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Photo Diary: Busch Gardens Tampa [1]
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Date: 2025-06-21
As I have noted in previous diaries, I have been unhappy with Busch Gardens ever since it was bought by some Wall Street private equity company. Immediately the price went up, the quality went down, the company began slashing “expenses” everywhere it could, and the place turned to shit.
Now, they seem to have learned a lesson and have just announced a $40 million upgrade to “improve” the animal exhibits, the shows, and the “visitor experience”. I very much doubt they will bring the park back to the level it was back when Annheuser-Busch owned it, but there are now large sections of the park that are closed off for construction work (including the Serengeti Plains exhibit, which is IMHO the best part of the park). So, I guess we will see if they can deliver on their promises, or if this will be just a cheap coat of paint.
Anyway, I still have an annual pass to Busch and I still visit pretty often, mostly to see the (remaining) animals and to people-watch (there are tourists here from all over the globe—or at least there used to be: it seems to me that the number of foreign tourists has visibly declined since the Orange Moran made the USA an international laughingstock).
Some photos from a recent visit.
Inside the park
The park has some lovely landscaping
South African Penguin
Skyride
“Egypt”. Each area of the park is themed to a region of Africa.
Nile Crocodile—his name is “Sobek”. He’s been here ever since I began visiting the park back in 1997.
“Ubanga-Banga” bumper cars
Stanleyville log flume
Sesame Street area for the little kids
The Flamingo pond
Iron Gwazi rollercoaster. This was originally built as a wooden coaster—the only one in Florida. After some years they found out why there weren’t any others—the wood began to warp and rot in the Florida heat and humidity. So they rebuilt it in steel.
Lorikeets
Orangutan
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