Busch Gardens Williamsburg

About Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 422-acre theme park in Williamsburg, Virginia, describing itself as Virginia's premier theme park with more than 50 rides and attractions. Unlike some of its sister parks, it is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Rather than being organized primarily around an animal collection, the park combines roller coasters, live entertainment, and dining with a smaller set of animal encounters and exhibits woven throughout its grounds.

The park describes its animal offerings as chances to come face-to-face with Clydesdales, eagles, wolves, and other animals through guided encounters, and states more broadly that it cares about animal rescue and conservation. A portion of the fee for several of its guided animal tours is donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

History

Little historical detail was available for this page beyond a handful of specific facts. One of the park's rides, the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster, has been operating since 1978 and is recognized as a registered landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization as the world's first interlocking loop coaster.

Exhibits and habitats

Sesame Street Forest of Fun is a kid-friendly area of the park where children can meet Sesame Street characters including Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby, alongside rides and interactive play areas designed for younger visitors.

The park's animal-focused offerings are largely built around guided tours rather than standalone habitats. The Scottish Highland Coo Tour is a 20-minute guided experience letting guests touch and feed Poppy, the park's Scottish Highland cow, while learning about the breed's history and how the animal is trained and cared for. Highland Stables offers an up-close look at the park's Clydesdale horses and Border Collies and how they are trained. The Howl to Coexist: An Inside Look Tour connects guests with animal specialists caring for the park's wolves, including the chance to assist with a feeding.

Animal highlights

No published species list or species count was available for this page. Named animals mentioned in the park's own materials include Clydesdale horses, Border Collies, eagles, wolves, and a Scottish Highland cow named Poppy.

Conservation and programs

Busch Gardens Williamsburg states that it cares about animal rescue and conservation, though specific programs were not detailed in the sources available for this page. Several of the park's paid animal tours, including the Scottish Highland Coo Tour and Highland Stables tours, include a $1 donation to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

Planning your visit

As described on the park's website, Busch Gardens Williamsburg operates as a cashless park, with cash-to-card conversion kiosks available for guests who arrive with only cash. Admission options include single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and annual memberships, and the park offers Quick Queue passes for expedited access to popular rides. Active-duty service members and veterans are offered ticket and pass discounts, and hotel packages are available for visitors extending their stay.

For families, kids ages 5 and under play free, and a 2026 Preschool Pass extends free unlimited admission to children ages 3 to 5 through September 20, 2026, with online registration and an activation visit required by May 31, 2026. Height check stations near the park entrance help identify which rides children can ride, and the park offers stroller rentals, baby changing stations, and nursing rooms.

For guests with disabilities, accessible parking is available near the entrance, and wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles can be rented, based on availability, near the ticket windows and the France parking lot; guests may also bring their own. The park's Ride Accessibility Program, enrolled in at the Welcome Center just inside the entrance, matches individual riders' abilities to each ride's requirements and can provide a virtual queue in place of waiting in a standard line. Outside food and drink are not permitted except for bottled water and small, single-serving snacks, though picnic areas are available just outside the entrance/exit plaza. Confirm current hours, ticket prices, and event schedules on the official website before visiting.