Cheetah Hunt reopening brings the fan-favorite coaster back to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay after months of closures and inconsistent operations.

After months of downtime, thrill-seekers at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay finally saw Cheetah Hunt roaring back to life this week. It reopened to guests after an extended closure lasting over three months, following a brief operational period late last year.

According to social media posts and ride status trackers, the long-running triple-launch coaster had been closed since approximately late October 2025 for what appeared to be an extended maintenance or refurbishment period. This was likely involving technical work on the ride system or parts supply from manufacturer Intamin. Reports and fan community discussions indicate the coaster briefly reopened earlier this month (we can confirm this) for just a few days before another unplanned closure, leaving coaster enthusiasts and regular park guests frustrated ahead of its full return this week.

We visited Busch Gardens today and were excited to experience Cheetah Hunt in action again, with trains running smoothly and significant crowds lining up throughout the afternoon. We saw a 35-minute posted wait during an otherwise slow weekday afternoon. While the park has not issued an official statement, mechanical issues and parts sourcing have most likely kept Cheetah Hunt offline longer than many anticipated.

Cheetah Hunt Reopening: What This Means for Parkgoers

• Extended downtime for Cheetah Hunt sparked ongoing conversations among fans about ride reliability and maintenance practices at Busch Gardens. However, the reopening has largely been met with enthusiasm from coaster fans eager to experience the ride’s triple launches and signature high-speed thrills once again.
• For many visitors today, seeing Cheetah Hunt operating again felt like a return to normalcy after months of closures and intermittent availability of other attractions.
• The ride’s reopening also comes as part of a broader theme park season in 2026, with Busch Gardens continuing to host seasonal events and unveiling new experiences across the park.

Looking Ahead

With Cheetah Hunt reopening, guests can once again enjoy one of Busch Gardens’ longest and most exciting roller coasters during their visit. This serves as a bright spot amid ongoing changes in the park’s roster and operations. Whether you’re chasing personal best lap times or introducing first-time riders to the coaster’s flowing layout, today’s reopening marks a big moment in the Tampa Bay theme park scene.

For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.

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