Brian Bacica Is Returning to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as President
The Brian Bacica Busch Gardens saga just got a sequel. United Parks & Resorts announced Thursday that Bacica is returning as president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, replacing Jon Vigue. Yes, the person who held the job before the person who just held the job is back.
Brian Bacica Busch Gardens: What Was Announced
Bacica will lead both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island. The release says he brings more than 30 years of experience across attractions, hospitality, and food and beverage. United Parks framed the move as a chance to carry forward improvements he helped launch during his first run at the park. In the release, Bacica said that coming back was an “easy decision.” He added that no place compares to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and that he has a clear sense of what the team and these parks can accomplish.
Brian Bacica Busch Gardens Park President: Wait, Didn’t He Already Do This?
Kind of, yes. Bacica was named president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in July 2025, after serving as president of Six Flags Great Adventure. His background also includes time at Universal, including operations in Florida, and at Disney. We covered that hire in our Brian Bacica Busch Gardens appointment post.
During that first stint, Wild Oasis, the park’s family adventure area, officially opened to all guests under Bacica’s leadership as park president. Then came his exit. He went to work at Legoland Florida. leading that operation.
The Busch Gardens President Revolving Door
Vigue’s hire was first reported in May 2026 and formally announced on June 18, with Wild Adventures in Georgia listed as his previous stop. That puts his run at about five months from the first report and under four months from the official announcement. For the record, we thought Vigue was doing a wonderful job running the theme park operation, at least from a guest’s standpoint. However, we are thrilled to see Bacica back at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Five executives have held the Busch Gardens president’s chair over roughly three years: Neal Thurman, Stewart Clark, Jeff Davis, Bacica, and Vigue. Davis arrived in February 2025 from SeaWorld San Antonio, and Bacica took over that July. At this point, the office door deserves a revolving door sign.
There is a big money story behind all of this. Vigue’s hire was announced alongside more than $100 million in new attractions and park enhancements. The investment has increased to a planned $200 million investment from United Parks in attractions and guest experiences.
Leadership for Busch Gardens
Bringing back someone who already knows the park, the team, and the projects in motion is a logical move, and it should mean no learning curve on day one. Our read is that United Parks values continuity enough to go back to a familiar name. That is a reasonable call. It also eliminates the rumor that Brad Gilmour will run all of Florida United Parks & Resorts’ theme parks – we think.
Still, guests do not buy tickets for org charts. What will matter is whether that investment turns into rides, shows, and food worth the drive, and whether the president’s chair finally stays put long enough for anyone to see it through. Five presidents in about three years is a lot of nameplates for one office.
What We Still Don’t Know
- Why Vigue left
- When Bacica officially starts
- Whether the investment plans or any announced projects change under his leadership
Nothing in the coverage we found points to changes in tickets, operations, or the guest experience this season. Leadership changes usually take time to show up at the gate. If you are heading to Tampa soon, our Howl-O-Scream Tampa house rankings have you covered for that event! We will update this post as United Parks and Busch Gardens share more. Until then, please keep your hands, arms, and expectations inside the ride at all times.
For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
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