You’re hanging there. Literally. Just dangling 205 feet in the air with nothing but a giant steel claw holding your train back from a 90-degree plunge. Honestly, that three-second hold at the top of griffon in busch gardens is probably the most disrespectful thing a roller coaster has ever done to me. It’s not just a ride; it’s a psychological experiment.
Most people think once you’ve seen one "dive coaster," you’ve seen them all. They’re wrong.
While the newer, shinier rides like Pantheon or the refurbished Loch Ness Monster get all the 2026 hype, Griffon remains the undisputed king of the French section—officially known as Aquitaine—for a reason. It’s huge. It’s blue. And it’s surprisingly smooth for a machine that’s been hucking people toward the pavement since 2007.
The Gravity Problem (and Why It Works)
Let's talk specs, but not the boring brochure kind.
Griffon was a pioneer. When it opened, it smashed records as the world's tallest and fastest dive coaster. It was also the first of its kind to go floorless. If you’ve never ridden a floorless dive coaster, imagine sitting on the edge of a skyscraper in a lawn chair. Your feet just sort of... exist in space.
The drop is 205 feet. That is nearly 20 stories. You hit 71 mph almost instantly. But the real magic isn’t just the speed; it’s the $15.6 million engineering job by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). These guys are the "Mercedes-Benz" of coaster designers. That’s why, even nearly two decades later, it doesn’t rattle your brain into a milkshake like some older wooden coasters might.
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Why the "Dive" is Different
Most coasters use a chain lift to crest a hill and immediately drop. Not this beast.
- The Lift: It’s a 45-degree climb. Steep enough to make you regret that oversized soft pretzel you ate in the Oktoberfest area.
- The Turn: You slowly creep around a 180-degree bend at the summit. You can see the York River. You can see the steeple of the Alpengeist lift. It's beautiful, until it isn't.
- The Hold: This is the "holding brake." You are tilted forward. You are looking directly at the track below, which, from that height, looks like a tiny blue thread.
Then, the release.
Two Immelmanns are Better Than One
A lot of enthusiasts compare griffon in busch gardens to its sister ride, SheiKra, down in Florida. While SheiKra is a classic, Griffon upped the ante by adding a second Immelmann loop. For the uninitiated, an Immelmann is a maneuver where the train goes into a half-loop and then rolls out at the top. It’s named after a German fighter pilot, and yeah, it feels like flying.
After that first massive loop, you don't just head back to the station. You hit a mid-course brake run, catch your breath for half a second, and then get dropped again. This second drop is 130 feet. In any other park, a 130-foot vertical drop would be the main attraction. On Griffon, it’s basically a sequel.
The Splashdown: More Than Just a Gimmick
If you’re walking through the park and suddenly feel a light mist, you’re probably near the back of the ride's layout. The splashdown is iconic.
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Two giant scoops on the back of the train hit a pool of water, sending two 50-foot plumes of spray into the air. If you’re a rider, you barely feel it. Maybe a few drops if you’re in the back row. But if you’re a spectator on the bridge? You're in the splash zone.
Honestly, on a 95-degree Virginia July day, that bridge is the most popular spot in the park.
Getting the Most Out of Your Ride
I've been on this thing more times than I can count, and there is a definite "correct" way to ride it if you want the best experience.
- The "Front Row" Fallacy: Everyone wants the front row. They want the view. And look, the view is great. But the front row actually feels the "hold" the least because the weight of the train hasn't pulled them over the crest yet.
- The Back Row Secret: If you want raw airtime—that feeling of your stomach staying at the top while your body heads for the bottom—sit in the back. When the train is released, the front half of the car pulls the back half down with terrifying force.
- The Edge Seats: Each row is 10 seats across. If you sit on the far left or far right, you are basically hanging over nothing but air. There is no track visible beneath you. It’s a completely different level of "nope."
Practical Realities for 2026
If you're planning a trip this year, keep a few things in mind. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is notoriously hilly. You’re going to be walking. A lot. Griffon is located in the France/New France area, right near the bridge to Ireland.
The height requirement is a strict 54 inches. They don't budge on this. If your kid is 53.5 inches, don't argue with the ride op; it's a safety thing involving the over-the-shoulder restraints.
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Wait times? They fluctuate. Because the trains seat 30 people at a time (three rows of 10), the line moves surprisingly fast. Even a line that looks "full" usually clocks in at about 45 minutes. If you see it under 20, drop everything and run.
Quick Tips for the Savvy Traveler:
- Locker Situation: You cannot take bags in the line. You’ll have to pay for a locker or leave your stuff with a non-rider. They are pretty strict about loose items.
- Quick Queue: If you're only there for one day and it's a Saturday, the Quick Queue (their version of a FastPass) is worth it. For Griffon, it usually cuts the wait to under 10 minutes.
- The Rain Rule: Busch Gardens will run Griffon in light rain, but if there's lightning within a certain radius, the ride shuts down immediately.
Is It Still Worth It?
In a world of 300-foot "giga" coasters and 100 mph launches, is griffon in busch gardens still a heavy hitter?
Absolutely.
There is something visceral about a vertical drop that a launch coaster just can't replicate. It’s the anticipation. It’s the way the wind hits your face when you’re hanging over the edge. It’s the fact that, for a few seconds, you are genuinely convinced that the brakes might not let go.
It’s a masterclass in tension and release.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
Check the official Busch Gardens app before you head into the park to verify the daily ride status. Sometimes they do "planned maintenance" on the older B&Ms during the shoulder seasons. If Griffon is running, head there first thing in the morning or during the mid-afternoon "lunch rush" when everyone else is eating at Trappers Smokehouse. You’ll likely find the shortest lines of the day during those windows. Also, make sure your footwear is secure—flip-flops are a great way to lose a shoe to the Virginia wilderness during that first Immelmann.