Python was a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park in Tampa, Florida. Built by Arrow Development and opened on July 1, 1976, it was the first roller coaster at Busch Gardens since the park opened in 1959. The roller coaster was located in the Congo section of the park near Stanley Falls Flume and later the Congo River Rapids. After 30 years of operation, Python closed on October 31, 2006, and was eventually replaced by Jungala, a now-defunct family section of the park.
Python was one of several Corkscrew models built by Arrow Development, imaged after the likes of Corkscrew at Knott's Berry Farm. The roller coaster reached a maximum height of 72 feet, with a maximum speed of 40 mph, and reached a length of 1200 ft. Upon opening, the roller coaster was received well by critics and guests.
History
Following an 18 month expansion of the Busch Gardens Tampa park, which saw the opening of several attractions including the Skyride and Moroccan Village, officials from the company disclosed about planning out the next 18 months of a separate expansion.[1] Reports a day before its formal announcement in September 1975 indicated that a new thrill ride, named "The Python", would be constructed.[2]