Apollo's Chariot was announced on September 5, 1998, as the tallest and fastest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. An article in the Daily Press on January 23, 1999, mentioned that the ride was nearing completion with approximately 20 pieces of track left to be installed. Busch Gardens held Apollo's Chariots opening ceremony on March 30, 1999. Italian fashion model Fabio Lanzoni was brought in to promote the new roller coaster. During the ride's inaugural run, a 10-pound goose struck him in the face leaving his nose covered with blood. He was treated at a nearby hospital for minor cuts, while the goose was killed on impact. Upon opening, it was the first Hyper Coaster from Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard.
Characteristics
The Apollo's Chariot is a Hyper Coaster made by Bolliger & Mabillard. The park's existing terrain is utilized to allow a lift hill to be translated into a first drop stretching. With a top speed of, the ride features eight air-time hills. Riders of Apollo's Chariot experience up to 4.1 times the force of gravity on the 2-minute, 15-second ride. Apollo's Chariot operates with three trains with nine cars per train. Riders are arranged four across in a single row for a total of 36 riders per train. This configuration of trains allows for a theoretical capacity of 1,750 riders per hour. Riders are restrained by a lap bar and the seats are elevated so riders’ feet don't touch the ground.
Ride experience
After departing from the station, the train begins to climb the chain lift hill. When the train reaches the top, it drops down a few feet in a pre-drop. The pre-drop serves to reduce the stress and pull of the chain. After the pre-drop, the train goes down a drop toward a water-filled ravine at a 65 degree angle and reaches a top speed of. At the end of the ravine, the train enters a second airtime hill with a drop. A short narrow above ground tunnel is at the bottom of the second drop. After the tunnel, the train descends a drop, which banks to the left as it descends. The train then goes through an upward helix. Coming out of the helix, the train drops then turns right and rises up into the mid-course brake run. The train drops out of the brake run followed by another drop at toward the ravine. The train then banks right, makes a dip, turns left and goes through a small dip. The train then makes one last airtime drop before climbing up and into the final brake run. There is approximately 26 seconds of airtime during the 2-minute, 15-second ride.
Reception
In the ride's debut year, Busch Gardens Williamsburg had lower than expected levels of attendance. This was attributed to prolonged periods of inclement weather. As a result of this, the park planned to relaunch Apollo's Chariot in 2000 in an attempt to drive attendance. In Amusement Todays annual Golden Ticket Awards, Apollo's Chariot has consistently ranked highly. In its debut year, it ranked position 20. In the 13 years since, the coaster has consistently ranked higher, peaking at #4 in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012.
