Le Scoot is a
log flume
A log flume or lumber flume is a watertight flume constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain using flowing water. Flumes replaced horse- or oxen-drawn carriages on dangerous mountain trails in the late 19th century. Loggi ...
ride at
Busch Gardens Williamsburg located in the
New France
New France (, ) was the territory colonized by Kingdom of France, France in North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Kingdom of Great Br ...
area. It is themed after mountains and a saw mill.
Ride experience
Once seated in the "logs", riders are taken up a
conveyor belt
A conveyor belt is the carrying medium of a belt conveyor system (often shortened to a belt conveyor). A belt conveyor system consists of two or more pulleys (sometimes referred to as drums), with a closed loop of carrying medium—the conveyor b ...
lift hill. Part of the hill loops underneath of another part of the ride. At the top, the log takes a small drop and takes a sharp turn, intertwining with
InvadR's lift hill. When passing by treetops, the chute the ride is in expands (although rails keep the log on-track) to give the illusion the log is in a pond. A small conveyor belt then brings the log up a few feet to avoid log collisions, and takes a steep, tall drop. Next, due to the backfiring currents of the previous drop, rapids form. After passing more rails, the log takes a small turn and near a sawmill narrowly dodged by
Alpengeist. A safety recording is played in the sawmill, warning riders to "remain seated". Once in the sawmill, another small conveyor belt takes the logs up a few feet to, again, avoid collisions. The log then takes its largest, most notable plunge over a large pool of water. A last, small hill drains excess water from the ride's chute and takes the logs on a sharp turn extremely close to Alpengeist's zero g roll. A pendulum is used on high-business days to separate logs into different waiting lines, and bring riders back to the boarding cabin.
History and operation
The ride opened in 1975 when Busch Gardens first opened. The 450,000 gallons of water in the log flume are treated to maintain the water quality of a swimming pool.
There was media speculation in 2006 that the ride would be replaced in favor of a new roller coaster; the log flume's drop was considered to be less appealing than a modern roller coaster.
Renovations in 2015 added a computerized control system, replaced fiberglass portions of the ride, and treated the ride's steels structure.
See also
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Log flume (ride)
Log flumes (colloquially known as log rides) are amusement rides consisting of a water flume and (artificial) hollow logs or boats. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the flume by the flow of water.
The ride usually culmin ...
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg
References
Water rides
Log flume rides
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Amusement rides introduced in 1975
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