taken up a hill, through turns, across rapids and down a plunge.
From 25 July through 1 August, one-of-a-kind ride signage, hard hats, pins, and other memorabilia will be up for bid – including the Curse of DarKastle sign spanning more than 13 feet. Curse of DarKastle was a hybrid dark ride which combined roving motion-simulating vehicles, 3D projection animation, physical sets, in-vehicle audio and special effects. The ride took place in an abandoned Bavarian castle, haunted by evil ghost and a demonic werewolf. The attraction closed in September 2017.
The charity auctions are being conducted in conjunction with Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s participation in Coasting for Kids on August 21, 2021. Coasting for Kids is a fundraising program that enables participants to experience the thrill and excitement of their favorite local attractions while giving back to charity. To participate, children and adults can visit www.gktw.org/coasting; click on “Find A Park;” and select the link for Busch Gardens Williamsburg to register online. Those who donate or raise a minimum of $100 for Give Kids The World will receive a special Coasting for Kids pass, giving them complimentary access and exclusive perks at the park along with a Coasting for Kids t-shirt. Donors can participate in-person at the park, or virtually.
Six other amusement parks will be hosting Coasting for Kids events this summer. For a list of participating parks, dates and other details, visit www.gktw.org/coasting. During the past 15 years, Coasting for Kids has raised more than $500,000 to make wishes come true for critically ill children and their families. Since 1986, more than 176,000 critically ill children and their families have been welcomed to Give Kids The World Village to enjoy life-changing experiences, create unforgettable memories and spend precious time together away from hospital stays and medical treatments. For more information, visit www.gktw.org.
Nestled near the banks of the James River surrounded by the Historic Triangle of Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is located at 1 Busch Gardens Boulevard in Williamsburg, VA. For more information, visit www.buschgardens.com.
