Check out photos and video from Universal Fan Fest Nights opening night, including the Star Trek cast (LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Michelle Hurd, Mica Burton, and Jerry O’Connell) visiting the “Star Trek: Red Alert” experience. They explored the actual set of the Bridge from the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D as featured in “Star Trek: Picard” – which can only be experienced at Universal Studios Hollywood’s new seasonal event, Universal Fan Fest Nights, running select nights through May 18. They attended the red carpet opening night on Friday, April 25.​

Vehicles range from former record-breakers to the last-of-their-kind.​

TAMPA, Fla. (April 29, 2025) – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is entering an exciting new chapter with a bold almost $40 million investment and a new park president at the helm. Under the leadership of Jeff Davis, the park is unveiling sweeping additions and upgrades—including the debut of Wild Oasis at Jungala in May, new animal encounters, elevated dining, enhanced guest experiences, and a major transformation of Adventure Island. These improvements aim to make Busch Gardens the best it’s ever been and solidify the park as Florida’s ultimate family adventure destination.

“The extensive nearly $40 million in investments will further solidify the park’s status as a premier destination, ensuring guests of all ages will make unforgettable memories to last a lifetime,” said Jeff Davis, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. “The additions and improvements will be made across our infrastructure, operations, staff recruiting, equipment, as well as adding to our aesthetics with more beautiful gardens and plant life. New animal arrivals are also in the plans, such as the reimaged Meerkat habitat, set to open this summer to inspire awe and wonder for all who visit. This is an exciting time for the park and these investments will make it better than ever before.”

While these recent investments are significant, ongoing enhancements are nothing new for the park. For the past four years, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has consistently introduced innovative new attractions, inviting guests to experience epic adventures. From Iron Gwazi in 2022 to Serengeti Flyer in 2023, Phoenix Rising in 2024 and now Wild Oasis coming in May 2025, each multimillion-dollar addition has strengthened the park’s positioning as a desirable destination. With its record-breaking coasters and thrilling experiences, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is often celebrated as the home of “Florida’s Best Thrill Rides.”
 
Investments to Make Busch Gardens Tampa Bay the Best Ever
 

• Explore Wild Oasis: A New World of Kid-Friendly Adventure: Inspired by lush rainforests and teeming with animal encounters, thrilling rides and interactive play zones, Wild Oasis promises unforgettable experiences for the whole family. Within Wild Oasis guests will embark on an incredible adventure. From encountering fascinating new animals to soaring down the all-new Tree Top Drop, families can explore interactive climbing structures, cool off at an immersive splash pad, and take on a thrilling self-guided scavenger hunt. Designed to ignite curiosity and excitement, Wild Oasis promises an action-packed experience for explorers of all ages.

 

• New Animal Experiences & Habitat Enhancements: Busch Gardens is an AZA accredited zoo providing world-class care to over 16,000 animals representing more than 200 species – and the animal population at the park is growing! From new animal births to new animal species coming to the park – including capybaras, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys and meerkats arriving this spring, there’s more to explore than ever. Plus, guests will see many recent investments to the animal habitats throughout the park, such as the new climbing structure for the new troop of chimpanzees, accessibility features to accommodate the geriatric, all-female Asian Elephant herd and a beautiful new Giraffe Barn.

 

• Bold New Culinary Experiences Led by Executive Chef Lavon Smith: New Executive Chef, Lavon Smith, brings an exciting new culinary vision to the park with newly opened full-service venues like Treetop Kitchen, offering guests a vibrant culinary adventure inspired by global cuisine spanning the regions of Africa and South America. Plus, don’t miss the Food & Wine Festival and Concert Series. This year’s festival features bold new flavors from the Caribbean and India, alongside returning favorites from South America and Europe. There’s also an electrifying lineup of new and fan-favorite headlining artists, and—for the first time—concerts on Fridays. Festival access and concerts are FREE with park admission.

 

• Year-Round Entertainment, New Shows, and Summer Nights Spectacular: Summer Nights at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay returns on select dates from May 23–August 10, lighting up the park with extended hours and unforgettable thrills. This year’s event features an all-new nighttime spectacular, high-energy live shows and exciting ways to enjoy fan-favorite entertainment like Rhythm of Nature—the only year-round ice-skating show at a theme park in North America. From riding world-class coasters under the stars to indulging in limited-time summer eats and treats, it’s the ultimate way to celebrate summer.

 

• Big Splash at Adventure Island — New Rides, New Energy: Adventure Island, Tamps Bay’s #1 water park, continues to expand its thrills with exciting attractions designed for guests of all ages. As part of the recent investments, families can embark on an aquatic adventure at the brand-new interactive splash and play area Castaway Falls – a multi-level play area featuring exciting water elements and cascading slides. Additionally, the summer will bring new thrills, and interactive events guests won’t want to miss. More exciting announcements to come later this spring!

 
Annual Pass Members Get Early Access and Exclusive Perks!
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Annual Pass Members will be the first to explore Wild Oasis before it opens to the public in Spring 2025. Annual passes for 2025 are on sale now starting as low as $15.75 per month with no down payment. Membership includes unlimited admission, access to vibrant seasonal events and exclusive Pass Member benefits like FREE guest tickets, FREE parking and special savings on merchandise as well as food and beverage. Guests can learn more about Wild Oasis and the unbeatable benefits of being an Annual Pass Member by visiting BuschGardensTampa.com. To be the first to know about park updates, guests can follow Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok.
 
About Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gardens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, an AZA accredited zoo with over 16,000 animals representing more than 200 species, and exciting seasonal events all year providing unrivaled experiences for guests of every age. For more information, visit BuschGardensTampa.com. Busch Gardens is owned by United Parks & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: PRKS), a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.

About Adventure Island
Located right across the street from Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, Adventure Island® is Tampa Bay’s premier water park, featuring a combination of exhilarating water slides and tropical, tranquil surroundings. At Tampa’s Island Paradise, thrilling slides await, such as Rapids Racer, Wahoo Remix, Solar Vortex®, Vanish Point™, Caribbean Corkscrew® and Colossal Curl™, waterfalls, a 17,000-square-foot wave pool, a children’s splash and play zone, Shaka-Laka Shores, and other family attractions including the all-new Castaway Falls. Guests can dig their toes into the sand or relax in lounge chairs or a private cabana. For more information, visit AdventureIsland.com for more information.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles to Celebrate 30th Anniversary
 with All-New Look and Feel Following Multimillion-Dollar Transformation
 
Los Angeles’ Favorite Water Park Splashes into the 2025 Season on May 24

LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2025 – The first of Six Flags’ Hurricane Harbor parks, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles opened June 16, 1995, meaning it will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer. The milestone occasion has been commemorated with a multimillion-dollar makeover that includes numerous enhancements for both guests and park associates. On Saturday, May 24, the 25-acre water park adjacent to Six Flags Magic Mountain will open for the season with giveaways, live entertainment and other surprise and delight moments.

The park-wide improvements include:

• A creative narrative that reimagines the water park as a tropical island village and is woven throughout the experience including now bringing the park’s iconic volcano to life with periodic rumbling effects and bursts of mist
• Restoration of all slides including vibrant new exterior colors, canopies and resurfacing for smoother and faster rides
• Repainting of key areas including focal areas such as other attractions, food and beverage and merchandise locations
• Extensive new landscaping that amplifies the park beautification and offers added shade
• Increased number of cabanas and the return of food and beverage services
• Upgraded food options and new frozen cocktail selections
• State-of-the-art conveyor belt to now carry tubes to the top of Tornado
• Refreshed restrooms and changing areas
• New sound system, signage and employee uniforms that augment the themed environment

“Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles has been a beloved So Cal summertime destination for aquatic thrills and splashy family fun for three decades and with this anniversary we wanted to show appreciation to our fans with a completely revitalized guest experience,” said Jeff Harris, Vice President and General Manager of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Magic Mountain. “We are counting down the days until we open the gates and share what we’ve been working on since last year. From a new theme and backstory to slides that have been refinished to shine brighter and provide a better ride to new and enhanced cabanas, landscaping, food and beverage and more, a day spent at Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles will be the ultimate day in the sun.”
 
Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles will open to the public Saturday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. and run through Labor Day. Single day tickets start at $49 when purchased online or make the biggest splash with a Gold Pass and enjoy unlimited visits to Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles AND Magic Mountain; complimentary parking; food, merchandise and bring-a-friend discounts and more.  Gold Pass Memberships start at just $6.99 per month after initial payment. 
 
To learn more about the park transformation, visit the park’s blog HERE.
 
For additional information or to buy tickets, visit sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla.
 
Images and park access may be requested by emailing [email protected].

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ABOUT SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR LOS ANGELES
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Southern California’s most thrilling water park located next door to Six Flags Magic Mountain, features more than 1.5 million gallons of water across 25 acres including three dozen slides and attractions in a tropically themed paradise. Enjoy two of the tallest fully enclosed speed slides on the West Coast, a relaxing 1,300-foot river cruise, a wave pool, an interactive lagoon and two children’s splash and play areas. The park operates seasonally May – September. Visit sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla for more details. 
 
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