I still remember the first time I saw it. Standing in the French section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, looking up—way up—at that massive blue track cutting through the Virginia sky. The Griffon roller coaster isn't just a ride. It’s a statement. When it opened in 2007, it broke records for being the tallest and fastest dive coaster in the world, and honestly, even with newer, shinier coasters popping up everywhere from Florida to California, Griffon has this weird, staying power that most modern "record-breakers" just can't touch.
It’s intimidating.
There is no other way to put it. You’re walking past the creperie, smelling sweet cinnamon, and then you hear that specific, rhythmic clink-clink-clink of the lift hill followed by a collective scream that sounds like it’s falling from the clouds. It’s loud. It’s massive. And it’s arguably the most iconic silhouette in the entire park.
The Engineering Behind the Drop
Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Swiss wizards of steel, really outdid themselves here. This isn't your standard sit-down coaster. Griffon is a floorless dive coaster. That "floorless" part is a total head-trip because your feet are literally dangling over nothing. You’ve got ten people across in a single row—it’s a wide beast—and when that train pulls out of the station, you realize there is absolutely nothing between your sneakers and the concrete below.
The lift hill takes you up 205 feet. For context, that’s about 20 stories.
As you crest the top, the coaster does something truly cruel: it stops. Well, it doesn't stop entirely, but a holding brake catches the train right as it peeks over the 90-degree edge. You are staring straight down. For roughly three to five seconds, you are suspended at a true vertical angle. You can see the tiny people walking toward the Alpengeist entrance. You can see the Rhine River. And then, gravity takes over.
You hit 71 miles per hour in a heartbeat.
The sheer force of that first drop is roughly 4G. It’s enough to make your stomach feel like it’s moved into your throat, but because the track is so incredibly smooth—a B&M trademark—it doesn't feel like you’re being rattled. It feels like you’re flying. Or falling. Mostly falling.
Why the Second Drop is Secretly Better
Most people obsess over the first 205-foot plunge. I get it. It's the "big one." But if you talk to coaster enthusiasts or the ride ops who spend ten hours a day on that platform, they’ll tell you the second drop is where the real magic happens.
After the first massive Immelmann loop (which is basically a half-loop followed by a half-roll), the train climbs into a mid-course brake run. It slows you down, just for a second, before dropping you again into another vertical fall. This one goes into a tunnel.
There's something about the transition from the bright Virginia sun into a dark, subterranean hole that tricks your brain. It feels faster than the first drop even though, mathematically, it isn't. You lose your sense of perspective. You’re just a body in motion.
Then comes the splashdown.
This is the "Instagram moment" of the ride. As the train skims a pool of water, two massive scoops on the back of the car kick up giant plumes of water. If you’re standing on the bridge nearby, you’re going to get soaked. If you’re on the ride, you won't feel a drop, but the visual of those "rooster tails" shooting 50 feet into the air is spectacular. It's a clever way to use water as a natural braking system while giving the crowd a show.
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Front Row vs. Back Row: The Great Debate
If you want the "true" Griffon experience, you have to wait for the front row. There is no negotiation here. Sitting in the back is fun, sure—you get whipped over the drops with more intensity—but the front row offers an unobstructed view of your own potential demise.
In the front, you are the first person to dangle over that 205-foot edge. You aren't looking at the back of someone’s head. You are looking at the air.
However, the "edge" seats (far left or far right) are where things get spicy. Because the rows are ten seats wide, those outer seats actually hang out past the edge of the steel track. When you go through those Immelmann loops, you feel a sensation of "winging" that the middle-seat riders totally miss out on. It’s a lot more centrifugal force, and it makes the rolls feel much wider and more graceful.
A Lesson in Theme Park Longevity
I’ve often wondered why Busch Gardens Williamsburg hasn't tried to "out-do" Griffon with something even taller or steeper in that specific spot. They added Pantheon recently, which is a multi-launch beast, and Verbolten replaced the legendary Big Bad Wolf. But Griffon stays.
It stays because it’s reliable.
Unlike some of the newer, more temperamental Intamin or Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) coasters that seem to have "downtime" every other Tuesday, the Griffon roller coaster at Busch Gardens is a workhorse. It’s high-capacity. Because those rows are so wide, the line moves faster than almost any other major attraction in the park. You can see a line snaking out the entrance and think "that's a two-hour wait," but you're usually through it in 45 minutes because they can cycle so many people through at once.
It’s also surprisingly accessible.
Usually, "hyper-coasters" are designed to be punishing. Griffon isn't. It's intense, yes, but it’s not jerky. My 65-year-old uncle rides this thing and comes off smiling, whereas he won't touch a wooden coaster like InvadR because it kills his back. The B&M box track design is legendary for its "glass-smooth" ride quality. You aren't banging your head against the over-the-shoulder restraints. You’re just gliding.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Dive Coasters
There’s a common misconception that once you’ve ridden one dive coaster, you’ve ridden them all. People look at SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa and think it’s just a clone.
It’s not.
SheiKra is great, don't get me wrong, but the pacing is different. Griffon was the first to use the floorless trains from day one (SheiKra was converted later). Also, the layout of Griffon feels more integrated into the "France" section of the park. You’re flying over pedestrian paths and alongside the brewery. The terrain of Williamsburg—lots of trees, hills, and ravines—adds a layer of "near-miss" excitement that you don't get in the flat landscape of central Florida.
Also, can we talk about the wind? Because the ride sits so high up on a ridge, the wind speed at the top of that 205-foot lift is often significantly higher than it is at ground level. It adds this raw, elemental feeling to the hang-time. You feel the chill. You hear the wind whistling through the steel supports. It makes the world feel very big and you feel very small.
Practical Insights for Your Next Visit
If you're planning to tackle this beast, don't just run there at 10:00 AM. Everyone does that. The "dash for the back" (France/Ireland) is a classic Busch Gardens move.
Instead, wait.
The line for Griffon actually tends to dip during the mid-afternoon when everyone is eating lunch in the Festhaus or watching the Celtic Fyre show in Ireland. That’s your window.
Also, pay attention to the locker situation. Busch Gardens is pretty strict about loose articles. You cannot take bags in the line, and unlike some older rides, there are no bins on the station floor for your stuff. You’ll have to pay for a locker or leave your gear with a non-rider. Don't be that person who gets to the front of a 60-minute line only to be turned away because you're holding a souvenir popcorn bucket.
Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Height Requirement: It’s 54 inches. Make sure the kids are tall enough before you build up their excitement.
- Download the App: The Busch Gardens app wait times are actually fairly accurate for Griffon. Use them.
- Choose Your Row Wisely: If the wait for the front row is an extra 20 minutes, pay the "time tax." It is worth it for the view alone.
- Weather Watch: Griffon will shut down if there's lightning within a certain radius or if winds get too high. If you see a storm rolling in over the James River, ride Griffon first before the sensors trigger a shutdown.
At the end of the day, Griffon remains a masterclass in theme park engineering. It doesn't need 12 inversions or a gimmick. It just needs a very high ledge and a very long drop. Sometimes, the simplest fears are the most fun to face.