Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Opening on June 1, 1959, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre African-themed park that represents one of the most successful blends of a world-class zoo and a high-intensity thrill destination. Originally founded by Anheuser-Busch as a small bird sanctuary and hospitality center adjacent to their Tampa brewery—where guests could enjoy free beer samples—the park evolved rapidly with the 1965 opening of the Serengeti Plain, the first free-roaming multi-species habitat in the United States. Now owned by United Parks & Resorts, the park is home to over 2,700 animals and a formidable lineup of 10 roller coasters, including the record-breaking hybrid Iron Gwazi and the 2024 family-suspended coaster Phoenix Rising. As of 2026, the park has further expanded its immersive offerings with the debut of Lion & Hyena Ridge, its most ambitious habitat project in over a decade, alongside the newly opened Wild Oasis family realm.