Busch Gardens Williamsburg hopes Verbolten relaunch goes smooth amid rough patch for parent company
Plus, James City County launches new property information website tool; WJCC Schools Announces 2026 DoG Street Parade Event
Busch Gardens Williamsburg will debut a revamped version of its Verbolten roller coaster on May 30, overhauling the attraction with a darker atmosphere inspired by German forest folklore. The update replaces the ride’s original fairy tale tone with a more suspenseful narrative built around ominous shadows, haunting audio, and a warning to riders that venturing off the intended path through the Black Forest may trigger encounters with something long forgotten.
The reveal comes as the park’s parent company United Parks & Resorts works to build momentum after a disappointing first quarter. The Orlando-based theme park operator reently reported Q1 revenue of $278.3 million, down $8.7 million from the same period in 2025, and a net loss of $34.1 million, more than double last year’s first quarter loss of $16.1 million. Attendance fell to 3.2 million guests, a decline of roughly 171,000 year-over-year.
United Parks reports only consolidated figures across its 13 parks, so it’s unclear how Busch Gardens Williamsburg performed relative to other properties in the portfolio. The company . CEO Marc Swanson attributed the shortfall largely to factors outside the company’s control. Unfavorable weather across Florida, Texas, and San Diego, combined with a drop in international visitation, accounted for an estimated 220,000 lost guests during the quarter. Adjusted for those impacts, Swanson said attendance would have risen more than 1%.
There were bright spots. In-park spending per guest reached a record $40.62, up 5.3% from Q1 2025, and season pass sales grew roughly 10% during the quarter and about 12% through April 30. Advance bookings at Discovery Cove are also running ahead of last year at a double-digit pace.
United Parks is leaning on new and refreshed attractions across its portfolio to drive a stronger second half. In addition to the Verbolten reimagining at its Williamsburg park, the company is opening a new Shark Encounter at SeaWorld San Diego, a Lion & Hyena Ridge habitat at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and an upgraded Expedition Odyssey at SeaWorld Orlando.
In other news …
James City County Launches New Property Information Website Tool
James City County has launched a new Property Information website designed to help residents access parcel data and property records more easily. In a recently posted video, GIS Supervisor Kim Hazelwood provides a comprehensive walk through of the site’s features and functionality.
The website offers multiple search options including chat mode, voice search, table and map views, and advanced search capabilities. Users can view parcels on interactive maps, export information as PDFs, access nearby property details, and integrate data with EagleView imagery and Google Maps. The site also provides tools for downloading GIS data and PDF maps, making property research more accessible for James City County residents and property owners. The tool can be accessed at https://property.jamescitycountyva.gov/JamesCity/
