For many Virginians, childhood nostalgia is a yellow-green, steel roller coaster with historic, interlocking loops, a mythical moniker and gravitational aura.
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Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, said: "When you think of the beauty of the park, iconic views and rides, really, there’s nothing like Loch Ness Monster."
Courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Loch Ness Monster is one of 48 coasters in the world designated as an ACE landmark, an honor bestowed on rides with a unique place in the historical development of roller coasters.
Courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The Loch Ness Monster is the world’s first and only remaining interlocking loop coaster.
Courtesy of Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Masaaki Okada
05-17-1975 (cutline): Busch League Racers Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. and Mrs. August Busch III start in the lead car around the LeMans track at the French Village of the Busch Gardens Old Country at Williamsburg. The governor, Busch executives, and government officials took part in the official dedication of the new park yesterday.
- Gary Burns
10-20-1974 (cutline): Several exterior sections were rushed to completion to be filmed. Commercials were done at site in mid-October. Busch Gardens Williamsburg received its first national advertising exposure on Thanksgiving evening on the NBC television network.
Busch Gardens from the archives
Busch Gardens opened in Williamsburg in May 1975. On May 16, 1975, more than 6,000 guests visitors led by Governor Mills E. Godwin Jr. and television personality Ed McMahon, dedicated and officially opened “The Old Country at Busch Gardens.”
The park held its weekend opening a week earlier on May 10 and 11, with 31,000 people in attendance. Busch Gardens’ officials waited a week to have the formal opening ceremonies to launch their third park in the U.S.
- Masaaki Okada
05-17-1975 (cutline): Busch League Racers Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. and Mrs. August Busch III start in the lead car around the LeMans track at the French Village of the Busch Gardens Old Country at Williamsburg. The governor, Busch executives, and government officials took part in the official dedication of the new park yesterday.
- Gary Burns
10-20-1974: Castle at Busch Gardens under construction.
- Gary Burns
10-11-1974 (cutline): Busch Gardens developers post a sign showing ecology consciousness.
- Gary Burns
07-13-1980: New construction at Busch Gardens.
- Gary Burns
07-08-1980: New construction at Busch Gardens.
- Gary Burns
10-20-1974 (cutline): The sign says it all: Williamsburg's Busch Gardens Project is still on target.
- Gary Burns
10-20-1974 (cutline): Several exterior sections were rushed to completion to be filmed. Commercials were done at site in mid-October. Busch Gardens Williamsburg received its first national advertising exposure on Thanksgiving evening on the NBC television network.
- Times-Dispatch
04-02-1974 (cutline): Archways will form base of tower structure in French section of Busch Gardens at Williamsburg. Buildings will reflect appearance of typical village during the 17th century in Europe.
- Bruce Parker
06-27-1984 (cutline): Charlie Dean makes a close inspection of the Big Bad Wolf ride at Busch Gardens.
- Gary Burns
07-13-1980: Busch Gardens Williamsburg rides.
- Carl Lynn
05-11-1975 (cutline): A dozen visitors to Old Country took a fast-paced ride.
