Busch Gardens Cobra’s Curse Up For National Honors

TAMPA, FL — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fans who just can’t get enough of the park’s new spin coaster may want to vote for their favorite ride in a national contest. USA Today’s 10Best has nominated Cobra’s Curse in its 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards. The ride is up for honors in the Best New Amusement Park Attraction category.

Voting in the online competition is open through noon on Monday, Jan. 2. The winners will be announced on Jan. 6.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Cobra’s Curse was ranked fourth in votes out of 20 nominations from across the country. The leaderboard had Kentucky Kingdom’s Storm Chase out in front. That ride was followed by Dollywood’s Lightning Rod in second with Lake Compounce’s Phobia Phear Coaster in third.

A few other new rides from Florida theme parks also made the Top 20 list of nominees. They are:

• SeaWorld Orlando’s Mako in eighth place as of Wednesday
• Islands of Adventure Orlando’s The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster in 10th place as of Wednesday
• Epcot’s Frozen Ever After in 12th place as of Wednesday
• Islands of Adventure’s Reign of Kong in 13th place as of Wednesday
• Hollywood Studio’s Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular in 14th place Wednesday
• Disney Magic Kingdom’s Muppets Present Great Moments in American History in 17th place

Theme park fans are invited to vote for their favorite rides via the 10Best website once daily between now and Jan. 2.

Cobra’s Curse opened at Tampa’s Busch Gardens in June. The ride is a “one-of-a-kind spin coaster that features a menacing 30,000-pound snake icon and a 70-foot vertical lift that will take riders within inches of its 3-foot-wide eyes and 4-foot-long fans,” according to the park.

The ride lasts 3 ½ minutes and reaches speeds of 40 mph down a 2,100-foot serpentine-like track. What sets it apart from other attractions is the ride’s free-spinning ability as it travels backward and forward along the track.

“Guests will experience a new spin with each ride,” the park says. “Each train spins randomly, with frequency and direction determined by the rider weight distribution.”

To find out more about the ride, visit CobrasCurse.com. For information on park tickets, visit Busch Gardens online. To vote for Cobra’s Curse, visit 10Best online.

Photos courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay