What coaster broke at Carowinds?

The initial crack on Carowinds' Fury 325 giga roller coaster was discovered on a steel support beam by Jeremy Wagner, a visitor to the amusement park on June 30.



The coaster that made global headlines for a major structural failure was Fury 325 at Carowinds. In June 2023, a guest filmed a massive crack in a steel support pillar that had completely severed, causing the track to visibly shift as a train full of riders passed over it. The ride, which is one of the world's tallest and fastest "giga" coasters, was immediately shut down for several weeks. It underwent an extensive repair process that involved replacing the faulty steel support and implementing enhanced inspection protocols, including the use of ultraviolet and drone-based structural monitoring. By the 2026 season, Fury 325 is fully operational and has been recertified as safe by both the manufacturer (B&M) and state safety inspectors. The incident serves as a famous case study in "Factor of Safety" engineering, as the coaster's redundant design prevented a catastrophic derailment despite the total failure of a primary support.

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Fury 325 has been closed since June 30 after a park visitor spotted the first broken support beam as a cart full of riders went by the pillar. Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc., the Swiss company that designed and built the roller coaster, replaced the steel column in mid-July.

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The ride was closed after a viral video recorded at the amusement park and posted to social media showed a huge crack in one of the coaster's support beams. Workers began the process of removing and replacing the cracked support beam in mid-July.

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Carolina Goldrusher is the oldest roller coaster at Carowinds, opening with the park on March 31, 1973. Don't let that fun fact fool ya' - this roller coaster is full of spunk and continues to produce as many screams as the day it was debuted.

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Carolina Harbor Waterpark attractions are regulated and inspected by each state's health department. Rides and attractions are inspected daily by our associates. Mechanics and electricians cycle the rides unoccupied each morning to ensure the ride and its' systems are functioning properly.

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For 50 years, families and friends choose Carowinds for an amazing day the Carolina way. Only at Carowinds will you find more than 60 world-class rides, the Carolinas' best waterpark, live entertainment, Camp Snoopy, and downhome Carolina cuisine.

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Cedar Fair purchased Carowinds in 2006 from Paramount for $1.2 billion. Cedar Fair has about 4,400 full-time employees and 48,800 seasonal and part-time employees, according to the company's 2022 annual report.

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Mother of 14-year-old who died after falling off ride in Orlando reaches settlement in wrongful death suit. The settlement comes one year after Tyre Sampson died after slipping off a free-fall tower ride at Icon Park in Florida during a spring break trip with his football team.

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Guests ages 15 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection. This chaperone requirement applies to all Carowinds ticket and season passholders. Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their minor children.

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Jeremy Wagner, a patron of the park, said he was the one who took the viral video of the crack while his kids were on the ride. The Fury 325 is a two-passenger roller coaster that reaches 325 feet of height and has a 81-degree drop, according to Carowinds.

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