Sweet Carolinas

The best place to be in either North Carolina or South Carolina is Carowinds, sitting right on the border of both these states. I've been waiting to hit this park for a while, and with its convenient proximity to the Charlotte airport and reasonable ticket price starting at $35, I was finally able to visit. There were four coasters there that are worthy of a review, and I've ranked them below.

Fury 325

My number 1 pick: Fury 325 is a coaster I have been waiting to get on for years now, as it was ranked as my 3rd most anticipated coaster in America. My expectations going in were sky high and to no surprise, Fury met these expectations. The sheer size of the ride is impressive enough, standing at 325 feet (why it's called Fury 325), and has a top speed of 95mph. Given the height of the ride, the lift hill is an experience of its own. Riders are carried to the top rather quickly and are given a birds-eye view of North and South Carolina. This is followed by the best first drop I have ever experienced. Your stomach drops as you plummet down towards the ground and the ride builds up intense speed. No speed is lost as you fly through every element to follow. From banked turns to airtime hills, to diving under the park pathways, Fury does not have a single dry moment. After two rides on Fury, I can confidently say that it ranks as my Number 2 coaster ever ridden, only behind the new Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens, Tampa. This coaster is an absolute must-do for any thrill seeker and alone is definitely worth the price of admission to Carowinds.

Final rating: 10/10

Intimidator

Intimidator is a B&M hyper coaster that opened in spring of 2010. It has a height of 232 feet and a max speed of 80 mph. Intimidator’s main focus is definitely airtime, and it does it fairly well. Following the first drop, riders go into multiple large camelback hills that lift them out of their seat. While not being the longest ride, it certainly does pack a punch. It also has a very interesting Dale Earnhardt theme. The ride even starts off with Dale’s voice saying “Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines”. Intimidator is not my favorite B&M hyper I have ever done, as I would rank rides like Mako at Seaworld, Orlando and Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg ahead. It is still a great ride nonetheless with its NASCAR theme and tribute to the racing legend. Not quite as intense as Fury across the midway, Intimidator is close to the top of my top four at Carowinds.

Final rating: 8.5/10

Afterburn

Afterburn is a B&M invert that opened to the public in 1999. It stands at 113 feet tall and has a max speed of 62 mph. Afterburn is extremely intense pulling up to 4.8 gs. This happens as the ride flies through various different kinds of inversions each giving an incredible rush. While not being the longest ride, Afterburn makes up for it in its action-packed layout that will almost leave you dizzy once you hit the break run. For being an older coaster, Afterburn is surprisingly very smooth. There is no rattle, and you never will get off of it with a headache. This ride is definitely not for the faint of heart, and I would not recommend riding after lunch or a large snack. Afterburn also has a unique Top Gun theme, and you can see large model jets around the ride. This provides for a very visually pleasing experience as well, especially for fighter jet fans or even fans of the new movie. This ride is a must-do and might even take your breath away.

Final rating: 8.5/10

Copperhead Strike

Copperhead Strike is the newest coaster at Carowinds, opening in 2019 and is number 4 on my list. It is a launch style coaster with a max height of 82 feet and traveling at 50 mph. While not being the most intense coaster, this is still an extremely fun ride for everyone. Its smaller size makes it more appealing for families and smaller children, while its five inversions are appealing to thrill seekers. Each inversion also gives tremendous hang time, giving you the sensation that you are going to fall out. Even though it's a more family-oriented ride, the coaster still does feature some rapid-fire transitions like that of a defensive viper moving without warning, keeping thrill seekers happy. It also has a very unique barrel roll right when you leave the station. Copperhead strike is also the best themed coaster at Carowinds. The plaza it lays on is elaborate and is very visually appealing. The queue line and station also contain some solid theming and add to the ride experience. It even has a barn that you launch out of which contains an interesting pre-show before launching. Overall, Copperhead Strike is a great ride for everyone in the family and is absolutely worth checking out anytime you are at Carowinds.

Final rating: 8/10

Final Ranking:

1. Fury 325

2. Intimidator

3. Afterburn

4. Copperhead Strike

This is my version of a beautiful sunset!