The log flume is one of the most iconic rides at Busch Gardens. At Busch Gardens Tampa the recently closed Stanley Falls Flume opened in 1973 as the park’s first “thrill” ride and was built by the famous roller coaster company Arrow Dynamics. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg there’s Le Scoot which opened in 1975. However there was a third Busch Gardens log flume known as Ya-Hoo Barrel Ride (sometimes known as Busch Barrels) which opened at Busch Gardens Van Nuy in 1972. You might be wondering, “There was another Busch Gardens?” Well sort of, but not as extensive as the parks we know today and the log flume closed in 1976 and the entire park closed in 1979. However, this ride would be moved and still operates today as Desperado Plunge at Great Escape.

Busch Beer became known for building gardens and bird sanctuaries adjacent to their breweries where they would also offer tours. Over time these “gardens” got larger and added things like trains and eventually thrill rides. There is the Tampa location (which used to have a brewery before it closed in the field area in the center of the perk) as well as Williamsburg where the brewery still operates. There was also a short lived brewery adjacent Busch Gardens location in Houston and one was also rumored for Cartersville, Georgia for years. Busch had another one adjacent to its Van Nuys, California brewery (greater Los Angeles) that got quite advanced, but never reached the level of Tampa or Williamsburg due to competition from places like Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm. The log flume was shuttered in 1976 when the park dramatically scaled back operations before closing entirely in 1979 (although the brewery is still there) The rides were sold and Ya-Hoo Barrel Ride found its way to Eastern New York to become Desperado Plunge in 1979.

Back in 1979 Great Escape was known as Storytown USA before being renamed Great Escape in 1982. It was then bought by Premier Parks which later became Six Flags and then last year sold again to become Enchanted Parks Great Escape, so this ride has seen a lot of owners. The park appears to embrace this heritage though as it frequently has posted classic pictures of older rides on social media with the old names. There’s some debate as to how much of the ride was really moved from California as there are significant purported differences in the layout. The barrel shaped logs obviously remain as compared to the bark covered logs on most Arrow log flumes. Also, no doubt parts of the two lifts hills and stations were salvaged, but a lot of the course may have had to be altered to fit the topography of the new location.

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Desperado Plunge The ride will take you on a quarter mile journey powered by a quarter million gallons of water through a logging town and a sawmill before taking a plunge. The theming and indoor section are things not commonly seen on Six Flags flume rides. The animatronics aren’t Disney Splash Mountain or anything, but they add a lot of character to the ride. The side of the sawmill (the indoor portion of the ride) works as a giant billboard and welcome sign for the park as well.

“This adventure takes you down a 1,530-foot mountain course through the trees above Ghost Town. Powered by more than 250,000 gallons of water, the ride sends you drifting, splashing and winding through the current as you make your way through the course. Float past treetops, pass through a logging town and watch for surprises near the sawmill, where the ride takes a sudden drop. Your journey ends with a big splashdown that leaves everyone refreshed and smiling.

–Great Escape

It’s rare that a humble log flume has such an extensive story to tell. Desperado Falls has lived at a brewery, crossed the country and lived under 4 owners of the current Great Escape property. Through all this it’s still an amazing ride that fits the park extremely well. We only have two Busch Gardens left, but this is also a reminder that there was once a third out in California that never got to mature like Tampa and Williamsburg did. It’s a reminder of what could have been, but also a reminder of an industry that often recycles assets well so that they can continue to bring joy to a new population.