April

Below are noteworthy events from Busch Gardens Tampa’s history that occurred in the month of April.

Specific Dates:

  • 1st – (2015) 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)
  • 1st – (2018) 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)
  • 1st – (2019) Park offers free admission to guests whose birthday falls on April Fools Day. (Twitter 3/29/2019)
  • 2nd – (2016) A Linne’s two-toed sloth is born at the park.
  • 2nd – (2022) Park closes early at 8:30 p.m. due to inclement weather. (Twitter 4/2/2022)
  • 3rd – (2014) Two Marabou stork chicks are hatched at the park. A third is hatched two days later.
  • 3rd – (2016) Mandazi, a male hyena cub, is born at the park.
  • 4th – (1983) Josephine, a female black rhinoceros, is born at the park. She is the fourth of the species to be born at the park. (Temple Terrace Beacon, 6/9/1983)
  • 5th – (2008) Jungala officially opens to guests.
  • 5th – (2014) A Marabou stork chick is hatched at the park. Two others were hatched two days earlier.
  • 10th – (2011) Zawadi, a male aardvark, is born at the park.
  • 10th – (2016) Tanganyika Tidal Wave splashes down for the last time before permanently closing.
  • 11th – (2021) Park closes early at 3 p.m. due to inclement weather. (Twitter 3/11/2021)
  • 13th – (2014) A southern tamandua (lesser anteater) is born at the park.
  • 15th – (1992) Five gorillas arrive at the park from Yerkes Primate Center as part of the Myombe Reserve project.
  • 17th – (2010) 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)
  • 19th – (2019) Tigris officially opens.
  • 21st – (1993) Kumba officially opens.
  • 22nd – (2017) 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)
  • 22nd – (2019) Continuing the commitment to conservation, the park rolls out its 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)
  • 23rd – (2016) 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)
  • 23rd – (2017) Iceploration has its final performances.
  • 24th – (2016) Coca-Cola’s Share a Coke Tour stops at the park. (Twitter 4/24/2016)
  • 25th – (2016) Park announces 50% off ticket offer for veterans, valid for up to six single day admissions through May 31, 2016. (Press Release)
  • 26th – (2014) Twisted Tails officially opens to guests following a soft open the day prior.
  • 27th – (2011) 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)
  • 27th – (2014) Southern three-banded armadillo born to mother Zowie and father Ollie.
  • 29th – (2011) Two red ruffed lemurs are born to mother Maditra & father Bozeny (“Madi” & “Zeny”).
  • 30th – (2018) 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.



During the Month:

  • 1964 – Anheuser-Busch purchases an additional 25 acres of land north & east of the park for $1125,305, bringing the total area owned to 208 acres. (Tampa Tribune 4/15/1964)
  • 1974 – Admission listed at $4.25 for adults, $3 for children age 5 to 11, and free for children under 5. Parking is free.  Open daily, hours 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Ledger 4/5/1974)
  • 1975 – Admission listed at $5.25 for adults, $3.25 for children age 5 to 11, free for children under 5. Hours are listed as 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. By the end of the month, admission for children was raised to $4.25, and the age range changed to 4 to 11. (Ledger 4/4/1975 & 4/25/1975)
  • 1980 – Admission listed as $9.35 with children 3 years and younger admitted free. Parking was $1, and hours were 9:30 to 6 daily (8 p.m. in summer) (Temple Terrace Beacon 4/10/1980)
  • 1983 – Births at the park during the month include 15 mammals and 82 birds, bringing year-to-date totals to 76 mammals and 159 birds. (Temple Terrace Beacon, 6/9/1983)
  • 1987 – Admission listed as $17.95 with children under 3 admitted free; parking at $2 (Sun Sentinel 4/26/1987)
  • 2006 – Park changes its name from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to Busch Gardens Africa. (Ultimate Rollercoaster 4/12/2006)
  • 2014 – Park launches a new mobile app, the Busch Gardens Discovery Guide, which includes an interactive map, wait times, attraction details, GPS navigation, car finder, and other features. (Busch Gardens 4/10/2014)