If you search for “Intimidator” at Carowinds and find a different name on the park map, nothing is wrong. The coaster is still there. It is still a B&M hypercoaster with a 232-foot lift hill, a 211-foot first drop, and a long run of airtime hills. Since the 2024 season it has been called Thunder Striker.
This guide covers what riders most often ask: why the name changed, whether it’s the same ride, the stats, the height requirement, what the ride feels like, and how to plan a Carowinds visit around it.
Quick Answer
Intimidator is the former name of the Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster now called Thunder Striker at Carowinds. Cedar Fair renamed it for the 2024 season after its license with the Dale Earnhardt estate ended on December 31, 2023. The track, trains, 232-foot height, 211-foot drop, and roughly 75 mph top speed did not change. The ride needs a minimum height of 54 inches.
Why Was Intimidator Renamed Thunder Striker?
Carowinds opened the ride on March 27, 2010, as Intimidator. The name and theming came from the nickname of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, and the park paid for it under a licensing agreement. The queue and station were filled with racing memorabilia and car replicas. That agreement with Dale Earnhardt Inc. ended on December 31, 2023, and the park chose to rebrand the coaster instead of renewing it.
The new name was announced on February 28, 2024, and the ride reopened as Thunder Striker for the 2024 season. The new story is that mechanics at Earl’s Garage on Thunder Road built a souped-up hot rod, with lightning bolts on the hood, that became the champion of the dirt-road racers. Riders are guests along for a joyride. The “Earl” in the story nods to Carowinds founder Earl Patterson Hall, and the theme also echoes the park’s old Jalopies attraction.
Kings Dominion in Virginia had the same problem with its own Earnhardt-themed coaster, Intimidator 305. It ran without a name in 2024 under the placeholder “Project 305”. Its new name, Pantherian, was announced on October 28, 2024. That was several months after Carowinds’ change, so the two rebrands were related but not simultaneous.
Is Thunder Striker the Same Ride as Intimidator?
Yes. Thunder Striker is Intimidator with a new name, paint, signage, and story. It is the same layout, the same three eight-car trains, and the same drop. If you rode Intimidator before 2024, you have already ridden Thunder Striker. The park changed the theming, not the physical ride.
Ownership also changed around this time. The Six Flags and Cedar Fair merger closed in mid-2024, after the rename was announced. Carowinds kept its own name and is now part of the combined Six Flags company. The official Carowinds website now lives on the Six Flags domain.
Thunder Striker Stats at a Glance
Park: Carowinds, on the North Carolina–South Carolina line near Charlotte. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). Type: steel hypercoaster with no inversions. Opened: March 27, 2010, as Intimidator. Renamed: Thunder Striker, 2024 season.
Height: 232 ft (71 m). First drop: 211 ft (64 m) at 74 degrees. Top speed: about 75 mph (121 km/h). Track length: 5,316 ft (1,620 m), which is a little over a mile. Ride time: roughly three and a half minutes. Layout: out-and-back with a helix finish. Trains: three trains with eight cars each, seating 32 riders four across. Capacity: about 1,600 riders per hour. Cost: $23 million. Minimum height: 54 inches (137 cm).
One caution on top speed: the park-era figure of 75 mph is the one most enthusiast sources and news coverage use. Some reference sites list it as 80 mph. If you need one number, use 75 mph.
What Riding Thunder Striker Feels Like
The train climbs the 232-foot chain lift, then drops 211 feet at a 74-degree angle. You reach roughly 75 mph at the bottom. The rest of the ride is a long series of camelback hills, each a little smaller than the one before. They give steady floater airtime instead of hard ejector pops. The course then sweeps through a wide turnaround and finishes with a helix.
There are no inversions, so the ride is intense without being disorienting. That makes it a good step up for riders who want a big coaster but don’t want to be flipped upside down. The seats are open, four across in stadium-style rows, so the views are good all the way through.
Seat choice matters. The back row usually gives the strongest airtime on the hills. The front row gives the best view of the first drop. Lines often move faster at the end of the day, and single-rider options may be offered, so check with the park.
Height Requirement and Ride Rules
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall. The ride does not have a listed minimum age. Restraints are lap bars, and seat belts were added in 2014. Riders should check that they fit the lap bar and belt comfortably before boarding. Ride hosts make the final call on fit.
Loose items such as phones, hats, and bags are not allowed in the ride vehicle. Carowinds provides storage near the station, but the setup can change. Ask a team member about current storage options rather than assuming.
Where Thunder Striker Ranks
Intimidator debuted to strong reviews. In the 2010 Golden Ticket Awards it took fourth place for Best New Ride. In later years, according to Wikipedia’s ride entry, it placed as high as seventh among the world’s best steel coasters. That is a strong result for a hypercoaster without inversions.
Enthusiasts often put it among the best B&M hypercoasters in the Southeast. The reasons are the big first drop, the sustained airtime, and a layout that does not depend on inversions.
Planning Your Visit to Carowinds
Carowinds runs on a seasonal schedule. Hours are longest in summer, and the park operates on fewer days in spring and fall. Special events, such as the fall SCarowinds Halloween season, can also change hours and crowds. Check the calendar before you go.
Tickets are sold as single-day admission, multi-visit deals, and season passes or memberships. Prices are dynamic, and buying online in advance is often cheaper than buying at the gate. Parking, dining, and add-ons are usually sold separately.
For current hours, ticket prices, ride status, and height rules, use the official Carowinds site on Six Flags. Look for the “Calendar & Hours” link under Park Info. The old carowinds.com address redirects there.
Big coasters can close temporarily for weather or maintenance, so ride Thunder Striker early in the day if you can. Weekday visits outside peak summer tend to have shorter lines.
Thunder Striker Photo Archive: October 2024
These are original ThrillZing photos of Thunder Striker taken at Carowinds on October 12 and 13, 2024, during the SCarowinds season, shot on an iPhone and published as taken. They show the B&M hypercoaster in its first season as Thunder Striker, formerly Intimidator: the full red layout across the parking lot in the morning, trains over the hills in the late afternoon, and the lift hill from the station. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
Intimidator at Carowinds (Thunder Striker) FAQs
Is Intimidator at Carowinds still open?
Yes, but it is now called Thunder Striker. The ride was renamed for the 2024 season and is the same coaster with the same layout and trains.
Why did Carowinds change the name of Intimidator?
The park’s licensing agreement with Dale Earnhardt Inc., which allowed use of Earnhardt’s “Intimidator” nickname and racing theme, ended on December 31, 2023. Cedar Fair chose to rebrand the ride instead of renewing the license.
What is Intimidator at Carowinds called now?
Thunder Striker. The story is that mechanics at Earl’s Garage on Thunder Road built a hot rod that became the champion of the dirt-road racers.
How tall and how fast is Thunder Striker?
It is 232 feet tall with a 211-foot first drop at 74 degrees. Its top speed is about 75 mph. Some reference sites list 80 mph, but 75 mph is the more widely used figure.
What is the height requirement for Thunder Striker?
You must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall. Loose items are not allowed on the ride, and riders must fit the lap bar and seat belt.
Does Thunder Striker have any inversions?
No. It is an airtime-focused hypercoaster with a big first drop, a series of camelback hills, and a helix finish, but it does not go upside down.
Did anything change on the ride besides the name?
No. The changes were to paint, signage, and theming. The track layout, trains, and ride experience are unchanged.
Is Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion also renamed?
Yes. Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 lost its Earnhardt branding as well. It operated as “Project 305” in 2024, and the park announced the new name, Pantherian, on October 28, 2024.
Who manufactured Thunder Striker?
It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Swiss manufacturer known for smooth steel coasters. It opened in 2010 at a cost of $23 million.
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