In Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the Busch parks we saw how the rousing success of Tampa was followed by disappointment in Los Angeles and dismal failure in Houston. In the middle of all that drama, Busch was quietly working on a far grander plan along the mid-Atlantic coast. In a move similar to that of Disney in Florida, the company negotiated a massive land purchase from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The Foundation’s thinking was that by working with a single company they could control future land development and maintain a desired look and feel for the area. Busch was fine with that, even accepting a provision that required them to present all proposed architectural designs for approval.
Announced in 1969, Busch intended to use their 4000 acres for a new brewery, large-scale residential development, and a “Busch Gardens type” recreational attraction. It took a few years before anybody knew what this meant (even the company was morphing its thoughts over time), but gradually the concept of a major theme park emerged. This would be quite different from the previous tour-based properties, with the new park built on a far larger scale and set completely apart from the brewery complex.
They avoided any thematic connection to the colonial period so as not to conflict with Colonial Williamsburg, instead choosing a pre-colonial, European theme set around the 16th century. Advertising promised you could see Europe for $6.50, including the themed lands of England’s Banbury Cross, Scottish Heatherdowns, Hastings, Aquitaine, New France, and Germany. The setting was idyllic, making maximum use of the beautiful landscape and terrain that few other parks benefit from. To their credit, considering the fiasco that was concurrently shaping up in Houston, Busch doubled-down on this park and poured every ounce of detail (and dollars) into it. Intricately detailed, hand crafted, and built with authentic materials, it was a testament to Walt Disney’s insistence on doing things right.
The Old Country, as it was then known, was a smashing success. Its eldest sibling, The Dark Continent, may have come from different origins, but it too has thrived and grown over the decades. Although it’s sad to not have Houston and Los Angeles anymore, at least we can enjoy two of the “Busch Gardens” that descended from grandfather Adolphus’ home estate oh so many years ago.
Here are various newspaper ads along with preview and opening ceremony brochures. For more history of the Busch parks (and all the other regional theme parks) check out Imagineering an American Dreamscape.
