THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505230399
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
HIGH-DIVING GERBILS, racing box turtles and singing dogs showed up to audition at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg 20 years ago.
Not exactly what the park's operators had in mind.
Since the park opened - May 16, 1975 - visitors have learned what to expect at the sprawling 360-acre theme park with a European accent.
Heart-thumping, top-rated roller coasters are the stars among the more than 30 thrill rides. Live shows range from an oompah-style German festival and country concerts to song-and-dance reviews. There's also lush landscaping and a steady stream of new attractions.
The park even received this year's ``Most Beautiful Theme Park'' award from the National Amusement Park Historical Association. It's the third time for that honor.
The Anheuser-Busch-owned park opened for its 20th season on March 25. Cindy Sarko remembers the first year the gates opened.
``I was 14,'' Sarko said, ``and all of the relatives came to visit. Coming to the park was the great family outing for the summer.''
It was smaller then - only the countries of England, France and Germany were represented. The construction of the Italian section was still five years away.
Little did Sarko know then, but she would be seeing more of the park than she could have imagined.
After graduating from Radford University in 1984, she worked the summer as a stage technician in the ``Hats off to Hollywood'' stage show. Five years later she was in the marketing department, and last year she became director of public relations.
``Isn't every kid's dream,'' Sarko said, ``to work at a theme park? When things get crazy I go out the back door and take a few spins on the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster and come back and everything is fine.''
The Loch Ness was added to the park's array of attractions in 1978.
Over the years, the park has changed names, from Busch Gardens The Old Country to the more location-minded Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Linda Cuddihy, vice president of entertainment, has been working at the park from the beginning. She remembers seeing the log flume ride being built as well as ``Das Festhaus,'' the 2,000-seat German festival hall.
``My first job,'' said Cuddihy, ``was as the seasonal choreographer for the live shows. There were just two of us and we did everything from digging post holes to hiring the actors.''
Cuddihy likes the rides, but not surprisingly her favorite attractions are the live shows.
``We have so many good shows,'' she said, ``like Totally Television, The Enchanted Laboratory, the Festhaus show and the street performers.''
Many of her performers go on to careers in entertainment.
Jenny Chapman has also been at the park for the full 20 years. She worked in some of the small shops her first few years and has since become warehouse manager.
``We've grown tremendously over the years and we are much more polished than we were before.''
Although the many repeat guests to the park notice new rides and other attractions, Chapman has watched the behind-the-scenes growth.
``You see the park changing,'' she said, ``but people tend to forget the other areas that have grown, too. Even down to the costume areas. It used to be a closet. Now it's a two-floor area.''
Chapman's favorite ride is the Drachen Fire roller coaster, which debuted in 1992. She is looking forward to riding this season's major addition: Escape from Pompeii, which features a boat ride through a simulated volcanic eruption.
``There's still plenty of room for expansion,'' Sarko said. ``We'll keep the park as fresh as possible and there'll be something new to experience as well as the old favorites.''
As for the high-diving gerbils, they wouldn't have been comfortable around rides with names like The Big Bad Wolf and Loch Ness Monster anyway. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Escape from Pompeii is this season's big addition at Busch Gardens.
Graphic
JUST THE FACTS
Where: Busch Gardens is three miles east of Williamsburg. From
Interstate 64 West, take Exit 242.
When: Open daily through Labor Day, then Fridays through Tuesdays
till Oct. 29. Operating hours vary.
How much: $28.95, $21.95 for children ages 3-6. Two-day, discount
and season passes also available.
Call: 253-3350.
A history of park additions:
1976 - Oktoberfest
1978 - ``Loch Ness Monster'' roller coaster
1980 - San Marco (Italy)
1984 - ``The Big Bad Wolf'' roller coaster
1987 - Festa Italia rides area
1988 - ``Roman Rapids'' white water raft ride
1990 - ``Questor'' simulator ride
1992 - ``Drachen Fire'' steel roller coaster
1992 - Water Country USA acquired by Anheuser-Busch Theme Park
Co.
1993 - ``Haunts of the Olde Country,'' a ``4-D'' film
1994 - ``Land of the Dragons'' children's area
1995 - ``Escape From Pomeii''
New shows this year: Ice show June 18 through July 15, Russian
tumbling group July 18 through Aug. 16, laser/music show Aug. 18
through Sept. 3.
Other Anheuser-Busch-owned theme parks include Water Country USA
in Williamsburg; Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay; Sea World marine life
parks in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio and Cleveland, and
Adventure Island in Tampa Bay.
by CNB