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The scariest ride for visitors to Bush Garden's Howl-O-Scream event may be the drive to the park.
By TAMARA LUSH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 2, 2002
TAMPA -- During last weekend's opening of Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream event, there was only one thing more terrifying than the six haunted houses, half-dozen roller coasters and four voodoo-themed "scare zones."
The traffic.
At one point during the weekend, vehicles stretched along Busch Boulevard for blocks.
Busch Gardens public relations director Gerard Hoeppner acknowledged Tuesday that the Halloween-themed event drew many, many more visitors on opening weekend than expected.
He would not give attendance figures but said last weekend's visitors numbered far more than last year's opening of Howl-O-Scream.
"We frankly did not anticipate the vast amount of walk-up and drive-up traffic," Hoeppner said.
The large response was due in part to the reduced rates for "Passport" holders, or season pass-holding members, he said. Those customers paid $9.95 to get into the weekend premiere of the Howl-O-Scream event.
Because the park didn't anticipate the large number of people last weekend, auxiliary parking lots weren't open.
For the coming weekends, Hoeppner said, Busch Gardens' staff will monitor ticket sales and if they approach the levels of last weekend, they will open other parking lots and enlist buses to deliver customers to the park. Lighted signs informing motorists on the parking lot status may also be used.
Hoeppner noted that this weekend, ticket prices are higher for everyone, including Passport members.
Even so, he said that anyone who held a ticket for last weekend who could not get into the event because of traffic or long lines would be admitted to the park this weekend or any Thursday in October. The tickets must be unscanned and unused, he said.
"The fact that we inconvenienced some guests is regrettable," he said.