Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Shuts Kumba on Aug. 2 After 33 Years, Replacing It in $100 Million Plan
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 23
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Shuts Kumba on Aug. 2 After 33 Years, Replacing It in $100 Million Plan
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 23
Summary
Aug. 2 will mark Kumba’s final day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, ending a 33-year run for one of Florida’s best-known roller coasters.
Busch Gardens said the closure clears the way for Kumba’s Revenge, part of a $100 million investment to expand the park’s thrill-ride lineup.
Built in 1993, Kumba opened as Florida’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster; the nearly three-minute ride drops 135 feet, hits 60 mph and includes seven inversions.
Fans reacted with nostalgia online, calling Kumba a “classic” and a “rite of passage” for Floridian children while hoping its replacement matches the original’s reputation.
The retirement adds to a broader wave of amusement-park closures drawing emotional responses, including Washington state’s Wild Waves, which plans to shut after the 2026 season.