Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!
Feb 22, 2025
763
797
210
17
NC
www.youtube.com
After going today, (I’ve been here before but not in 2025) here’s my ranking excluding family coasters
1. Fury 325 (Absolutely amazing, idk if it beats Pantherian)
2. Thunder Striker (Extremely fun, practically tied with Afterburn)
3. Afterburn (ridiculously intense)
4. Copperhead Strike (Mid, fun airtime but nasty rattle)
Big drop off here
5. Carolina Cyclone (ok ride with terrible trains)
6. Hurler (rough and boring
7. Flying cobras (haven’t done in 2 years)
8. Vortex (absolutely horrendous)
 
1. Fury 325
2. Copperhead Strike
3. Intimidator/Thunder Striker
4. Afterburn
5. Vortex
6. Hurler
7. Flying Cobras
8. Carolina Cyclone
9. Carolina Goldrush
10. Woodstock Express
11. Ricochet
12. Wilderness Run
13. Kiddy Hawk

Haven’t ridden Snoopys Racing Railway yet, and Nighthawk would place 5th.
 
1. Fury 325
2. Afterburn
3. Thunder Striker
4. Carolina Cyclone
5. Carolina Goldrusher
6. Snoopy’s Racing Railway
7. Woodstock Express
8. Flying Cobras
9. Ricochet
10. Vortex
11. Kiddy Hawk
12. Hurler

Copperhead was unfortunately down when I went.
 
1. Fury 325
2. Copperhead Strike
3. Afterburn
4. Nighthawk
5. Thunder Striker
6. Woodstock Express
7. Flying Cobras
8. Thunder Road
9. Ricochet
10. Carolina Cyclone
11. Carolina Goldrusher
12. Vortex
13. Kiddy Hawk
14. Hurler
 
1. Fury 325
2. Thunder Striker
3. Afterburn
4. Copperhead Strike -- good but makes me sick
5. Carolina Goldrusher -- Love this thing, Fury is so predictable, a must
6. Carolina Cyclone
7. Ricochet
8. Vortex
9. Flying Cobras -- smooth but makes me sick
10. Woodstock Express
11. Hurler -- ( was best in park 1998)
12. Wilderness Run
13. Nighthawk -- had best drop in the park and yet here we are OMG
14. Kiddy Hawk
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlackWeird
1. Fury 325
2. Afterburn
3. Copperhead Strike
4. Thunder Striker
(Honorable Mention: Thunder Road)
(Honorable Mention: Nighthawk)
5. Vortex
6. Snoopy’s Racing Railway
7. Hurler
8. Carolina Goldrusher
9. Carolina Cyclone
10. Woodstock Express
11. Ricochet
(Honorable Mention: Flying Super Saturator)
12. Kiddy Hawk
13. Wilderness Run
14. Flying Cobras

I feel like I’ve noticed a pattern whenever I see people rank the top four: Fury consistently ranks as the top coaster for most people, but a person’s second favorite coaster depends on what they tend to value in an experience. People who rank Afterburn second tend to do so because they value raw intensity; people who rank Copperhead Strike second tend to do so because they value variety; and people who rank Thunder Striker second tend to do so because they value airtime.

I think that’s the magic of Fury, in that it combines everything that people like about those other three coasters at the park into one experience. My second favorite coaster in the park could change depending on what I’m looking for that day, but Fury feels like the most complete experience.

I’ve also come around to Vortex recently. I’ve managed to ride it without any groin pain and I’ve been able to avoid headbanging by lowering my restraint. The standing is mildly uncomfortable but I think it offers a unique and forceful albeit short layout. I enjoy it, especially in the back.

I don’t particularly dislike any of the coasters at the park but Flying Cobras makes me genuinely nauseous which is why I only ride it once per season if at all.

I will say I think Hurler could be a clear number five if they gave it the same treatment as Woodland Run at Kentucky Kingdom. The layout isn’t bad but the ride is just very boring because of the trim.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: wasteman
^^-- I'd put Afterburn higher if the mist was working all the time, my one ride in 2 visits with it was great. Also if they had a handle on the right side of the seat like the OG SLC trains, since like a SLC it has many strong laterals almost all pushing to the left. Also really liked how Thunder's stadium seating works for grabbing a seat and reriding.

And yes Woodland Run brings the party! Superior in some ways to even original Hurler except Hurler's underappreciated final turn (when hit at proper speed). However the no-reride policy (June 2025) is downright cruel considering the walking to reach the few coasters at KK, and I considered 5 rides in a row to be mandatory on KD Hurler if you made the hike down there before they ruined it in 2010.
 
1. Fury 325
2. Copperhead Strike
3. Afterburn
4. Thunder Striker
5. Carolina Cyclone
6. Carolina Goldrusher
7. Hurler
8. Flying Cobras
9. Vortex

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to ride the others but I plan on it next time I visit.
 
Current Carowinds ranking
1. Fury 325
2. Thunder striker
HM: nighthawk
3. Afterburn
4. Copperhead
5. Cyclone
6. Snoopys racing railway
7. Goldrusher
8. Flying cobras
9. Woodstock
10. Wilderness run
11. Vortex
12. Kiddy hawk
13. Hurler
 
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad