While students love exploring the quiet, serene space of Colonial Williamsburg on coffee strolls, the College of William and Mary’s Student Assembly gave students a chance to escape reenactors and chase adrenaline at Busch Gardens Day Friday, Sept. 25. The event allowed students to visit the local amusement park, as Student Assembly offered heavily discounted $29 tickets to the amusement park. Tickets also included free transportation options of shuttle buses or parking tickets. The event, sponsored by SA, received financial support from Students for University Advancement, the College’s Division of Student Affairs and the President’s Office.
The last time Busch Gardens Day happened at the College was in 2019, but due to low sales, the College’s student leadership was reluctant to try it again. Former Student Assembly President Zoe Wang ’26 made the revival possible.
“Zoe was very adamant about bringing it back and I’m glad that we did,” Senate Chair Mackenna Wyckoff ’28 said
Wang and then-vice president Matt Swenson ’26 did the preliminary planning for Busch Gardens Day, including negotiating a deal with the theme park for ticket pricing and parking access.
Wang and Swenson then handed off planning to current President Nico Giro-Martin ’27 and Vice President Sophie Kennedy ’27, along with Wyckoff, who was present for the initial proposal of Busch Gardens Day. Wyckoff facilitated the transition between leadership to ensure the event would run smoothly and sponsored the bill that chartered three buses for transportation to and from Busch Gardens.
Student Assembly had to sell 500 tickets minimum, and ended up selling 1,341, which far surpassed ticket sales in 2019. The ability to sell virtual tickets massively helped ticket sales compared to seven years ago.
Students at the College, from thrill seekers to music enthusiasts, swarmed Busch Gardens on the 25th. The amusement park includes 11 operating roller coasters, ranging from old-school rides like the Loch Ness Monster to the thrilling Griffin. Students were able to enjoy the park in the daytime and then stay in the park for the Howl-O-Scream experience.
At 6:00 p.m. near the Das Festhaus restaurant, “Jack’s Witching Hour,” a celebratory event with grand theatrics, kicked off the park’s transformation into a haunted experience. Scare actors filled the park, creating a scary and thrilling attraction. The horrific hours of Howl-O-Scream, from 6:00 p.m. to closing, include five active “terror-tories,” five haunted houses and four shows.
The haunted houses were a highlight for students chasing thrills. There were two new houses opened this season: Anaconda: Dead on Arrival and Fright at the Museum, which opened on the 25th. Additionally, returning favorites like Werewolves: Wolf’s Revenge kept students entertained.
“My favorite part was definitely the haunted houses. I was a big fan of the Werewolf haunted house. I think my favorite one in terms of theming was The Fright at the Museum. I really like the vibe of that one,” Parker Thorson ’28 said.
However, not all students are horror fans, so the “sinister shows” allowed students to have some spooks in their night without interacting directly with scare actors. Busch Gardens showcased returning shows like “Skeletones in Your Closet” and “Fiends,” along with a new show called “Undead Diva” that Howl-O-Scream began showcasing this season.
As students walked between areas of the park, they were able to pass through a wide variety of “terror-tories.” For instance, by the Griffin roller coaster resides the entertaining and EDM-filled “terror-torie,” Disgrotesque. The nightlife-loving gargoyles swarm the French village, desperately pleading with attendees to join in on their EDM dancing.
Another aspect of Busch Gardens Day that heavily appealed to students was the ability to go on their favorite coasters at night. Students were able to ride rollercoasters at sunset and under the moon. The special themed lighting around the whole park transformed the riding experience for the students, adding a spooky element to their favorite attractions.
“I’d always seen the Griffin there, but I’d never actually been able to go on it, but I particularly enjoyed that because it’s the good William and Mary connection to the Griffin,” Roy Wulf ’30 said.
While the rides, haunted houses and Halloween-themed areas attracted students for a thrilling experience, students commented on how Busch Gardens Day was a refreshing way to connect with the student body.
“I think that so many friendships are formed by doing things together, and having this calm experience with a group of friends or with the entire large part of the student community is really quite great,” Wulf said.
Both Student Assembly and the students of the College loved Busch Gardens Day and strongly agree that the sponsored day should become an annual tradition. The easily accessible amusement park day allowed for students from across campus to connect through drops, shrieks and scares.
