September

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

Specific Dates:

  • 1st – (1982) Park offers “Senior Safari Days” through March 27, 1983. Coupon worth $3.50 off regular admission available at senior centers, mobile home parks, and other organizations across the area. (Ledger 8/20/1982)
  • 1st – (1983) Senior Safari Days offer with coupon worth $3.50 off admission available from senior centers, mobile home parks, and other organizations across area. Offer valid through March 25, 1984. (Ledger 8/26/1983)
  • 1st – (2015) 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)
  • 1st – (2016) Park closed for the day due to threat from Tropical Storm Hermine (becomes hurricane later in day). Twitter
  • 1st – (2021) Park closes after being open for just 90 minutes due to inclement weather. (Twitter 9/1/2021)
  • 2nd – (2014) Falcon’s Fury officially opens after a successful soft opening on August 16.
  • 2nd – (2014) 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)
  • 2nd – (2015) Male wildebeest is born at the park.
  • 2nd – (2016) Park closed for the second day in a row due to threat from Hurricane Hermine. Twitter
  • 5th – 7th – (2015) 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)
  • 6th– (2010) KaTonga: Musical Tales from the Jungle has its final performances.
  • 9th – (2015) 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.
  • 9th – 12th – (2017) 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)
  • 13th – (1966) Veldt Monorail officially opens at the park.
  • 13th – (1966) “The Legend of El Blanco” airs for the first time on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. Some scenes were filmed at Busch Gardens in 1964. (Orlando Sentinel 7/1/1964 & IMDB)
  • 18th – (2015) An aardvark is born at the park.
  • 20th – (1985) The Outlaws and Van-Zant perform a concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7.95 in advance through Camelot Music stores or $8.95 at the gate. (Ledger 9/13/1985)
  • 20th – (2013) 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)
  • 21st – (2011) A female Cape buffalo is born to mother Semara, weighing in at 45 pounds.
  • 26th – (2016) 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)
  • 27th – 30th (2022) The park is closed for four days due to Hurricane Ian. (Twitter 9/27/2022 & 9/29/2022)



During the Month:

  • 1963 – Park hours reported as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, closed Sundays and major holidays. (Orlando Sentinel 9/1/1963)
  • 1973 – Admission listed as $3.75 for adults, $2.50 for children age 6 to 11, and $1 for children under 6. Parking is free. Open daily, hours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Ledger 9/7/1973)
  • 1974 –  Admission listed at $4.75 for adults, $3.75 for children age 5 to 11, and free for children under 5. Open daily, hours 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Ledger 9/20/1974)
  • 1985 – Through December 21, Senior Safari Days offering a discount of $3.50 off regular admission to those over 55 with a coupon available at senior centers, mobile home communities, and other organizations across area. (Ledger 9/6/1985)
  • 1986 – Busch Gardens ranked the third most popular tourist attraction in Florida, behind Walt Disney World and SeaWorld. (Orlando Sentinel 9/21/1986)
  • 2012 – Park begins offering maps in Spanish and Portuguese. (Busch Gardens 9/5/2012)
  • 2016 – Annual pass price listed as $168. (Busch Gardens 9/27/2016)