Busch Gardens Tampa to Close 52-Year-Old Ride This Weekend

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fans have one last chance to make a splash before an iconic opening day attraction closes for good.

On Friday, Aug. 29, the Tampa, Fla. amusement park announced on social media that Stanley Falls Flume will take its “final plunge” on Sunday, Sept. 7. 

“After more than 50 years of splashes, smiles, and summer memories, Stanley Falls Flume is taking its final plunge,” the park wrote. “As one of the original rides from the park’s opening in 1973, this classic has been a fan favorite for generations.”

They added: “This is your last chance to ride before we say goodbye and make way for an exciting new future attraction! Come relive the fun and help us celebrate a true Busch Gardens legend.”

The post includes a video from a rider’s POV onboard the attraction. The guest gets soaked as she travels down one of the ride’s drop hills. 

In the comments, Instagram users questioned the timing of the announcement.

“WHY do you wait until the week before a ride’s closure to tell us the news? Some places give at least a month,” someone wrote. “Sad news nevertheless.”

“Why did this news come out of nowhere,” another questioned. “Y’all better not pull this with Kumba,” referencing the park’s steel roller coaster. 

Others requested a similar ride in its place.

“With how hot it gets in that park I really hope y’all are putting another water ride in its place — love Congo [River Rapids] but I barely get wet on it sometimes, doesn’t exactly cool you off!” one person wrote.

“Please help future generations form core flume memories with a future water addition,” said another. 

Officials have yet to announce what will replace the historic attraction. Busch Gardens did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Sunday’s closure comes almost exactly a year after the park permanently shut down the Scorpion roller coaster. The park announced on X that the ride would close on Aug. 23, 2024, just days before its final run on Sept. 2, 2024.

Scorpion, the park’s oldest and longest-standing coaster, opened in 1980 as the park’s second thrill ride, per the Tampa Bay Times. The park’s first coaster, Python, closed in 2006. 

Despite the closures, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay continues to add new experiences. On July 15, officials opened the door to Wild Oasis, “North America’s most immersive kid-friends adventure realm,” according to a press release. 

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The new area includes an all-new drop-tower ride, a climbing canopy, a multi-species animal habitat, interactive water play areas, a scavenger hunt and a new quick-service restaurant with a Latin-American inspired menu. 

“We are thrilled to officially open Wild Oasis to all our guests,” Brian Bacica, park president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, said in the release. “This vibrant, rainforest-inspired realm is filled with incredible animal habitats, immersive attractions and hands-on play areas designed to entertain, educate and inspire. It’s an unforgettable adventure for the whole family.”