Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has named industry veteran Jon Vigue as park president as the company moves through more than $100 million in attractions, animal habitats and park enhancements.
Vigue joins Busch Gardens after leading Wild Adventures Theme Park in Georgia, and takes over as parent company United Parks & Resorts continues its major investment program, which includes new attractions, expanded entertainment offerings and one of the park’s largest animal habitat projects in more than a decade.
The leadership change comes as Busch Gardens continues to expand beyond traditional ride investments. Recent additions include Wild Oasis, a family-focused adventure area that opened in 2025, while Lion and Hyena Ridge is scheduled to debut later this year. The new habitat, which will feature five young male lions and two hyenas, is described by the company as its largest and most immersive animal environment in more than a decade.
Those additions are part of a broader effort that also includes new entertainment programming, food and beverage offerings and seasonal events. United Parks & Resorts said the investments are designed to enhance the guest experience throughout the day and evening while building on the attractions that have long defined the Tampa park.
“We are strategically focused on enhancing every aspect of the guest experience at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Jon’s extensive industry experience makes him the ideal leader to help guide that vision forward,” Kyle Miller, co-chief parks operations officer for United Parks & Resorts, said in a statement.
Vigue brings nearly three decades of experience in the attractions industry. Before joining Busch Gardens, he led Wild Adventures and previously spent nearly 20 years at Lake Compounce Theme Park in Connecticut, where he helped oversee operations and development initiatives. He has also served in leadership positions with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
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“I’m incredibly honored to join the talented team at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and help lead one of the most iconic theme parks in the country,” Vigue said in a statement. “The park has an extraordinary legacy of combining world-class thrills, inspiring animal experiences and immersive entertainment unlike anywhere else.”
His arrival comes as Busch Gardens continues adding new reasons for guests to visit throughout the year. Summer Nights returns this summer with extended operating hours, new entertainment offerings, and the Wild Skies: Drone Show & Fireworks Spectacular, featuring 400 synchronized drones on select nights. The event lineup also includes new shows, returning dance performances and complimentary beer offerings for guests 21 and older.
The investments build on one of the park’s defining characteristics. Busch Gardens spans 300 acres and is home to more than 16,000 animals representing more than 200 species, combining a major zoological collection with thrill rides, entertainment and seasonal events.
Vigue takes over as the company works to translate those investments into continued growth. The more than $100 million initiative touches nearly every part of the guest experience, from animal habitats and family attractions to entertainment and food and beverage offerings, making it one of the most significant investment periods in recent years for the Tampa park.
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