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Project Driftwood Update: Demolition Continues as Busch Gardens Tampa Builds New Water Attraction to Replace Stanley Falls Flume

ByRobert Ashburn

Project Driftwood Update: Demolition Continues as Busch Gardens Tampa Builds New Water Attraction to Replace Stanley Falls Flume

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is moving forward with Project Driftwood, the codenamed new water attraction that will replace the historic Stanley Falls Flume. While a manufacturer has not yet been confirmed, fresh site observations and project plans now reveal clear details about the demolition timeline, project boundaries, and the new guest-facing infrastructure taking shape.

What’s Not Included in Project Driftwood

The current project area does not involve Scorpion’s former plot of land in Pantopia. It also excludes the old Stanley Falls locker building, which is currently being used as overflow queue space for the nearby SheiKra dive coaster. This keeps the focus squarely on redeveloping the core Stanley Falls footprint into a modern water experience.

Image from Google Earth from before demolition

New Infrastructure Taking Shape

Demolition work is actively progressing. Plans show the complete removal of an existing building on site, followed by construction of:

  • A brand-new themed queue building
  • A dedicated load/unload area (station)
  • A new maintenance building
Image from the project map showing footers, new buildings, and other land modifications

Manufacturer Speculation Remains Open

Industry watchers continue to speculate that the attraction could come from Mack Rides, Intamin, or another specialist in modern water attractions and launched flume-style experiences. Given the $16.5 million investment and roughly 91,400-square-foot footprint revealed in earlier permit filings, fans are hopeful for an innovative, high-capacity successor to the beloved 50-year-old log flume.

Stay Tuned for More Project Driftwood Updates

Florida Thrills will keep monitoring construction progress, permit updates, and any official announcements from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Project Driftwood represents an exciting investment in the park’s water ride lineup and a fresh chapter for the Stanleyville/Pantopia area following the closure of Stanley Falls.

What kind of experience are you hoping to see from Project Driftwood — a launched flume, hybrid water coaster elements, strong theming, or something else entirely? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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