2010 – 2019

No longer part of Anheuser-Busch, Busch Gardens Tampa faces new challenges as part of an independent entertainment company.

2010

January 14 – Hard Hat Tour for media & invited guests held to show progress on Sesame Street Safari of Fun.
February 2 – Busch Gardens joins Twitter as @MyBuschGardens, and tweets for both Williamsburg and Tampa parks. (Twitter 2/2/2010 & 2/6/2010)
February 13 – Two female gorillas, mother & daughter pair Mary & Pele, arrive at the park from Gladys Porter Zoo.
March 1 – A new twitter account for Busch Gardens Williamsburg begins tweeting from @BuschGardens_VA. The @MyBuschGardens account continues to post about both parks. (Twitter 2/19/2010)
March 27 – Sesame Street Safari of Fun, which includes the new Air Grover coaster, opens to the public.
March 27 – Sesame Street Film Festival 4-D debuts in Timbuktu Theater.
April 17 – Busch Gardens along with SeaWorld Orlando & Aquatica extend free admission offer to European tourists stranded in Florida due to flight cancellations from the Icelandic volcanic ash. Offer valid through April 21, 2010. (SW Parks Blog 4/17/2010)
May 5 – Partnering with Discover America, single day tickets offered for $39 online in a limited time sale. Tickets were valid through April 2011. (Twitter 5/5/2010)
May 6 – Two male gorillas on Myombe Reserve, father & son pair Koundu & Cenzoo, are transferred to Birmingham Zoo.
June 14 – Walkabout Way, which includes Kangaloom, The Kookaburra’s Nest, and Aussie Station, officially opens.
July 26 – August 1 – AAA Members received early admission to the park. (Twitter 7/22/2010)
August 16 – Busch Gardens changes their twitter account from @MyBuschGardens to @BuschGardens. The account continues to post about both Busch Gardens parks, but focuses mostly on the Tampa property. (Twitter 8/16/2010)
September 6 – KaTonga: Musical Tales from the Jungle has its final performances.
October 13 – The official announcement is released for Cheetah Hunt, Cheetah Run, and the surrounding realm.

2011

January – Busch Gardens Tampa launches its own official blog. (Busch Gardens 1/24/2011)
January 16 – A male Mexican beaded lizard named Gaspar is born.
January 21 – Tony nominee and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis visits the park along with cast members from Rock of Ages show performing at local venue. (Busch Gardens 1/21/2011)
January 24 – The Busch Gardens twitter account (@BuschGardens) changes to tweeting only about the Tampa park. (Busch Gardens 1/24/2011)
February 19 – Kasi, a male cheetah, is born at the Jacksonville Zoo. He is later moved to Busch Gardens and eventually placed on exhibit at Cheetah Run.
March 31 – Busch Gardens received accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). (Busch Gardens 3/30/2011)
April 10 – Zawadi, a male aardvark, is born at the park.
April 27 – Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine celebrates his daughter Talia’s 10th birthday at the park, including preparing a vegetarian meal and feeding it to the elephants. (Busch Gardens)
April 29 – Two red ruffed lemurs are born to mother Maditra & Bozeny (“Madi” & “Zeny”).
May 27 – Cheetah Hunt officially opens to guests.
May 31 – Final day the Florida Resident Fun Card was on sale for 2011 season. (Twitter 5/31/2011)
July 17 – A female eland calf is born.
August 4 – The park rolls out a digital app for iPhone, which includes an interactive map, ride wait times and information, show schedules, “Find My Car” pin drop locator, and more. A version for Android devices rolls out later. Near the end of the month, a new website design is rolled out. (Busch Gardens 8/4/2011 & 8/29/2011)
August 5 – Brazilian actor Rodrigo Faro and his family visit the park. (Busch Gardens 8/9/2011)
August 9 – 12 – Online focus group held for feedback on improving the park’s blog. Chosen guests were required to log in twice per day and answer questions from moderators, and received $75 as compensation for their participation. (Busch Gardens 7/25/2011)
August 22 – A female eland calf is born, bringing the eland herd population at the park to 11.
September 21 – A female Cape buffalo is born to mother Semara, weighing in at 45 pounds.
November 1 – The 2012 Fun Card is introduced, allowing unlimited admission through December 31, 2012. Priced at $79.99 for adults and $71.99 for children age 3 – 9. (Busch Gardens 11/1/2011)
November 4 – A female Grant’s zebra is born.
November – The park wins two Brass Ring Awards at the IAAPA Attractions Expo, including Cirque Dream Jungle Fantasy for Best Production in its category. Senior Manager of Production Costuming Kristine Morgan won the Spirit Award. Additionally, the park received three nominations for Christmas from the Heart and Lets Dance – Featuring Burn the Floor, each for Best Production in their respective categories, and Ashley Zweig for Best Performer. (Sources: 1, 2, 3)
December 19 – The park rolls out an Android version of the digital app they rolled out for iPhones in August. (Busch Gardens 12/19/2011)
December 27 – Female giraffe is born, bringing reticulated giraffe population at the park to 18.
December 28 – Outback Bowl contenders Michigan State Spartans and Georgia Bulldogs visit the park. (Twitter 12/26/2011)

2012

January – The 2012 Fun Card was priced at $79.99 for adults and $71.99 for children age 3 – 9. A free Preschool Pass for Busch Gardens and SeaWorld was introduced for Florida residents age 5 or younger. Stroller parking and a price reduction of kids’ meals to $5.99 were also part of the promotion. (Press Release)
January 1 – Coca-Cola becomes the “Official Refreshment Beverage” of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, which includes Busch Gardens Tampa. The 10-year agreement replaced Pepsi products with Coca-Cola brand beverages at all locations in the park. (SeaWorld Parks 12/16/2011)
January 23 – Animal Care Center officially opens to guests.
January 27 – Female giraffe born at the park.
February 2 – Iceploration opens to guests at the Moroccan Palace Theater.
February 5 & 6 – Two emu chicks are hatched, the first births at the new Animal Care Center.
March 26 – Adazee, a female aardvark, is born at the park.
June 21 – A three banded armadillo is born to mother Zowie and father Ollie.
July 8 – Insane Coaster Wars series debuts on Travel Channel, with SheiKra and Montu featured in the first two episodes.
July 30 – A male eland calf is born.
August – The park launches an official Instagram account. (Busch Gardens 8/16/2012)
September – Park begins offering maps in Spanish and Portuguese. (Busch Gardens 9/5/2012)
October 23 – Female white rhino born at the park.
October 24 – Team USA Olympians McKayla Maroney and Jonathan Horton visit the park. (Busch Gardens 10/26/2012)

2013

January – New mobile website is launched with new features, including geo-location capabilities and streamlined mobile purchasing. (Busch Gardens 1/17/2013)
February 5 – Kiazi, an aardvark, is born at the park.
February 15 – A male Southern Ground Hornbill hatched at Jambo Junction.
February 17 – A male Northern Greater Galago, a type of bushbaby, named TJ is born to mother Olivia and father Tanner.
February 19 – A male Southern Ground Hornbill hatched at Jambo Junction.
February 20 – Kembe, a male lion, is born at a private zoological facility in South Africa. He is moved to Busch Gardens a few months later.
March 20 – Sisters Shaba & Shtuko, lions, are born at a private zoological facility in South Africa. They are moved to Busch Gardens a few months later.
March 30 – Reptile-Palooza held, with special activities and presentations at reptile habitats across the park.
March 31 – Three Malayan tiger cubs are born at the park, two males and one female.
May 18 – Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation officially opens to guests in Stanleyville Theater.
May 18 – Lions Kembe, Shaba, & Shtuko arrive at the park from a private zoological facility in South Africa.
May 26 – Athlete Alex Rodriguez visits the park with family. (Twitter 5/26/2013)
May 29 – “3-Park Summer Sizzler” ticket offered for $99, allowing unlimited admission to Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, & Aquatica (Orlando) on weekdays through Labor Day. (Press Release)
June – Pass Member Instant Rewards program debuts, with changing perk or deal each month for annual pass members. (Busch Gardens 6/9/2013)
June 11 – A male reticulated giraffe is born at the park.
June 19 – A female reticulated giraffe is born at the park.
August 1 – Park debuts $50 Weekday Ticket offer, valid for a single visit Monday through Friday through December 20, 2013. Guests could add a day at Adventure Island for $25. (Busch Gardens 8/1/2013)
August 1 – USF Student Pass returns for $50. Pass allows student unlimited admission during regular hours through May 31, 2014, but does not include parking or other discounts/benefits of an annual pass. (Busch Gardens 8/5/2013)
August 5 – A baby zebra is born, bringing Grevy’s zebra population at the park to eight.
August 19 – Park announces addition to Waves of Honor program, allowing veterans and active duty service members the ability to purchase up to six single-day admission tickets for 50% off. Tickets had to be purchased by November 11 and used by December 20, 2013. (Busch Gardens 8/20/2013)
September 20 – New children’s play area themed to Busch Gardens opens at International Plaza mall after five days of construction. The play area features a 14 foot Cheetah Hunt tower, along with other park themed elements. A grand opening event was held with gifts for the first 200 children in attendance, and a ribbon cutting with special guest speakers including Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Gary Malfroid of International Plaza, and Gerard Hoeppner of Busch Gardens (Press Release & Busch Gardens 9/16/2013)
October 5 – The Wildlife Docs, a television series filmed mainly at the park including many scenes from the Animal Care Center, debuts on most ABC stations around the country.
October 28 – Inaki, a female gorilla who had resided at Myombe Reserve since it opened, dies at the park.
November 15 – Florida Governor Rick Scott holds a press conference outside Crown Colony House to tout record tourism numbers for the state, and also present park president Jim Dean with a Governor’s Business Ambassador Award for job creation. (Tampa Bay Times 11/15/2013)
December – The 2014 Fun Card, which includes admission through the end of 2013, is available at $89 for adults, $81 for children age 3 to 9. (Press Release)

2014

January – Park designates January as Pass Member Appreciation Month. Special offers include Bring a Friend Free ticket with online registration and a 30% discount on food, beverage and merchandise. Sterling Value pass members could also receive a free dessert with entree purchase at Zambia Smokehouse. (Busch Gardens 1/2/2014)
January 5 – Pele, one of the park’s female gorillas, delivers a stillborn baby.
February 5 – Hard Hat Tour for media showing progress on Falcon’s Fury and Pantopia.
February 21 – Exclusive limited edition pass member pin for 2014 is released. Cost is $8.95 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. (Twitter 2/19/2014 1 & 2)
February 26 – Press conference held at park to announced new Tampa Bay CityPASS, which beginning on May 20, 2014 allowed guests admission to Busch Gardens and several other area attractions for a discounted price. (Busch Gardens 2/26/2014 & Twitter 2/26/2014)
February 27 – Park offers free Adventure Island Fun Card with purchase of Busch Gardens Fun Card. Price is $92 for adults & $87 for children age 3 to 9. Offer was available through March 31, 2014. (Press Release)
March 12 – A reticulated giraffe is born at the park.
March 14 – A reticulated giraffe is born at the park.
March 18 – A reticulated giraffe is born at the park.
March 21 – Painted Camel Bazaar in Pantopia officially opens to guests.
April – Park launches a new mobile app, the Busch Gardens Discovery Guide, which includes interactive map, wait times, attraction details, GPS navigation, car finder, and other features. (Busch Gardens 4/10/2014)
April 3 – Two Marabou stork chicks are hatched at the park. A third is hatched two days later.
April 5 – A Marabou stork chick is hatched at the park. Two others were hatched two days earlier.
April 13 – A southern tamandua (lesser anteater) is born at the park.
April 26 – Twisted Tails officially opens to guests following a soft open the day prior.
April 27 – Southern three-banded armadillo born to mother Zowie and father Ollie.
May 1 – Pantopia officially “opens” to guests following its renovations and conversion from Timbuktu.
May 2 – Heavy rains cause flash flooding in and around Busch Gardens. The park first announced a delayed opening at 2 p.m. and later decided to remain closed entirely. Several attractions including Cheetah Hunt and Scorpion were affected. Most damage was cleaned up and repaired before opening the next day, although Scorpion and portions of parking lots C and D remained closed through the weekend. (Twitter 5/2/2014 1 & 2)
May 20 – Tampa Bay CityPASS goes live, allowing guests one visit to Busch Gardens and several other area attractions during a 9 day period for a discounted price. (Busch Gardens 2/26/2014)
May 29 – Grammy Award winning country music star Zac Brown visits the park with family. (Twitter 5/29/2014)
June 13 – 14 – First of two weekends of Sidewalk Safari Nights held for annual pass members and Fun Card holders.
June 20 – 21 – Second of two weekends of Sidewalk Safari Nights held for annual pass members and Fun Card holders.
July – Busch Gardens Discovery Guide app updated to include Quick Pay, which allowed guests to connect a credit card and use the app to pay at most culinary and merchandise locations at the park. (Busch Gardens 7/21/2014)
July 6 – Cheetah Hunt was featured in an episode of Insane Coaster Wars on Travel Channel.
July 10 – 12 – Coca-Cola visits the park as part of their Share A Coke campaign, where guests could get a free personalized mini-can of Coca-Cola in the Gwazi Plaza area. (Twitter 7/10 & 7/12/2014)
August 1 – USF Student Pass returns for $50. Pass allows student unlimited admission during regular hours through May 31, 2015, but does not include parking or other discounts/benefits of an annual pass. (Busch Gardens 8/1/2014)
August 5 – An aardvark is born at the park.
August 16 – Falcon’s Fury “soft opens” to guests for the very first time, following several days of successful employee previews.
August 29 – Park launches offer for three months free with a purchase of an annual pass. Offer valid through October 31, 2014 on passes paid in full (Busch Gardens 9/4/2014)
September 2 – Falcon’s Fury officially opens after a successful soft opening on August 16.
September 2 – Park launches promotion allowing active and veteran U.S. military members to purchase up to six tickets at 50% off gate price. The offer was valid online only, and had to be purchased by November 11, with all tickets used by December 21, 2014. (Busch Gardens 10/12/2014)
October – Park launches PhotoKey, a digital photo sharing program. Using their PhotoKey card, guests can capture their favorite moments on most roller coasters, at the park entrance, on the Serengeti Safari, and elsewhere in the park with roaming photographers. PhotoKey is available for a daily fee or as an annual program. (Busch Gardens 10/20/2014)
October 23 – Busch Gardens Tampa is featured on an episode of All-American Amusement Parks on Great American Country. (Twitter 10/20/2014)
November 5 – 2015 Fun Card is available for admission through December 31, 2015. Prices are $95 for adults, $90 for children ages 3 to 9. (Press Release)
November 22 – Tendai and Thabo, cheetahs, are born.
December 16 – Enzi, a male gorilla, is born at the park.

2015

January 5 – Three admission offers are released including: free Adventure Island Fun Card with purchase of Busch Gardens Fun Card (adults $95, children 3 to 9 $90; offer available through March 2); free Preschool Pass for children 5 and younger to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld (registration originally available through June 30, extended to July 1); Any 2 Parks for $99 valid through May 22, 2015 at Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, SeaWorld, or Aquatica. (Press Release, Twitter 2/25/2015, 6/29/2015, 7/1/2015)
February 1 – Gwazi gives its final rides and closes permanently at the the end of the day.
February 6 – Kamari, a female gorilla, is born at the park.
March 19 – Squirt, a ring-tailed lemur, is born at the park.
March 27 – Schweps and Seagramms, twin ring-tailed lemurs, are born at the park.
April 1 – As an April Fools joke, the park shares an Onion article about a 9,600 mile roller coaster coming to Busch Gardens (Twitter 4/1/2015)
May 18 – “Ride, Slide & Dine Ticket” is offered for $99 allowing guests two visits and two meals at Busch Gardens or Adventure Island. Deal offered through June 14, and tickets valid through October 11. (Press Release)
May 30 – Country music star Rachele Lynae visits the park. (Twitter 5/30/2015)
June 1 – Dragon Fire Grill officially opens after two days of public soft opens.
June 26 – 28 – Coca-Cola visits the park as part of their Share A Coke Tour, where guests could get a free personalized mini-can of Coca-Cola at an event area set up next to Marrakesh Theater. (BG 6/22/2015)
July – Early in the month, new signage in the entrance plaza is installed designating three different zones. Zone A includes the self-service kiosks on either side of the courtyard, Zone B includes the main ticket booths an EZ Pay windows, and Zone C encompasses the bag check and entry gates. (PATP 8/2/2015)
July 7 – A male white-bearded wildebeest is born at the park.
July 10 – Two admission offers introduced: $15 Busch Bucks with purchase of 2015 Fun Card available through September 7; Pass Members & Fun Card holders can bring two friends for $25 each through August 16, 2015. (Press Release & Twitter 8/29/2015)
July 18 – A female Grant’s gazelle is born at the park.
July 20 – Park announces that TripAdvisor recognizes Busch Gardens as one of the Top Amusement Parks in the World, and an award from USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll for Iceploration in the category of Best Amusement Park Entertainment. (Press Release)
July – Several weeks of particularly rainy and stormy weather caused frequent attraction closures and even early park closings of 9 p.m. instead of midnight on July 24 & 25. (PATP 8/2/2015)
August 1 – Park offers the USF Student Pass for the 2015-2016 season allowing unlimited admission through May 31, 2016 for $50. Block out dates of December 24, 2015 – January 3, 2016 and March 21, 2016 – March 28, 2016 applied. (Busch Gardens)
August 3 – Due to severe weather, park is closed for the day. (Twitter 8/3/2015)
August 5 – Park offers a Summer BOGO deal, where guests receive a free ticket with purchase of a single day admission at regular price ($97 for adults, $92 for children age 3 to 9). Offer available through August 24, and tickets valid through September 7. (Press Release)
September 1 – Park announces free single day admission offer for Florida-based first responders, and up to four additional single day tickets for $50. Offer valid through September 30. (Orlando Sentinel)
September 2 – Male wildebeest born at the park.
September 5 – 7 – Park stays open late for Labor Day weekend, until midnight on Saturday and Sunday, and 9 p.m on Monday, with fireworks each night at 9 p.m., preceded by a lip sync challenge at 8:45 p.m. in Gwazi Field. (Press Release)
September 9 – Kamari, a female gorilla born earlier in the year, dies at the park. Kamari was suffering from a neurological disorder, and died while under anesthesia for an MRI.
September 18 – An aardvark is born at the park.
October 16 – A female southern white rhinoceros is born at the park.
November 2 – 2016 Fun Card is available for admission through December 31, 2016. The price is $99 for ages 3 and up. (Press Release)
November 27 – Park launches Black Friday Sale including three free months on annual pass. (Twitter 11/27/2015)

2016

January – New “Choose Your Adventure” ticket option for tourists for Busch Gardens Tampa, Adventure Island, SeaWorld Orlando, and Aquatica. Online advance pricing is $79 for one visit, $99 for two visits, $109 for three visits, or Length-of-Stay ticket for $139 which provides 14 days of unlimited admission to each of the four parks plus free general parking at each location. Florida Resident offer valid through February 29, 2016, for BOGO Fun Card, where guest received free Adventure Island Fun Card with purchase of Busch Gardens Tampa Fun Card. (Busch Gardens 1/5/2016)
January 3 – Last operating day for Sifting Sands play area and Pyramid Joe’s concession stand, both located in the Egypt section.
January 4 – The entire Egypt section of the park is temporarily closed as part of the Cobra’s Curse project. Sifting Sands and Pyramid Joe’s are removed. Montu goes through a refurbishment, which includes repainting much of the track.
March 24 – A Hoffman’s two-toed sloth is born at the park.
April 2 – A Linne’s two-toed sloth is born at the park.
April 3 – Mandazi, a male hyena cub, born at the park.
April 10 – Tanganyika Tidal Wave splashes down for the last time before permanently closing.
April 23 – In celebration of Earth Day, guests who recycle an old cell phone can get a voucher for a free kangaroo or lorikeet feeding, while supplies last. A special Critter Creations tent was also set up where guests could purchase works of art created by a number of the park’s animal ambassadors. Proceeds benefited the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. (Busch Gardens 3/29/2016)
April 24 – Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke Tour stops at the park. (Twitter 4/24/2016)
April 25 – Park announces 50% off ticket offer for veterans, valid for up to six single-day admissions through May 31, 2016. (Press Release)
May 5 – Serpent’s Snacks in Egypt opens to guests for the first time.
May 27 – Serengeti Overlook Restaurant (formerly Crown Colony Restaurant) officially opens with daily service, following a soft open the previous day.
May 29 – Busch Gardens Tampa launches an official account on Snapchat. (Twitter 5/29/2016)
June – The park receives 2016 Recycle Florida Today Environmental Sustainability award. The park boasted a 40% recycle rate, nearly 6 million pounds of waste recycled. (Busch Gardens 6/24/2016)
June 17 – Cobra’s Curse officially opens to guests.
August – Park launches redesigned online Busch Gardens Shop where select souvenirs can be purchased. (Twitter 8/22/2016)
August 2 – Guest Joseph Corrao, 45, picks up and violently throws to the ground Pinky, a flamingo and popular Animal Ambassador in her habitat in Jambo Junction. Pinky was later euthanized by animal care staff due to the extent of her injuries. Corrao was arrested on a charge of felony animal cruelty. (Tampa Bay Times 8/3/2016)
August 7 – Summer Nights event ends. However, the park actually closes at 7 pm (instead of 9 pm) because of inclement weather earlier in the day, forcing the final Kinetix performance and fireworks to be canceled.
August 18 – Oliver, a male gorilla, is born at the park.
August 28 – The park begins offering free insect repellant in response to Zika virus concerns. (Twitter 8/28/2016)
September 1 – Park closed for the day due to threat from Tropical Storm Hermine (becomes hurricane later in day). (Twitter 9/1/2016)
September 2 – Park closed for the second day in a row due to threat from Hurricane Hermine. (Twitter 9/2/2016)
September – Annual pass price listed as $168. (Busch Gardens 9/27/2016)
September 26 – New promotion begins where guests can receive three months free on a new annual pass when paid in full. Offer valid through January 3, 2017. (Twitter 9/26/2016 & BG Annual Pass)
October – Gate price for single-day admission listed at $99.99. (Twitter 10/18/2016)
November – VacationIdea names Busch Gardens Tampa one of the 25 Best Things to do in Florida. (VacationIdea 11/21/2016)
November 3 – 2017 Fun Card is available for admission through December 31, 2017. (Twitter 11/3/2016)
November 5 – Pass Member Appreciation Night is held at the park from 6 to 11 pm.
November 15 – Park is awarded prestigious Liseberg Applause Award at 2016 IAAPA Attractions Expo. The award honors a park “whose management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with their foresight, originality and sound business development.” (Press Release)
November 15 – The park announces they will be the exclusive sponsor of the main NHL rink at the new Florida Hospital Center Ice sports facility in Wesley Chapel. (Press Release)
November 25 – Black Friday Sale includes 25% off select tours at the park. Sale runs through November 28, 2016. (Twitter 11/24/2016)
December 6 – A glitch causes emails to be sent to a number of guests about non-existent Busch Gardens Williamsburg vacation packages, with some reporting receiving multiple versions. The company said there was no data breach. (Orlando Sentinel 12/7/2016)
December 7 – Jambo Junction closes, a day after layoffs across SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment properties.

2017

January – Park offers BOGO Fun Card, where guests could purchase a 2017 Busch Gardens Fun Card and receive an Adventure Island Fun Card for free. Offer available through April 30. The park also announced the return of the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Card, where guests five and under could receive free admission from January 4 to December 21, 2017. (Busch Gardens 1/6/2017 & Twitter 4/30/2017)
January – Park transitions from using fingerprint scans at the turnstiles to having the ambassadors using handheld scanners and photos of pass members as verification. The handheld units were also used to take the picture the first time the member entered on their pass. The park also began requiring pass members to present photo ID at the toll booths to receive their free parking. (Twitter 1/14/2017 & 2)
January 16 – Stewart Clark becomes President of Busch Gardens & Adventure Island, replacing Jim Dean who held the position since 2010. Clark was previously the Vice President of Discovery Cove. Dean moves to President of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and Aquatica in Orlando. (Press Release)
February – Park announced the recent receipt of a Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Sustainable Partner Award for the park’s focus on focus on conservation, waste reductions, beautification, and green initiatives. (Busch Gardens 2/10/2017)
February 19 – Kareebu Jungala ends regular performances.
March – Early in the month, Jambo Junction area reopens to guests, but without main signage. Much of the interpretive signage on the main building and for the snake tanks is missing. Several of the exhibits are empty. Twitter / Twitter
April – Early in the month, the former Jambo Junction area was renamed Animal Connections.
April 22 – In celebration of Earth Day, guests who recycle an old cell phone can get a voucher for a free kangaroo or lorikeet feeding, while supplies last. (Busch Gardens 3/28/2017)
April 23 – Iceploration has its final performances.
May 12 – Telemundo show Un Nuevo Dia broadcasts live from Gwazi Field at Busch Gardens Tampa. (Twitter 5/12/2017)
June 2 – Julian Antonio Marquez was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty after witnesses said he threw a piece of pine bark and struck a flamingo at the park. The flamingo was being monitored but was expected to be fine. (Bay News 9 6/3/2017)
July 14 – A new design for the Busch Gardens Tampa website debuts. (Twitter 7/14/2017)
July – The park updated its smoking policy to prohibit the use of marijuana anywhere on the property. (Twitter 7/21/2017)
September 9 – 12 – Park closed due to Hurricane Irma. Initially planning to close by 5 p.m. on September 9, the park later decided to close the entire day. Guy Harvey Weekend was canceled. On September 11, the park shared an initial assessment found all animals and personnel safe, and later announced it would remain closed one additional day for clean up efforts. (Twitter 9/6/2017, 9/8/2017 & 2, 9/11/2017 & 2)
October 2 – Female White Rhinoceros born at park, named Winnifred (or “Winnie” for short).
October 11 – Park announces offer for one free admission for Florida first responders through November 24, 2017. Up to four additional tickets for friend & family available for 50% off gate price. (Press Release)
October 14 – Malu, a male Bornean orangutan, is born to first time mother Luna.
October 30 – 2018 Fun Card is available for admission through December 31, 2018. The price is $104.99 for ages 3 and up. A free Adventure Island Fun Card is included if purchased by March 25, 2018. (Press Release)
November 13 – A is for Africa ends its regular season run and Christmas from the Heart opens for the holiday season in Stanleyville Theater.
November 16 – Elmo’s Christmas Wish opens for the holiday season in the Sunny Day Theater.
November 18 – Christmas Celebration and Christmas on Ice both open for the holiday season.
November 23 – Quinn, a male reticulated giraffe, is born to mother Celina.

2018

January 8 – The Busch Gardens Discovery Guide app receives a major update and becomes a streamlined version of the current website, removing most of the features it previously had (including wait times and Quick Pay). (Twitter)
January 26 – After previously stating it would not be offered in 2018, the park announces the return of the Preschool Card. Registration was required by May 20. (Twitter 1/12/2018, 1/26/2018, 5/19/2018)
March 16 – Patty, a female giraffe, is born at the park.
March 22 – Spike, a male Asian elephant who resided at the park since September 2013, was relocated to the National Zoo.
March 26 – Park announces Spring Break Rainy Day Guarantee program which allowed single or multi-day ticket holders to receive a free return visit within 30 days if rain ruins their day at the park. Program is later extended through June 30. (Twitter 3/26/2018 & 5/15/2018)
April 1 – As an April Fool’s joke, the park releases a video about 2022 expansion plans that will include adding a large squirrel habitat in three phases. (Twitter 4/1/2018)
April 30 – At a media event, park announces free beer samples returning daily from May 1 through August 5, 2018. Also announced was the introduction of the Busch Gardens Brew Club inside of Serengeti Overlook Pub.
May 12 – Power is knocked out park-wide just after opening, caused by a squirrel. The power was out for nearly four hours, coming back on just after 2 p.m. The park stayed open an hour later, closing at 10 p.m. (TCF 5/12/2018)
May 24 – Promotion released offering veterans and up to three guests free admission to one Busch Gardens or SeaWorld park through July 4, 2018. (Busch Gardens 5/24/2018)
May 25 – Salute to Summer flash sale released with single day discount tickets valid through July 1, 2018 for $45, with $10 add on option for a day at Adventure Island. 2018 Fun Card available for $59. Sale ended June 3, 2018. (Busch Gardens 5/25/2018)
June – Park named the 10th Best Theme Park and Turn It Up! takes fifth place for Best Amusement Park Entertainment in the 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards for 2018. (Twitter 6/22/2018)
June 19 – Three new tours are announced – Aldabra Insider, Cheetah Insider, and Gorilla Insider.
July 4 – Guest struck by stray bullet believed to originate from celebratory gunfire outside of the park. (ABC Action News 7/5/2018)
July 26 – Park announces the extension of the free beer promotion through August 24, 2019. It was previously scheduled to end on August 11. (Twitter 7/26/2019)
September 14 – Park releases offer for displaced residents of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia due to Hurricane Florence. Residents of those states could purchase a special buy one single-day ticket, get one free at the park gates through September 21, 2018. (Twitter 9/14/2018)
September 19 – A park-wide power outage effects Busch Gardens for about an hour. (Twitter 9/18/2018)
October 4 – Park announces new annual pass program with different levels of passes and benefits. (Twitter 10/4/2018)
November 22 – Black Friday Sale begins online at 8 a.m. and includes the return of a Fun Card for 2019 at a special price of $60, available only for the first 60 hours. Afterwards, 2019 Fun Card remained on sale through Cyber Monday for $74.99. Other Black Friday deals that ran through Cyber Monday included Serengeti Safari 4-Pack for $60, and discounts ranging from 30 to 50% off tickets, Christmas Town tours, Summer Camps, PhotoKey, and online merchandise purchases. (Busch Gardens Black Friday 1 & 2)
December 3 – Prices for Bronze, Silver and Gold annual pass options increase by $1 per month. Bronze $10.99/mo or $131.88, Silver $14.99/mo or $179.88, Gold $17.99/mo or $215.88. Florida Platinum remained at $29.99/mo or $359.88. (Busch Gardens 12/3/2018)
December 12 – Park announces receipt of American Humane Conservation Program’s Humane Certified Seal, a designation only a select group of facilities in the country have qualified for. (Twitter 12/12/2018)
December 20 – Park closed for the day due to inclement weather. (Twitter 12/20/2018)
December 31 – Opening Night Critters holds its last performances.

2019

January 1 – Park begins the Year of Beer offering guests 21 and over two free samples of beer per day through the end of the year. (Twitter 1/1/2019)
January 2 – Park offers BOGO Fun Card offer, where guests can purchase a 2019 Fun Card for Busch Gardens and receive an Adventure Island Fun Card for free. Promotion runs through March 29, 2019. (Twitter 1/2/2019 & 3/26/2019)
January 11 – Park announces the return of Preschool Card, allowing guests age 3 to 5 free admission to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island through the end of 2019. Registration was required by May 19. (Twitter 1/11/2019 & BG Free Preschool Card)
March 5 – SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announces it is replacing polystyrene foam dinnerware products with items made from recycled material in all of its parks, including Busch Gardens Tampa. (SeaWorld Entertainment 3/5/2019)
April 1 – Park offers free admission to guests whose birthday falls on April Fools Day. (Twitter 3/29/2019)
April 19 – Tigris officially opens.
April 22 – Continuing the commitment to conservation, the park rolls out their reusable bag program. When guests make a souvenir purchase they are encouraged to buy a reusable bag, with 5% of the bag purchase going to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Guests opting for a single-use paper bag will see a 10¢ charge per bag, with that money going to the fund. (Busch Gardens 4/22/2019)
May 24 – Park launches a Memorial Day Flash Sale with discounts of up to 30% off Fun Cards and Annual Passes. Originally scheduled to end on June 2, it was extended through June 9. (Twitter 5/24/2019 & 6/3/2019)
May 29 – Promotion begins allowing Busch Gardens Annual Pass Members to visit Adventure Island for free on one weekday through June 28. Those members with Adventure Island already on their pass could bring a friend for free one time instead. (Twitter 5/29/2019)