Summary
Straddling the North and South Carolina borders, Carowinds in Charlotte boasts an impressive collection of exhilarating roller coasters. This article provides a rundown of five standout coasters in the park.
01 of 05: Intimidator Mini Review
Designed by the renowned coaster creators, Intimidator is located near the front of Carowinds. This hypercoaster features a remarkably smooth ride, with thrilling moments of weightlessness, commonly referred to as airtime.
Rating for Intimidator (0=Blech!, 5=Wahoo!): 4.5
- Type of coaster: Steel hypercoaster
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 8.5
No inversions, but offers wild speed, height, and G-forces—especially negative-G “airtime.” - Height: 232 feet
- First drop: 211 feet
- First drop angle: 74 degrees
- Other drops: 178 feet, 151 feet, 105 feet, 90 feet
- Top speed: 75 mph
- Track length: 5316 feet
- Height requirement: 54 inches
- Ride time: 3:33 minutes
02 of 05: Afterburn Mini Review
Afterburn is a thrilling inverted coaster at Carowinds, offering an unforgettable layout with multiple inversions and substantial positive G-forces. This ride, previously known as Top Gun, captures the spirit of aerial maneuvers, ensuring both riders and spectators have a great time.
Rating for Afterburn (0=Blech!, 5=Wahoo!): 4
- Type of coaster: Steel inverted
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 7
Powerful positive G-forces coupled with numerous inversions. - Height: 144 feet
- Top speed: 62 mph
- Number of inversions: 6
- Track length: 2956 feet
- Height requirement: 54 inches
- Ride time: 2:47 minutes
03 of 05: Vortex Mini Review
Riding Vortex for the first time can be a unique experience. Passengers are positioned upright in movable seats, creating an unusual perspective during ascents and descents. Though it does provide some headbanging and G-forces, the coaster’s experience is still exhilarating.
Rating for Vortex (0=Blech!, 5=Wahoo!): 3
- Type of coaster: Steel standup
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 6.5
Inversions and standing position deliver a thrilling ride. - Height: 90 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Number of inversions: 2
- Track length: 2040 feet
- Height requirement: 54 inches
- Ride time: 2:19 minutes
04 of 05: Hurler Roller Mini Review
While Hurler offers a classic wooden coaster experience, it doesn’t quite meet the thrill expectations of avid coaster enthusiasts. Despite being a wooden ride that typically features airtime, Hurler is rather mediocre and delivers minimal excitement throughout its duration.
Rating for Hurler (0=Blech!, 5=Wahoo!): 2.5
- Type of coaster: Wood
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 6
Standard wooden coaster thrills. - Height: 83 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Track length: 3157 feet
- Height requirement: 48 inches
- Ride time: 2:00 minutes
05 of 05: Woodstock Express Mini Review
Designed as an accessible coaster for younger riders, Woodstock Express serves as a great introduction to roller coasters. While it offers mild thrills, the ride can be a bit jarring at times for smaller guests, making it a gentle transition into more intense rides.
Rating for Woodstock Express (0=Blech!, 5=Wahoo!): 3
- Type of coaster: Family wooden
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 3.5
Mild drops with some lateral G-forces. - Track length: 1356 feet
- Height requirement: 46 inches (or 40 to 45 inches with a responsible adult).
- Ride time: 1:30 minutes
