Carolina Cyclone, Steel roller coaster at Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Carolina Cyclone is a steel roller coaster at Carowinds featuring two vertical loops and two corkscrews along its 2,100-foot track. The ride reaches speeds of 41 miles per hour and drops riders through multiple inversions in quick succession.
The roller coaster opened in March 1980 as an Arrow Dynamics creation and was the first of its kind to incorporate four inversions within its track design. This achievement made it a pioneer in thrill ride engineering at that time.
The roller coaster serves as a gathering point within the Carolina Boardwalk, where visitors experience the evolution of thrill ride design that shaped American amusement parks.
The ride operates two trains with seven cars each, processing around 1,600 visitors every hour depending on conditions. Morning visits typically mean shorter waits, making early arrival a smart approach for minimizing time spent in lines.
In 2020, the ride received upgraded train shells from the retired Vortex roller coaster at Kings Island, significantly enhancing how the experience feels. This repurposing of components from another park demonstrates how the amusement industry recycles and refreshes older attractions.
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