Stanley Falls, a beloved flume ride at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, is closing permanently this weekend after 52 years spent cooling off countless visitors.
Since its opening in 1973 as one of the park’s original attractions, many have grown to love the ride, which takes guests in a faux log that leads to one small drop and then a large 43-foot drop at the end of the three-minute ride.
Stanley Falls quickly became one of the park’s most iconic attractions, but will shut down for good after Sunday, Sept. 7.
Busch Gardens announced the closure quietly on its social media last Friday. While no replacement has been revealed, the move follows a broader trend: Theme parks across the country are steadily retiring their old-school log flumes to make room for record-breaking coasters and immersive, story-driven attractions.
For many, losing Stanley Falls feels like losing a little piece of Florida theme park history.
“OK, fine, it was rough and uncomfortable and kind of sucked. But it was also refreshing and fun for all ages,” one commenter wrote.
Others pointed to its place as one of the park’s best heat-beaters.
“In summer heat it ALWAYS has a pretty long wait. And the splashdown is positioned for great viewing. It’s a real crowd pleaser,” wrote a Reddit user on r/rollercoasters.
A version of this story first appeared in our sibling paper Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
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This article appears in Sept. 3-9, 2025.
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Sophia Lowrie
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