When Fury 325 opened at Carowinds in March 2015, the roller coaster world got a new benchmark. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and rising 325 feet over the North Carolina–South Carolina border, it became the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster — a title it still holds today.
Eleven years on, it’s still the ride enthusiasts point to when asked what the best steel coaster on the planet feels like, backed by nine consecutive Golden Ticket Awards. This guide covers the full stats, the ride experience seat by seat, how it compares to rivals like Millennium Force, and — since it matters right now — where things stand with the coaster’s current 2026 closure.
Quick Answer
Fury 325 is a Bolliger & Mabillard giga coaster at Carowinds standing 325 feet tall, with a 320-foot first drop at 81 degrees and a top speed of 95 mph across 6,602 feet of track. It’s the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster and has won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Steel Coaster nine years running.
As of July 2026, Fury 325 is temporarily closed. Carowinds pulled it from service on July 7, 2026 after an inspection found a foundation issue, and North Carolina’s Department of Labor has ordered it to stay closed until a full re-inspection confirms it’s safe. No reopening date has been announced — check the official Fury 325 page at Carowinds before planning a visit around it.
Fury 325 Stats at a Glance
Park: Carowinds (Charlotte, NC / SC border) | Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard | Opened: March 28, 2015 | Height: 325 feet (99 m) | First drop: 320 feet at 81 degrees | Top speed: 95 mph (153 km/h) | Track length: 6,602 feet (2,012 m) | Ride duration: 3 min 25 sec | Inversions: 0 | Height requirement: 54 inches | Restraint: lap bar with seat belt | Trains: 3, each 8 cars seating 4 across | Construction cost: approximately $30 million | Status as of July 2026: closed for foundation repairs.
Is Fury 325 Open Right Now? The 2026 Closure, Explained
Carowinds removed Fury 325 from service on July 7, 2026, after a routine inspection uncovered an issue with one of the ride’s foundations. The park says the discovery didn’t put guests at risk and that it shut the ride down and notified state regulators the same day out of caution.
North Carolina’s Department of Labor has since issued a shutdown order confirming Fury 325 can’t reopen until inspectors complete a full re-inspection and are satisfied it’s safe. No repair timeline or reopening date has been announced. It’s the coaster’s second extended closure in three years, after the June 2023 support-column crack — check the official Fury 325 attraction page for the current status before you plan a trip around riding it.
The Ride Experience: Drop by Drop
The ride begins with a chain lift to 325 feet, delivering sweeping views of the Charlotte skyline before the drop. The first drop — 320 feet at 81 degrees, just 9 degrees off vertical — sends the train through the ‘hive dive,’ a pedestrian bridge lined with hexagonal panels, and it’s already near 95 mph by the bottom.
From there the layout runs through a 190-foot barrel turn, a high-speed S-curve that crosses the North Carolina–South Carolina state line mid-ride, a 157-foot overbanked horseshoe banked at 91 degrees, a 111-foot camelback that lifts riders out of their seats, and a double helix that keeps G-forces loaded to the brakes. Unlike coasters that peak on the first drop and fade, Fury 325 barely lets the speed bleed off — the mid-ride elements hit nearly as hard as the opening plunge.
Restraints, Trains and Capacity
Fury 325 runs three trains, each with eight cars seating four across — two per side — restrained by a lap bar and seat belt rather than an over-the-shoulder harness, so taller and broader riders generally sit comfortably. With all three trains cycling, throughput stays strong even on busy days, with capacity cited near 1,470 riders per hour at full operation.
Best Seat on Fury 325: Where to Sit
Seat choice changes the ride meaningfully. Left-side seats amplify lateral G-forces through the banked turns; right-side seats deliver stronger airtime on the camelback. The back row feels fastest off the initial drop; the front row gives unobstructed sightlines with no warning before the ground rushes up — the seat most enthusiasts recommend for a first ride.
How Fury 325 Compares to Other Giga Coasters
A giga coaster is a steel coaster between 300 and 399 feet tall — a class defined by scale. The best-known rivals are Millennium Force at Cedar Point (310 feet, 93 mph, Intamin, 2000) and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland (306 feet, 92 mph, B&M, 2012). Fury 325 beats both in height and top speed, and its 95 mph top speed tied it with Steel Dragon 2000 as the fastest coaster in the world with a traditional chain-lift hill.
The comparison enthusiasts argue over most is Fury 325 versus Millennium Force, which held the Golden Ticket’s top spot before Fury 325 took over in 2016. The distinction riders cite: Fury 325 sustains intensity through the whole layout rather than peaking on the first drop — the mid-course turns, camelback, and helix keep G-forces alive to the brakes, something Millennium Force’s longer, airier layout doesn’t replicate.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets, Hours and Tips
Carowinds runs on a seasonal schedule that expands through summer and around holidays, and ticket pricing is tiered — single-day gate tickets cost more than advance online tickets, and season passes typically pay for themselves after a few visits. Because hours, prices, and Fury 325’s own operating status change, check the official Carowinds site for current hours, tickets, and live ride status before you go.
When Fury 325 is running, arrive early — it’s Carowinds’ marquee attraction and lines build fast on weekend and holiday mornings. Riding within the first 60 to 90 minutes of opening is the most reliable way to avoid a long wait. On the busiest days, Fast Lane access (sold separately) covers Fury 325 and can be worth it; on off-peak weekdays the standard queue is often short enough that Fast Lane adds little value.
Safety History: The 2023 Crack and the 2026 Foundation Repair
On June 30, 2023, a guest spotted and filmed a crack in one of Fury 325’s steel support columns. Carowinds closed the ride immediately; engineers traced the fracture to fatigue along a weld line, not a materials defect. A second crack turned up on July 28 during the follow-up inspection. Bolliger & Mabillard fabricated and installed a new support column, and the ride reopened in August 2023 after roughly six weeks closed.
The July 2026 foundation issue is a separate problem, caught through routine inspection rather than an in-ride incident — the same process that flagged the 2023 crack. Both closures reflect what it takes to keep a coaster this large and this fast running safely for over a decade: aggressive, routine inspection that catches structural issues before anyone gets hurt.
Fury 325 at Carowinds FAQs
Is Fury 325 open right now?
No — as of July 2026, Fury 325 is closed. Carowinds pulled it from service on July 7, 2026 after an inspection found a foundation issue, and North Carolina regulators have ordered it to stay closed until a full re-inspection is complete. No reopening date has been announced; check the official Carowinds site for the current status before visiting.
How tall and how fast is Fury 325?
Fury 325 stands 325 feet tall, with a 320-foot first drop at 81 degrees, and reaches a top speed of 95 mph — making it the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster.
What happened to Fury 325 in 2023?
A guest spotted a crack in one of the ride’s steel support columns on June 30, 2023. Carowinds closed the coaster immediately, and engineers found the fracture was caused by fatigue along a weld line. Bolliger & Mabillard replaced the column, and the ride reopened in August 2023.
How long is the Fury 325 ride?
The full ride, from the chain lift to the final brake run, lasts about 3 minutes and 25 seconds across 6,602 feet of track.
What is the height requirement for Fury 325?
Riders must be at least 54 inches tall to ride Fury 325.
How does Fury 325 compare to Millennium Force?
Fury 325 is taller (325 feet vs. 310 feet) and faster (95 mph vs. 93 mph) than Millennium Force. Enthusiasts most often cite Fury 325’s sustained intensity — the mid-ride overbanked turns, camelback, and double helix keep G-forces high all the way to the brakes — as the key difference from Millennium Force’s longer but airier layout.
How many Golden Ticket Awards has Fury 325 won?
Fury 325 has won ten Golden Ticket Awards total: Best New Ride in 2015, plus nine consecutive Best Steel Coaster wins from 2016 through 2025 — the longest streak in the award’s history.
Which seat is best on Fury 325?
Front row for unobstructed views and no warning before the drop; back row for the fastest-feeling first drop; left side for stronger lateral forces in the turns; right side for stronger airtime on the camelback.
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