The Story of Busch Gardens, Part III

In my last post, I thought about how Busch Gardens Williamsburg's mini-version of Italy seems to have sprung to life after passing through the lens of romance and nostalgia, like a transplanted immigrant fondly remembering the Old Country. But isn't that true of all of the countries?

Take Ireland, for instance. Rather than a replica of the village in County Kerry, Killarney breathes life into the memories and tall tales of great-grandmother Siobhan or great-great-uncle Seamus. The best of every old memory of Ireland, from crumbling castles to bustling pubs. 

Replacing the boring Hastings section of the park in 2001, Killarney brings energy and beauty in a sweet homage to old Eire.

You cannot walk a step in Killarney without finding yourself surrounded by brilliant greenery and the sound of Irish reels and jigs. Celtic Fyre's hard shoe rhythms, coming from the Abbey Stone Theater, come without a sign of the potato famine or British interlopers. Except perhaps for the cute one buying the claddagh ring and Phil Coulter CD for his girlfriend at the Emerald Isle gift shop. Which, by the way, is the best gift shop in the entire park! You can find real Irish imports there like Waterford crystal, tweed hats, wool sweaters, and even Irish-made packaged snacks.

Or take Germany, where phantasmal castles, colorful may poles, and vivid garden patches create the land, where the modernity of high-tech coasters and motion-simulated rides give way the aura of ancient legends. Even the brand-new coaster Verbolten (which opened on May 18), whose cars resemble classic European touring automotives, features a story line of modern transportation in a losing battle with the Black Forest.

The huge Festhause in Oktoberfest has always been dramatic, but when I first visited in the 90s, it housed a nice cuckoo clock shop and a gigantic ballroom where live performers would serenade luncheoners with traditional German songs and dances. Cute, but it got old pretty fast. Now, the ballroom's walls sport quaint little cottage fronts that create the feeling of being in the town square of a little German village. 

A new show, Entwined, has even opened on the central stage. It's a children's musical play based on several of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales rolled into one playful jumble.

Germany is coming back to life!

Though Ireland and Italy remain my favorite countries at the Gardens, during my time in Germany I had to constantly resist the urge to go dancing around the May Pole.