Busch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, and a planned amusement park in Dubai, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of Blackstone Group. One of the parks is in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other is in Tampa, Florida. Both parks were renamed at the start of the 2006 season to reflect the themes used throughout the parks. There was also previously a Busch Gardens park in Pasadena, California (1905–1937), Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California from (1964–1979)[1] and Houston, Texas (1971–1973) [2]. The Busch Gardens old logo (from March 1, 1977-July 12, 2003) is not shown on images.
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On October 7, 2009 it was announced that Inbev had sold all Busch Properties to The Blackstone Group for $2.7 billion. This sale includes all Busch Entertainment properties. One of the deals in the contract was that the Clydesdales at the parks be removed, as the breed of horse is associated with the Anheuser-Busch brand. In addition, the Busch Entertainment Company division that owned all of the Worlds of Discovery parks (including Busch Gardens) was renamed SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, officially marking the finalized purchase had succeeded on December 3, 2009.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened on March 31, 1959, and has an African theme. The park was originally tagged "The Dark Continent".[3] The theme park is one of America's largest zoological institutions, with more than 2,700 animals. Attractions include: Rhino Rally, Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, Gwazi, Edge of Africa, and SheiKra, a vertical dive coaster which opened in 2005. The theme park is some distance away from downtown, in central Tampa, near the limits of the City of Temple Terrace at the east of Tampa.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened May 5, 1975. With its European theme, the park was originally tagged "The Old Country." Attractions at this park include The Curse of DarKastle, Alpengeist, Escape from Pompeii, Apollo's Chariot, Loch Ness Monster, and Griffon. Added in 2007, the Griffon coaster has bragging rights as the tallest dive coaster in the world. The park is divided into seven sections, each themed to a different European country. On July 25, 2009, Busch Gardens announced that the Big Bad Wolf roller coaster would be retired Sept. 7, 2009, after 25 years of operation due to its "meeting the end of its service life". Also newly added in 2009 is Christmastown a Christmas attraction with many Christmas themed attractions and shows. Also In 2010 corkskrew hill will be changed into Europe in the air.
Busch Entertainment Corporation was to open a new park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2012.[4] It was to be placed on a man-made island shaped like Shamu in Dubai with SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica also being built on that island. The Dubai park would have added on a 3rd park to the Busch Gardens brand. The plans are now shelved because of financial issues, but the project will be visited again in the summer.[5]
Long before the Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, Adolphus Busch, cofounder of Anheuser-Busch, brewer of Budweiser beer, had his winter home in Pasadena, California (1904). The wealthy easterner took advantage of the area’s mild climate and established the first of a series of Busch Gardens in 1906. When Busch died at his Pasadena estate in 1913, his wife offered the property to the city of Pasadena as a park, which the city refused.
In the 1930s, the 36-acre (150,000 m2) land was subdivided. A number of films were made at the park, including Frankenstein, The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Gone With the Wind.
In 1954, a new brewery was opened in Van Nuys. The company opened a more modern version of Busch Gardens at this site in 1966 that included boat rides, a monorail and free beer. The 17-acre (69,000 m2) amusement park was renamed Busch Bird Sanctuary in 1977 and closed two years later.
Houston’s Busch Gardens opened in May 1971 and was closed within two years. It was located adjacent to the Anheuser-Busch brewery, which opened in 1966. The 40-acre park had an Asian theme except for an ice cave with a temperature controlled environment for several varieties of penguins, polar bears and sea lions.[2]
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens owner Anheuser-Busch InBev announced that the long tradition of offering free beer samples in their Hospitality Centers and Brewmaster Clubs would come to an end in the parks.[6] Beer will continue to be sold in the parks. Reports speculate that the change was made to make the parks more attractive to buyers.[7] Also announced was that workers will not get two cases of Beer a month for free, which they would receive under old parent; Anheuser-Busch.[8]
Anheuser-Busch owns several other parks:
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The city of Tampa[1] is the county seat of Hillsborough County and the largest city in the greater West Central Florida region.
Tampa is situated on the north shore of Tampa Bay in West Central Florida. Saint Petersburg lies west of the bay, while Bradenton is on the southern shore. The downtown business center of the city is on the north shore of Hillsborough Bay (a small bay within Tampa Bay which is bordered by the eastern shore of Tampa Bay and the small peninsula of South Tampa) and Ybor City lies just to the east. MacDill Air Force Base is on the southern tip of South Tampa, while the city also extends to the north all the way to the newly incorporated area of New Tampa.
The Tampa Bay area was visited by many Spanish explorers, beginning with Panfilo de Narvaez in 1528. However, no long term permanent settlements were created until 1824 when the US federal government created a reservation for north Florida Seminole Indians. At the same time, the US created Fort Brooke to oversee the reservation as well as protect the strategic harbor.
The 1880s saw the town's first population boom. In 1883, phosphate was discovered in the area, spurring the development of the mining and shipping industries in the area. Shortly after, Henry B. Plant completed work on his railroad linking Tampa to Jacksonville. He began promoting Tampa as a holiday spot and built the grand Plant Hotel as a luxury resort destination. In 1886, Vicente Martinez Ybor opened Tampa's first cigar factory in Ybor City which encouraged the immigration of many Spanish, Cuban and Italian (primarily Sicilian) workers. During the Spanish American War at the turn of the century, Tampa was the main port of departure for troops heading for Cuba. During this time, the Plant Hotel was converted into officer's accommodations, housing the Rough Riders and Teddy Roosevelt.
In more recent times, MacDill Air Force Base was created in 1939 and the University of South Florida in 1956. Over the course of the Twentieth Century, Tampa has grown into the center of a large metropolitan area; it now hosts the regional headquarters of many international companies, has acquired numerous professional sports teams, and has even bid for the summer Olympics.
Tampa is a very diverse city. The first residents were the members of the Seminole Indian tribe that was relocated there from northern Florida and the soldiers stationed at Fort Brook to control the reservation. The town remained a mostly military town until the 1880s when Tampa saw its first major waves of immigration from Cuba, Spain and Sicily. The major growth of the area did not occur until air conditioning became common in the years after World War II, but the region has been growing steadily since then. Tampa is now home to many native Floridians, including Seminoles, Cubans, Spaniards and Italians, as well the residence of many 'transplants' from the Midwest and other areas of the states and new immigrants from the Caribbean and central America. Tampa's population swells during the winter months with the arrival of the 'snowbirds,' retired persons from the northern U.S. and Canada who come down for a few months to enjoy the relative warmth.
Tampa has a growing economy and serves as a major port. Among others, Raymond James, Home Shopping Network, Outback Steakhouse, and a major portion of Citigroup are all headquartered in Tampa. Tampa's major industries today are phosphate mining, shipping, citrus processing, shrimping, and tourism.
Tampa's Amtrak [5] station is located at 601 Nebraska Avenue in downtown Tampa. Amtrak's Silver Service runs daily from New York City or Miami to Tampa. The train journey through Florida offers great views, but be aware that the schedules are often more of a suggestion than a reality.
Tampa is easily accessible via the major interstate highways, I-75 from north and south, and I-4 from the east. From either highway, exit onto I-275 to reach Tampa. However, be prepared for frequent traffic jams particularly when it rains; nearly all of Downtown and the airport area are under constant and complete construction. Also be ready to deal with terrible drivers, as this is the retirement state.
Tampa's Greyhound [6] station is at 610 Polk Street in downtown Tampa. Funtime Coaches toll free 1-888-952-LIMO
Cruise ships from five cruise lines operate from Tampa, mostly to Caribbean islands and Mexico. The Tampa cruise terminal is on the Ybor channel downtown. Starlight Cruises toll free 1-888-952-5466 [7]
Car rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.
Car Rental Companies include:
The main freeways in Tampa are Interstate 275, Interstate 4, the Veterans Expressway (toll FL 589), and the Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (toll FL 618). Some of the main east-west roads through town are Kennedy Boulevard (SR 60), Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) and Fowler Avenue (SR 582), while some of the north-south roads are Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) and Florida/Nebraska Avenue (US 41). Traffic is especially bad during the rush hours: from about 7:30 to 9:30 AM and 3:30PM to 7:30PM. During these times, try especially to avoid I-275, especially between I-4 and SR 60 (by the airport) as this section runs by downtown and is currently being rebuilt.
HART, [16], provides extensive bus service throughout Hillsborough County. There are three types of routes offered: "local", "Commuter Express", and Trollies (see below). Local routes are ones which have many stops in a small region. Commuter Express lines are long-distance lines namely providing service from suburbs into Tampa. Only local to local & commuter express to local transfers are allowed. Fares are $1.75 for local routes and $2.75 for commuter express lines. Four small routes (83, 87, 88, & 89) have a 50¢ fare with no transfers. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are half-price: 85¢ for "local" routes and $1.35 for "commuter express" routes. Bus transportation in the Tampa area is not popular and one can expect plenty of room in busses.
PSTA, offers service in Pinellas County (the county west of Tampa Bay, home to Clearwater and St. Petersburg) similar to what HART offers in Hillsborough.
Tampa also has the TECO Line Streetcar [17] that runs from Dick Greco Plaza downtown to Centennial Park in Ybor City with 8 stops along the way (10 total stops). The line is useful for tourists and convention goers. The line runs by many local shops, restaurants, and attractions including the convention center/ Embassy Suites, the St. Pete Times Forum, Channelside, the Florida Aquarium, and through Ybor City. There are 3 types of streetcars in operation: 9 "Birney Safety" replicas (picture, right), one "Breezer" open-air replica (picture, left), and one original "Birney" car (#163, not pictured) which operated in Tampa from 1923-1946 and went through 10,000 man-hours of restoration. Even if you're not using it for transportation, the streetcars are a fun way to see some of the city's historic and cultural sights.
As of December 2008, a one-way fare is $2.50. A 1-day, unlimited rides pass for both streetcars and trollies are available for $5, since this is the cost of 2 rides (not synonymous with "round-trip"), it's highly recommended. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are discounted to $1.25 each trip or $2.50 for 1-day unlimited. Children under 4 are free, but if taller than the fare box ID is required. Exact change is required, streetcar drivers do not provide change. Three-day and one year passes are available from Hart bus line ticket vendors, not from the streetcars. Service is available: 11AM-10PM Monday-Wednesday, 11AM-11PM Thursday, 11AM-2AM Friday, 9AM-2AM Saturday, and noon-8PM on Sunday. Streetcars arrive every 15 minutes, except service 9-11AM & midnight-2AM every 30 minutes.
Tampa also two-line trolley system serving the Central Business District. Unlike the streetcars, which are electric and run on a fixed track, the trollies are simply small, diesel busses styled to look like a streetcar. The purple line runs north-south from I-275, through downtown to the northern end of Harbor Island. It has service every 10 minutes at 17 stops( [18]), Monday through Friday from 6-9AM and 3-6PM. The green line trolley runs only on Friday and Saturday nights from 6PM-2AM. It has service every 10 minutes at 17 stops along the Hillsborough River (west side of CBD), the northern tip of Harbor Island, and along Channelside Drive (between Franklin St. and Kennedy Blv.). As of June 2008, rides are $0.25 (no transfers), $3.25 for a 1-day pass, and $5 for a 1-day streetcar/trolley pass. Riders over 65, 17 and under, on Medicare, or disabled are discounted to $1.60 for a 1-day trolley pass or $2.50 for a 1-day trolley/streetcar pass. Children under 4 are free, but if taller than the fare box ID is required. Only $1 bills are accepted.
This historic multi-ethnic district located northeast of downtown & north of the Channelside district is best known to locals for its wide range of nightclubs, bars, and shops making it a popular evening and weekend hotspot. However, this historic district has much to offer the tourist by day. Originally home to thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants (as well as smaller numbers of Romanian Jews and Germans), this neighborhood was famous for its many cigar factories and is where the 'Cuban sandwich' was first popularized in the United States. Ybor City is one of only two active National Historic Landmark Districts in the state of Florida and can be easily visited by catching one of its famous streetcars that connects downtown Tampa to Ybor City (see "Get around" section).
Union Electrician, Citigroup, Raymond James, Outback Steakhouse Corporate Office, Home Shopping Network, Tech Data.
Be aware while in Suitcase City, the part of town surrounding Busch Gardens, USF and University Square Mall. It can be dangerous traveling toward Pasco countytoo. Hitchiking is also prevelent in this area, but do not stop!
| Routes through Tampa |
| End ← | W  E |
→ Brandon → Orlando |
| Atlanta ← Ocala ← | N  S |
→ Bradenton → Miami |
End at  ← |
N  S |
→ Clearwater → St.Petersburg |
| Atlanta ← Brooksville ← | N  S |
→ Bradenton → Miami |
| Clearwater ← | W  E |
→ Brandon → Vero Beach |
| This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! |
Category: Usable articles
   | Williamsburg - Busch Gardens Europe (Williamsburg, Virginia 23185 USA) |
| | Tampa - Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, Florida 33612 USA) |
| | An Enchanted Park: Celebrating the Centennial of Busch Gardens - Pasadena Museum of History: An Enchanted Park -- Celebrating the Centennial of Busch Gardens |
| | Busch Gardens Tampa Guide (unofficial fansite) - Busch Gardens Tampa Guide: The Source for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay News, Information, Photos, Videos, and More |
| | Busch Gardens Van Nuys Site photos - Places, Earth, This page has been moved and has been improved |
| | Official website - Worlds of Discovery - SeaWorld: Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio | Aquatica | Discovery Cove | Busch Gardens: Tampa Bay, Williamsburg | Adventure Island | Water Country | Sesame Place |
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