Scorpion, Steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida.
Scorpion was a steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, designed by Werner Stengel and built by Anton Schwarzkopf. Its orange track and blue supports formed a 60.7-foot (18.5 m) lift hill, a 39.3-foot (12.0 m) vertical loop, and a 900-degree helix. A large sign with the name in red letters on a blue oval stood in front of the structure.
Anheuser-Busch announced the $12.3 million Timbuktu expansion on February 5, 1979, and Scorpion opened there on May 16, 1980, as the park's second coaster. Anton Schwarzkopf manufactured it and Werner Stengel designed it, one of three Silver Arrow models and the only one on a permanent structure. It closed on September 8, 2024, and was demolished in May 2025.
The ride was named after the general species of scorpion, not after its movements. Its 2004 repaint gave it orange track and blue supports, and the entrance sign set the name in red letters outlined in blue on a blue oval. The coaster stood in the Pantopia section beside Phoenix Rising.
Riders needed to be at least 48 inches (120 cm) tall, and the train used a lap bar restraint. The ride closed permanently on September 8, 2024, after its final day was pushed back a week from the originally announced September 2. It was demolished in May 2025.
This particular model was manufactured only a few times worldwide, making it a rarity among roller coaster enthusiasts. Its combination of design features and park location drew the attention of collectors and fans interested in this specific style of coaster.
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