Carowinds opened on March 31, 1973 with one roller coaster, the Carolina Goldrusher, which still runs across the North Carolina–South Carolina state line. Since then the park has run 18 coasters, from Thunder Road's wooden racing tracks to Fury 325's 325-foot lift hill. This timeline starts with today's lineup and runs back to opening day, including the coasters that were removed or moved to other parks.
Cedar Fair and Six Flags 2006 – today
Cedar Fair bought Carowinds in 2006, added Intimidator and Fury 325, and merged with Six Flags in 2024.
Snoopy's Racing Railway
A family launched coaster, a twin of the one at Canada's Wonderland.
Copperhead Strike
Two launches and five inversions, headlining the new Blue Ridge Junction area.
First double-launch coaster in the Carolinas
Fury 325
A 325-foot giga coaster that runs under and over the park's main entrance at up to 95 mph.
World's tallest coaster with a traditional chain lift
Thunder Striker
A 232-foot hypercoaster that opened as Intimidator, named for Dale Earnhardt, and was renamed for 2024.
The Flying Cobras
A Boomerang that ran at Geauga Lake as The Mind Eraser and Head Spin, then opened here as Carolina Cobra.
The Paramount Years 1993 – 2005
Paramount brought movie and Nickelodeon theming, from Wayne’s World to Top Gun and the Borg.
Nighthawk
A flying coaster that came from California's Great America, where it was Stealth. It opened here as Borg Assimilator and was removed after 2024.
First coaster themed to Star Trek
Kiddy Hawk
A suspended family coaster that opened as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, then ran as Flying Ace Aerial Chase.
Flying Super Saturator
A suspended coaster whose riders could dump water on guests below. Removed to make room for The Flying Cobras.
First roller coaster of its kind
Wilderness Run
A junior coaster that has also been Taxi Jam, Hey Arnold Taxi Chase and Lucy's Crabbie Cabbie.
Hurler
A wooden coaster that opened with the Wayne's World area. Its twin at Kings Dominion became Twisted Timbers.
Taft and Hanna-Barbera 1975 – 1992
Taft Broadcasting added the park’s first wooden coasters and Carolina Cyclone’s four inversions.
Vortex
B&M's third coaster, a stand-up with a loop and a corkscrew.
The Carolinas' first stand-up coaster
Carolina Cyclone
Two loops and two corkscrews, now on Carolina Boardwalk.
First coaster with four inversionsWhite Lightnin'
A Schwarzkopf shuttle loop with a weight-drop launch, the only Schwarzkopf coaster Carowinds ever had.
Now runs as Golden Loop at Gold Reef City
Thunder Road
A wooden racing coaster on the state line, modeled on Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion. It closed July 26, 2015 for the Carolina Harbor expansion.
Woodstock Express
The park's first wooden coaster, opened as Scooby Doo and later the Fairly Odd Coaster.
Opening Day 1973 – 1974
Carowinds opened on the North Carolina–South Carolina line with a single roller coaster.
Carolina Goldrusher
A mine train that opened with the park on March 31, 1973, and one of only four original rides still running.
First coaster to cross state linesPlanning a visit? Our Carowinds park guide covers today’s rides, hours and tips, and the scariest rides at Carowinds ranks the current lineup.
Carowinds Coaster History FAQ
What was the first roller coaster at Carowinds?
Carolina Goldrusher, an Arrow Dynamics mine train that opened with the park on March 31, 1973. It still operates on Carolina Boardwalk.
What happened to Thunder Road at Carowinds?
Thunder Road, a Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters racing wooden coaster from 1976, closed on July 26, 2015. It was removed for the expansion that turned Boomerang Bay into Carolina Harbor.
Is Intimidator still at Carowinds?
Yes, under a new name. The 232-foot B&M hypercoaster opened as Intimidator in 2010 and was renamed Thunder Striker for the 2024 season after the license with Dale Earnhardt's estate expired.
What happened to Nighthawk?
Nighthawk, a Vekoma flying coaster that came from California's Great America in 2004, was permanently closed and removed. Carowinds announced it on December 18, 2024.
Where did White Lightnin' go?
The Schwarzkopf shuttle loop left Carowinds in 1988 and was relocated to Gold Reef City in South Africa, where it operates as Golden Loop.
Photos: ThrillZing (CC BY 4.0), taken at Carowinds in October 2024, except where a card credits a Wikimedia Commons photographer. Opening and closing years: Carowinds via Wikipedia.