Virginia's Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are initiating the largest capital investments in the parks' history, park officials said.

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Major expansions of both parks will begin this year and be completed by 2012, including the expansion of Christmas Town and the addition of the new Mach Tower, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday.

The tower will be the park's tallest ride, whisking 30 riders nearly 250 feet into the air before plunging them back to ground level. The tower will be located in Oktoberfest village, which will also gain a new beer garden, the newspaper said. A new roller coaster is also slated to replace The Big Bad Wolf.

Water Country USA will feature a new ride called Vanishing Point, in which riders will be thrilled by a 300-foot speed slide.