Carolina Cyclone is a steel looping roller coaster at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. Built by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer, it opened on March 22, 1980, at a reported cost of about $2 million.
When it debuted, it was the first roller coaster in the world with four inversions: two vertical loops followed by a double corkscrew. Two months later, the Demon coasters at Six Flags Great America and California’s Great America were rebuilt with four inversions and matched it. The record stood until Viper at Six Flags Darien Lake opened in May 1982 with five. Carolina Cyclone still operates today as a compact classic from the golden age of Arrow looping coasters.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
- Opened: March 22, 1980
- Height: 95 ft
- Drop: 65 ft
- Top speed: 41 mph
- Length: 2,100 ft
- Inversions: 4 (two loops and two corkscrews)
- Ride time: About 1 minute 30 seconds
The Ride Experience
Carolina Cyclone is short and intense rather than tall and fast. After the 95-foot lift hill and a 65-foot drop, the train goes through two vertical loops. It then runs into the double corkscrew. Two trains run at once, each with seven cars that seat 28 riders in two rows of two, and the ride handles roughly 1,600 riders per hour. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall.
Arrow’s looping coasters of this era are known for a lively, rattly feel, and Carolina Cyclone follows that tradition. It is a good pick for riders who want a classic looping coaster without the extreme heights of the park’s newer rides.
History and Updates
Carolina Cyclone was the first coaster with four inversions. It opened in March 1980, and its record was matched by the Demon coasters that same year, then broken by Viper at Six Flags Darien Lake in 1982. The track was repainted in 2010 and again in late 2021, when it received turquoise track with white supports.
After the 2019 season, Kings Island closed its Vortex coaster, and the trains from that ride were sent to Carowinds for use on Carolina Cyclone, giving the ride refreshed rolling stock.
Explore more: More roller coasters on ThrillZing.
Carolina Cyclone Photo Archive: October 2024
These are original ThrillZing photos of Carolina Cyclone taken at Carowinds on October 12 and 13, 2024, during the SCarowinds season, shot on an iPhone and published as taken. They show the Arrow looper’s tornado sign, its teal loops and double corkscrew, and orange and yellow trains going upside down. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Carolina Cyclone FAQs
Who built Carolina Cyclone?
Carolina Cyclone was built by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer. It opened at Carowinds on March 22, 1980.
How many inversions does Carolina Cyclone have?
It has four inversions: two vertical loops and two corkscrews. When it opened in 1980, it was the first roller coaster with four inversions, though the Demon coasters matched that count a couple of months later.
How fast and tall is Carolina Cyclone?
It is 95 feet tall with a 65-foot drop and reaches a top speed of about 41 mph over 2,100 feet of track. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall.
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Photo: Martin Lewison from The Hague, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.