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, backed by nine consecutive Golden Ticket Awards for Best Steel Coaster.
This guide covers the full stats, the exact height requirement, how long the drop actually feels, the ride experience seat by seat, how Fury 325 compares to rivals like Millennium Force, and where things stand after the coaster’s most recent 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 — a ride lasting about 3 minutes 25 seconds. The height requirement is 54 inches (137 cm), with no maximum height.
Fury 325 was pulled from service on July 7, 2026 for a foundation issue, but it passed a full state re-inspection and reopened to guests on July 21, 2026. It’s currently back in normal operation, though you should always check same-day ride status before visiting.
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 with 8 cars seating 4 across (32 riders per train) | Theoretical hourly capacity: about 1,470 riders | Construction cost: approximately $30 million | Awards: Golden Ticket Best Steel Coaster, nine years running | Status: open as of July 21, 2026.
Height Requirement: How Tall Do You Have to Be to Ride Fury 325?
Fury 325’s height requirement is 54 inches (137 cm). There’s no maximum height limit — the lap bar and seat belt restraint, rather than an over-the-shoulder harness, generally fits taller and broader riders more comfortably than the OTSR designs used on some other giga coasters.
The 54-inch cutoff is enforced at the ride entrance with a measuring station, and it’s non-negotiable under North Carolina and South Carolina amusement ride safety rules — there are no exceptions for riders who are close but under the line. If you’re visiting with kids near that height, measure at home beforehand or check at Carowinds’ height-check stations near the park entrance so you know before you’re standing in line.
How Long Does the First Drop Last?
The 320-foot first drop is over in just a few seconds — riders are already near Fury 325’s 95 mph top speed by the time the train levels out at the bottom. It’s the steepest, most intense moment of the ride, but because it’s such a small slice of the overall 3-minute-25-second layout, most riders describe it as a fast, sharp stomach-drop rather than a long free-fall.
What makes Fury 325 stand out is that the intensity doesn’t end when the drop does. Unlike coasters that peak on the first hill and taper off, the mid-course elements — the barrel turn, overbanked horseshoe, camelback, and helix — keep speed and G-forces loaded almost all the way to the final brake run.
Is Fury 325 Open Right Now? The 2026 Closure, Explained
Fury 325 is open. Carowinds pulled the ride from service on July 7, 2026, after a routine inspection turned up an issue with one of its foundations; the park said the discovery never put guests at risk. North Carolina’s Department of Labor required a full re-inspection before the coaster could run again.
Fury 325 passed that re-inspection and reopened to guests on July 21, 2026, after a two-week closure. It was the ride’s second extended shutdown in three years, following a cracked support column discovered in June 2023 that kept it closed until August 10 of that year. Day-to-day status can still shift for weather or routine maintenance, so check the official Fury 325 page at Carowinds for live status before you go.
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 sends the train through the ‘hive dive,’ a pedestrian bridge lined with hexagonal panels, and the train is 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 all the way to the brakes.
Restraints, Trains and Capacity
Fury 325 runs three trains, each with eight cars seating four across — two per side — for 32 riders per train. Restraints are 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 theoretical capacity cited near 1,470 riders per hour at full operation. There are zero inversions — Fury 325’s intensity comes from speed, airtime, and sustained G-forces rather than loops or corkscrews.
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, while 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. 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 ties it with Steel Dragon 2000 among the fastest coasters 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, while Millennium Force’s longer, airier layout spreads its thrills out more evenly.
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 can 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.
Fury 325 is a Bolliger & Mabillard creation — see our full Bolliger & Mabillard profile for the company’s history and signature coasters.
Fury 325 Photo Archive: October 2024
These are original ThrillZing photos of Fury 325 taken at Carowinds on October 12 and 13, 2024, during the SCarowinds season, shot on an iPhone and published as taken. They follow the B&M giga coaster from the entrance plaza and the queue up the 325-foot lift, down the drop and across the airtime hills and turnaround, from morning to late afternoon. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Build a working coaster on the kitchen table and learn why the first drop has to be the tallest. A good gift for young coaster fans.
Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Fury 325 in the News
Stories from our daily theme park news roundups that mention Fury 325, newest first.
- 2026 Golden Ticket Awards Crown Europa-Park, Dollywood, and Fury 325 — Sep 13, 2026
- Tormenta Rampaging Run Debuts With Six World Records — Jul 13, 2026
Fury 325 stats and height requirement FAQs
How tall do you have to be to ride Fury 325?
You need to be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall. There’s no maximum height limit, and the cutoff is strictly enforced at the ride entrance.
What is Fury 325’s height requirement compared to other Carowinds coasters?
At 54 inches, Fury 325’s requirement is in line with Carowinds’ other major thrill coasters, though some family and kids’ rides at the park have lower cutoffs.
How long does the first drop on Fury 325 last?
Just a few seconds — the train is already near its 95 mph top speed by the bottom of the 320-foot, 81-degree drop. The full ride, drop included, runs about 3 minutes 25 seconds.
How many inversions does Fury 325 have?
Zero. Fury 325’s intensity comes from height, speed, airtime, and sustained G-forces through banked turns rather than loops or corkscrews.
How many trains does Fury 325 run?
Three trains, each with 8 cars seating 4 across for 32 riders per train, giving a theoretical capacity of around 1,470 riders per hour when all three are running.
Is Fury 325 open in 2026?
Yes. After a foundation-issue closure starting July 7, 2026, Fury 325 passed a full state re-inspection and reopened on July 21, 2026. Check the official Carowinds site for current day-of status before visiting.
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