Busch Gardens Tampa Bay confirmed some sad news today. Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort may steal most of the attention in Florida, but Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is one of the OGs of the state’s theme park scene. Years before Walt Disney started scouting out land for his next project, the park opened in 1959 as a simple brewery tour offering free beer samples, the park was originally called “The Dark Continent” and was designed to give visitors a taste of Africa through animal exhibits and gardens.