Hurler is a wooden roller coaster that has rattled through Carowinds’ Thrill Zone since opening on June 4, 1994. Built with a triple out-and-back layout, it was one of two nearly identical sister coasters constructed that year, with a twin installed at Kings Dominion in Virginia.
Though it originally carried a Wayne’s World movie theme tied to Paramount’s ownership of the park, that branding was removed after Cedar Fair took over in 2006. The coaster itself has stuck around, giving riders a fast, rumbling, old-school wooden coaster experience that’s become a Carowinds staple.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Manufacturer: International Coasters, Inc.
- Opened: June 4, 1994
- Height: 83 feet
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Length: 3,157 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Hurler’s triple out-and-back design sends trains on a series of straight runs connected by sharp turnarounds, a classic layout style that delivers quick bursts of speed and plenty of airtime over its roughly two-minute run. With a top speed of 50 mph and no inversions, it’s built for the rattling, old-fashioned feel that wooden coaster fans look for rather than loops or inversions.
Each train seats 28 riders across seven cars, with two trains running during normal operation for a capacity of about 1,100 riders per hour. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to board.
History and Theming
Hurler opened in 1994 when Carowinds was owned by Paramount Parks, and it originally featured theming tied to the studio’s 1992 film Wayne’s World, including movie-set style queue details. When Cedar Fair acquired Paramount’s parks in 2006, the Wayne’s World branding was stripped away, though some film-production-style props remain scattered through the station area.
The coaster’s twin at Kings Dominion, also named Hurler, closed after the 2015 season and was rebuilt by Rocky Mountain Construction into the hybrid coaster Twisted Timbers in 2018. Carowinds’ Hurler, by contrast, has remained in its original wooden form, receiving a retracking from Great Coasters International during the 2013–2014 off-season to keep the ride running smoothly.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Hurler FAQs
When did Hurler at Carowinds open?
Hurler opened to the public on June 4, 1994.
How fast does Hurler go?
Hurler reaches a top speed of about 50 mph during its run.
Does Hurler have any loops or inversions?
No. Hurler is a traditional wooden coaster with a triple out-and-back layout and zero inversions.
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Photo: Chris Hagerman / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.