Carowinds announces Fury 325

Charlotte, NC (August 21, 2014) / PR Newswire / — For more than 40 years, Carowinds has been the place where the Carolinas come together. It’s where the Tar Heel State and the Palmetto State meet. It’s where families and friends bond over thrilling rides and entertainment. Carowinds will now unite its storied history with its future as the standard for thrills by unleashing Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster.Fury 325 will simulate the wild, daring and spontaneous flight of the hornet. The new ride will be visible from uptown Charlotte, renewing the park’s skyline and serving as a symbol of changes to come. Fury 325 is part of a planned $50 million dollar multiyear investment to bring new life to founder Pat Hall’s original vision for Carowinds. The park will be revamped from top to bottom to celebrate Carolina culture including new rides and attractions, signature Carolina food offerings and entertainment. Opening in Spring 2015, Fury 325 will be the centerpiece of a new 8.2 acre main entrance plaza that includes a state–of–the–art ticketing and season pass processing area and expanded guest service facilities.

“Starting with Fury 325, we plan to make Carowinds a destination for thrillseekers to celebrate the Carolinas,” says Mike Fehnel, Carowinds Vice President and General Manager. “The new ride will build on the heritage of the park, creating new memories and traditions for our loyal fans and future guests from around the world.”

Riders will board into three 32–passenger open air trains and begin their ascent to the top of a 325–foot (over 30 stories) hill. This immense hill is followed by an exhilarating 81 degree first drop. Like an angry hornet chasing its target, Fury 325 will race through a series of hills, curves and quick transitions while reaching speeds of up to 95 miles per hour. Riders will speed along 6,602 feet of track during the nearly three and one half minute ride. 

“The tradition of the park is so important to those who have grown up here,” says Fehnel. “It’s long overdue that we gave our fans a new energy surrounding Carowinds, which will build on our legacy as the premiere entertainment destination for generations of Carolinians.”

Those who can’t wait until Spring 2015 to experience Fury 325 can take a virtual ride at carowinds.com/fury325 where they can also check out photos, virtual renderings, ride stats and more. This Fall, fans can purchase a 2015 season pass or renew current season passes for the lowest price of the year at carowinds.com. Fury 325 is designed and manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) of Monthey, Switzerland, a recognized industry leader in roller coaster development and the same firm that brought Vortex to Carowinds in 1992, Afterburn in 1999, and The Intimidator™ in 2010.

Physical Dimensions 
Track Length……..………………………………………………………………....................………..6,602 feet 
Lift Height…………………….…………………………………………………….......................……….325 feet 
Angle of Descent……………...………..……………………………………………..................……81 degrees
Amount of Steel Used …………..………………..………………………………....................….…..2,700 tons 

Time, Speed, Capacity 
Time……………………....................................................................Approximately 3 minutes, 25 seconds 
Maximum Speed………………………………………....…………………………………Approximately 95 mph 
Capacity……………………………………………………………………………..………………………Approximately 1,470 riders per hour 

Design
Model…………………………...………………………………………………………………………Giga coaster 
Structure…………………………………………....……………………………………………Steel tubular track 

Features
The ride layout is custom designed for Carowinds, featuring a track that dramatically swarms above, then below the new front entrance plaza of the park, passing over guests six times. Other elements of the ride include: 

• Lift Hill- riders climb to an astonishing 325 feet, then speed down at an 81 degree angle. 
• Barrel Turn – riders speed into a complete sideways turn that’s 190 feet tall. 
• High Speed S-Curve – the train enters this curve fast and riders will really feel the g-forces here during this quick transition! 
• Horseshoe Turn – a maneuver that takes the train into a 180-degree turnaround with high banking, 
tilting at a 91-degree angle, and then giving riders the experience of a weightless drop. 
• Underground Dive – a quick dive below as the train speeds under a new guest entry bridge. 
• High Speed Banked Curve- the train takes riders up a 101 foot hill while tilting at the top then speeding back down. 
• Camel Back Hill – riders swarm into a 111 foot tall hill providing riders exhilarating “airtime!” 
• Double Helix Maneuver – the train buzzes into an angled spiral section of high banked track that turns into itself and completes a 360-degree turn. 
• Camel Back Hills – A final duo of camelback hills as riders experience “airtime” before hitting the brake run. 

Color Scheme
Supports………………………………………………………………………...……………………White columns 
Track……………………………………………....Teal Swarm (Teal) and Stinger Green (Lime Green) track 
Amount of Paint Used …………………….....……………………………………3,400 gallons of paint/primer 

Vehicles
Trains………………………………………..…………………………………….Three (3) 32-passenger trains 
Coaches…………………………......……………………Eight coaches, with four seats per coach, per train 
Design………..…...………Fiberglass and steel coaches with lapbar restraints and interlocking seat belts

Additional Facts
Ride Size………………………………………………………………….………………………………..8.4 Acres 
Ride Manufacturer………………..………………………Bolliger & Mabillard (B & M), Monthey, Switzerland 
Height Restriction………………………………..….……………………Must be at least 54 inches tall to ride 

Carowinds is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘FUN.’ In addition to Carowinds, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks including Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, three water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

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