With the recent announcement of Rapterra, Kings Dominion’s “new-for-2025” launched Wing Coaster, there was, of course, some discourse online about which Virginia park had the best coaster lineup. Debuting less than two weeks apart in May 1975 and separated by just 73.5 miles of highway on Interstates 64, 295, and 95, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion are in a constant state of comparison by theme park fans.
As of this writing, in 2025, Kings Dominion will have 14 roller coasters to Busch Gardens’ 10. Many could argue that based on quantity alone, Kings Dominion can stake claim to Virginia’s best coaster lineup, while others note that the top-to-bottom variety and quality of Busch Gardens Williamsburg should give them the edge. There is only one way to decide which park’s lineup is the best – and that’s a side-by-side comparison.
Because we love a great debate, we’re going to run down the list of coasters at each park, and compare the coasters of Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg in ten highly scientific* categories, hopefully deciding a definitive answer to “Which Virginia theme park has the best coaster lineup?”
(For the sake of argument, the categories are not always true “apples-to-apples” comparisons. You’ll see what we mean. As always, if our final decision bothers you, we kindly remind you that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and if you’re truly mad about a roller coaster website writing about roller coasters, that’s 100% a “you” problem.)
The Classic Arrow: Anaconda v. Loch Ness Monster
We’ll start with a fairly straightforward comparison – both of these Arrow Dynamics coasters are designed by legendary coaster architect Ron Toomer, feature a first drop towards the water – Anaconda’s actually going underneath the water in a tunnel – along with multiple inversions – Loch Ness was the first and remains the only roller coaster with interlocking loops. That said, given Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s recent investment into Loch Ness Monster featuring refurbished track and added scenic and storyline elements, it’s somewhat easy to give the nod to “Nessie” here.
Winner: Loch Ness Monster
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 1, Kings Dominion: 0
The Family Multi-Launch Coaster: Backlot Stunt Coaster v. DarKoaster
While they come from different manufacturers and different “eras” of launch coaster technology (a lot can change in 17 years!), both parks have a launch coaster designed with families and younger riders in mind. Both DarKoaster and Backlot Stunt Coaster feature themed environments and two separate sections of launch track, the main difference being DarKoaster is all indoors in the dark, and Backlot is all outdoors, and full of theming and effects that are carried over from it’s “Paramount” days as “Italian Job.” The nod here goes to Backlot Stunt Coaster, especially if all of the scenic elements are working as intended. (Not to mention it’s demonstrated a better capacity and throughput over the years!)
Winner: Backlot Stunt Coaster
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 1, Kings Dominion: 1
The “Off The Shelf with a Compact Footprint” Coaster: Tumbili vs. Tempesto
As of this writing, there have been a total of 11 Premier Rides’ “Sky Rocket II” models – including Tempesto – that have opened, while there have been 12 S&S 4-D “Free-Spin” coasters – like Tumbili – that have opened. In both cases, the coasters feature a relatively short track length, but are built vertically in a fairly narrow foot print. How do you compare two “off-the-shelf” models that are similar, but still very different? To me, it comes down to theming, where Tumbili, located squarely in Kings Dominion’s Jungle X-Pedition has the benefit of an added backstory. Tempesto, while it was designed to tell the story of an Italian daredevil, is essentially located under Apollo’s Chariot’s lift hill and has a banner on it. Also, comfort collars. Yeesh.
Winner: Tumbili
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 1, Kings Dominion: 2
The “___-est B&M ___”: Dominator v. Alpengeist
The battle of two “-est” coasters from Swiss manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard gives us BGW’s Alpengeist, still the tallEST B&M inverted coaster ever built, against Dominator, the longEST B&M floorless coaster. Alpengeist had about a decade head start in the region, opening in 1997, while Dominator arrived at Kings Dominion in 2008, following several years as Batman Knight Flight (and later Dominator) at Geauga Lake. This was truly a neck-and-neck race, but when you add in Alpengeist’s theming, one more inversion than Dominator (6 vs. 5), and the fact that Alpengeist ranked higher in the most recent voting of the Golden Ticket Awards, we have to give this one to Ghost of the Alps, by the narrowest of margins.
Winner: Alpengeist
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 2, Kings Dominion: 2
The Hyper/Giga: Project 305 v. Apollo’s Chariot
On the subject of the Golden Ticket Awards, these two coasters finished T-9 (Project 305) and 11th (Apollo’s Chariot) in 2023. Two extremely heavy hitters in the coaster enthusiast space, Apollo’s Chariot was the first ever B&M hyper coaster when it opened in 1999, and while Project 305 wasn’t the first giga coaster to open, it is certainly one of the more intense iterations of the coaster type. When comparing these two rides, while many enthusiasts enjoy the smooth camelback hills found on Apollo’s Chariot, those can be found on many coasters. The height, speed, and very scientific term “whippiness” found on Project 305 make it more of a unique experience, and give Kings Dominion another point.
Winner: Project 305
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 2, Kings Dominion: 3
The “Intro” Coaster: Great Pumpkin Coaster & Apple Zapple v. Grover’s Alpine Express
Because Kings Dominion has more roller coasters than Busch Gardens Williamsburg, several of these categories will need to feature an extra coaster or two from the Kings Dominion side. When you’re looking at the “first” coasters for many young enthusiasts at each of the parks, you’re looking at Grover’s Alpine Express at BGW, while KD has the Great Pumpkin Coaster. In order to make this even close to a fair fight, we’ve included Apple Zapple in this category as well. Even so, Grover’s Alpine Express and the surrounding Sesame Street Forest of Fun makes for a more fun experience than a small kiddie coaster that drives through a wooden pumpkin and a Wild Mouse with the added drop with a weird name. In a controversial decision, we’re taking Grover here.
Winner: Grover’s Alpine Express
Score: Busch Gardens Williamsburg: 3, Kings Dominion: 3
The Wooden Coaster: Grizzly, Racer 75 & Woodstock Express v. Invadr
While the “quality vs. quantity” argument is definitely something to consider as InvadR is one of my favorite wooden coasters, the combination of the recent re-tracking of Grizzly with the Gravity Group’s engineered pre-cut track, the historical significance of Racer 75, and the thrills packed in a small package with Woodstock Express, there’s no real contest here. Kings Dominion’s three/four wooden coasters (depending on if we’re counting coasters or coaster credits) easily take down InvadR, as much as it pains this InvadR fan to say.
Winner: Kings Dominion’s Wooden Coaster Lineup
Score: Kings Dominion: 4, Busch Gardens: 3
The “Big” Launch Coaster: Flight of Fear v. Verbolten
Another series of launch coasters with a significant gap in technology between their openings – Flight of Fear in 1996, and Verbolten in 2012, in this case, we’re going to have to go with the newer of the two coasters. While Flight of Fear does have a loose story from it’s “Outer Limits” days, the re-ridability and smooth ride provided by Verbolten makes this another easy decision. Both rides have an indoor section in the dark (for Flight of Fear, it’s actually the whole ride), but Verbolten also has a surprise in the dark, while Flight of Fear often just results in disorienting stops and starts. Time to say “auf wiedersehen” to Flight of Fear as Verbolten pulls Busch Gardens Williamsburg back into a tie.
Winner: Verbolten
Score: Busch Gardens: 4, Kings Dominion: 4
The “New” Headliner Coaster: Twisted Timbers v. Pantheon
When Twisted Timbers opened at Kings Dominion on March 24, 2019, it quickly shot up to the top of many fans’ lists of favorite coasters at the park, and Pantheon did the same for Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s fans when it opened at the park three years and one day later. It’s the opinion of this one-person voting panel that both coasters are underrated at large by the coaster enthusiast community, and both have elements of their ride cycle – Twisted Timbers’ barrel roll drop and “back curve” stall inversion and Pantheon’s reverse airtime launch hill and sideways airtime coming into the brake run that left me speechless upon riding. In another close decision, the nod here goes to Pantheon, mainly because a back row ride when going up the vertical spike is a transformational roller coaster experience.
Winner: Pantheon
Score: Busch Gardens: 5, Kings Dominion: 4
The Record-Breaking B&M with Seats Outside of the Track: Rapterra v. Griffon
Now we get to Kings Dominion’s new addition, the world’s tallest and longest B&M wing coaster, Rapterra, against Griffon, who, when it opened, was the World’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster. While that height record has since been broken, Griffon is still one of the most enjoyable rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and as the first dive coaster with 10-across seating, provides ample opportunity to feel like you’re flying. However, based on the released POV video, Griffon’s 18-year head start to make riders feel like they’re flying could be surpassed by Rapterra’s powerful launch, unique elements, and lush surrounding scenery. Is it fair to give a win to a roller coaster whose track isn’t even completed, yet? Probably not, but we’re excited enough for the future of Kings Dominion to give it the win here.
Winner: Rapterra
Score: Busch Gardens: 5, Kings Dominion: 5
Final Results: It’s a Tie!
Hey, we write about theme parks and roller coasters here, and they’re all great coasters. Instead of trying to decide which park has the better lineup, why can’t we, as coaster enthusiasts and society in general, just enjoy the fact that these two world-class parks are within just about an hour’s drive of one another, and both feature outstanding coaster lineups? The sooner you do that, the more fun you’ll have in this hobby!
Yes, I know we didn’t include Reptilian. I love Reptilian, and as North America’s only MACK Rides bobsled, it’s an attraction that I need to experience every time I visit Kings Dominion, but it’s truly unique in its own right. If you have to pick a winner with Reptilian running unopposed, I guess you can do that, but again, why are you taking roller coasters and the hobby in general so serious?
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