the cost of $10 million, opening as the world's longest and tallest inverted roller coaster. Busch Gardens entered a theme park partnership in June with SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida, and Wet 'n Wild Orlando to compete with Disney. In the same month, the park considered the feasibility of a hotel, the latest effort since the 1980s. In October, park officials disclosed plans for a animal exhibit section at the cost of $20 million. General manager Fincher was replaced by Robin D. Carson in a corporate shuffle in February 1997. The Edge of Africa animal exhibit section opened on July 4. Located in the middle of the park on a parcel of the Serengeti Plain, the animal exhibit featured crocodiles, hippos, hyenas, lions, meerkats, and vultures among an African village and wildlife themes. Plans for an entertainment complex, the likes that would rival Disney's Animal Kingdom, were in the planning stages in December 1997. Further improvements to the park were disclosed, including an refurbished simulator ride and a bird walk through exhibit. An arcade area would open in the Egypt section in April 1998. The simulator ride, Akbar's Adventure Tours, opened on May 12, replacing Questor. The walk through Lory Landing bird exhibit opened in May 5, near the Land of the Dragons. In June, updated plans for the entertainment complex cited a $10 million ride to open in the coming year, which would later be revealed as the dueling wooden roller coasters, Gwazi, in July. Busch Gardens purchased a area north of San Antonio, Florida, for an animal retirement facility in September. In the ensuing year, the Tangiers Theater was replaced by a confectionary store. The monorail closed on May 13, 1999, with demolition occurring on the same day. Gwazi opened on June 18, on the former site of the Anheuser-Busch brewery. The park would debut its first family-friendly Halloween event, titled the Spooky Safari, in October. Occurring in the same month, the San Antonio facility for the park's animals opened, as well as plans to revitalize the Serengeti Plain were announced. Landscaping and physical barriers were planned to separate animals, bring wildlife closer to the train, and include several animals such as antelopes, gazelles, giraffes, and zebras. Another ice skating show, World Rhythms on Ice, debuted in the Morocco Palace Theater in November. 2000–2009: Updates and end of Anheuser-Busch ownership Up to 2000, Busch Gardens' manager, Carson, had