Busch Gardens expected to open 'Sesame Street' attraction

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is expected to open a "Sesame Street" children's attraction in 2010 similar to one that opened in April at the theme park's Williamsburg, Va., location.

Busch Gardens has not commented on the project, which will include a coaster and four buildings totaling 6,043 square feet, according to documents filed with the city of Tampa.

"An announcement is forthcoming later in the summer," Busch Gardens Tampa Bay spokeswoman Jill Revelle said this morning.

The theme park filed plans with the city June 12 for demolition work and to build a roller coaster and four buildings: character support and photo, 3,513 square feet; gift shop, 1,779 square feet; merchandise, 604 square feet; and coaster equipment, 147 square feet.

City construction officials are reviewing the plans, with fire, zoning and landscape elements remaining to be approved before the site gets the city's OK, a city plan review log shows.

The theme park enthusiast site Floridathrills.net speculated this month that the new Tampa attraction could be similar to Williamsburg's new children's area.

Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg announced the Sesame Street Forest of Fun project in August. It opened April 3 and includes four rides, including a junior roller coaster that children and parents can ride together.

The "kid zone" includes wet and dry playgrounds, a photography studio with "Sesame Street" characters and musical performances.

Busch Gardens typically unveils something new at its theme parks each year, generally rotating among its rides, entertainment and animal attractions.

Last year, the Tampa park opened Jungala, a four-acre site that incorporated all three of Busch Gardens' core elements in a rainforest-themed setting.

"Sesame Street," the long-running PBS educational series, features a troupe of puppets known as the Muppets. Some of the more popular Muppets include Big Bird, Elmo, Bert and Ernie, and Oscar the Grouch.