July 19, 2026
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL) will retire Kumba on August 2, 2026, closing the steel roller coaster after 33 years of operation. The park paired the July 14 closure announcement with a successor tease: Kumba’s Revenge, a new attraction the park says is part of a $100 million investment. No details on the new attraction have been released.
Kumba’s 33-Year Run
Kumba opened in 1993 as Florida’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster, and it featured the world’s tallest vertical loop at the time. The ride drops riders 135 feet at up to 60 miles per hour across a run of almost three minutes. Trains pass through seven inversions along the way, hitting a diving loop and a zero-gravity roll before a cobra roll and a set of interlocking corkscrews near the finale. The coaster’s distinctive sound earned a callout in the park’s farewell message, which cited an “iconic roar sound” as part of the ride’s legacy.
The layout covers 3,978 feet of track, and the coaster stands as the third-oldest Bolliger and Mabillard machine still operating anywhere, per Theme Park Insider, behind only Patriot at California’s Great America and Vortex at Carowinds.
Final Rides for Pass Members
Busch Gardens Annual Pass Members get exclusive ride time on Saturday, August 1, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., as Spectrum Bay News 9 reported. Kumba stays in regular operation for all guests through its final day on Sunday, August 2.
The retirement wraps just ahead of the park’s Halloween season. Howl-O-Scream returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for approximately 15 select nights, September 11 through November 1, 2026.
Kumba’s Revenge and the $100 Million Investment
The park framed the retirement as the start of a successor project rather than a stand-alone closure. “While Kumba may be retiring this summer, Busch Gardens is dedicated to thrilling the next generation of coaster enthusiasts by continuing the Kumba story,” the park said in its social media announcement. “This new attraction is a part of our $100 million investment that will elevate Busch Gardens as Florida’s thrill leader and enhance our guest experience.”
The announcement did not include a ride type, an opening timeline, or whether the new attraction will use Kumba’s current site.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is operated by United Parks & Resorts, which reported first-quarter attendance down 5% in May while continuing share buybacks.
Event dates and ticketing
Kumba stays open through its final day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (10165 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612).
- Final public operating day: Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Pass Member exclusive ride time: Saturday, August 1, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Admission: included with park admission, no separate ticket
For more information, visit BuschGardens.com/Tampa.
