Top 14 Roller Coasters at Carowinds | 2022

Check out today's video on how the coasters of Carowinds stack up against each other! (I think we all really know which is going to be the number 1 in this list).
Footage captured during Katie and my travels to Carowinds in the Summer of 2022. If you want to keep up, our channel is in short order going to have lots more videos! Stay tuned! We're also planning on expanding our photos to an Etsy page so you can order your favorite photos from us to decorate your living space!
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[@matchesmalone2201]

Maybe it’s because I’m a NC native, but I think the theming for Copperhead Strike is genuinely genius. It is completely about moonshine, just nicely disguised to keep the innocent guessing. The “snakes” are the coils coming out of the distillery, which the coaster layout imitates too. The copper tops are the barrels for the moonshine. The white lighting references and other slang for moonshine are everywhere. The bust at the start up scene is when the cops show up and you make your getaway in the old moonshine truck. And yes, you lose the cops at the end, free to make and sell moonshine another day!

[@jander4514]

Exactly! Maybe out of towners won’t understand

[@user-rl4kv1ty3q]

Yeah I think so too

[@colbygraves97]

copperhead road

[@brucemartini2288]

i find, havent tried yet, but Avenged Sevenfolds "HAIL to the King" fits copperhead Strike

[@slaynan421]

Nighthawk gets way to much hate it’s extremely fun and I’ve never found it painful. The only problem with it is that the operations are absolutely HORRIFIC it’s definitely something you hit as soon as the park opens with no line or you’ll be stuck there for days.

[@ryancole7376]

I made it out during November before winter fest and there was literally station waits for everything including fury and copperhead but nighthawk was a solid 30-40 minutes with only 1 train ops. Still a fun ride I miss fire hawk at KI so it was cool to experience.

[@Hello_there415]

I just rode it today and I loved it

[@whoistt1914]

YESS THAT WAS MY VERY FIRST RIDE IT WAS SO WORTH IT ,, I SCREAMED THE WHOLE RIDE😭😭

[@3straii]

I rode nighthawk and OmG i criedd but it was sooo much funn

[@panzerofthelake7661]

Low key better than intimidator ngl

[@centralsquadfam507]

2:16 😂it’s fun(PAIN) for the whole family 🤗

[@MarsJenkar]

The thing about the hornet--it's a symbol of the city of Charlotte in general, which was known as "the hornet's nest" during the Revolutionary War, a moniker the city still wears with pride. It's why Charlotte named its first pro basketball team the Hornets, and why they pounced on the opportunity to rename its current basketball team the Hornets when the team in New Orleans changed from the Hornets to the Pelicans. Now maybe there could be a display in the queue that gives people waiting in line this context. It's a neat little bit of history, and easy to describe quickly. But, that's what the hornet is about.

[@KoasterMania]

Thanks for the explanation! And yes, agreed. There should be a placard for it! At the same time, it would be nice to see the idea of the hornet incorporated more into some basic theming of the ride I think

[@Keezingpenguin]

That’s why the on ride sounds have the buzzing. They also did a WILD PR campaign for the coaster.

[@ScottyMania313]

@@KoasterMania I can see LeMelo and Gordon Heyward and his 600 kids F**k with this ride. It's a great ride! (Oubre, not so much, the wind may mess up his pretty boy hair) Bzzzzzzzzzzz

[@Tadpole_Plyrr2]

Everyone is sleeping on Cyclone!! Definitely my favorite ❤️

[@panzerofthelake7661]

My top five for this park goes 5. intimidator (back) 4. Nighthawk (any) 3. Afterburn (front) 2. Copperhead (front) 1. Fury (front)

[@tonyadaisyjoy74]

I live and go to Carowinds frequently. It's meant to be for family fun. They do and have some of the best coasters around. That's why it stays packed and people stand in line for hours for rides. Even ones that aren't coasters. Thanks for your summary of your opinion of our coasters, and we all have an opinion. That is what they are, is an opinion. Thanks, and God Bless.

[@Gabooto]

I love the copperhead strike it is my favorite one there ❤

[@Gabooto]

The eyes of the snake light up at night to

[@inspectit210]

Something I've noticed about seemingly all of these "coaster critics" is that they all constantly complain about the ride "comfort"? I'm 48 and had a season pass in the 90's to Six Flags GA & been to Kings Dominion several times, Islands of Adv. several times, same with Busch gardens Florida & Williamsburg and have never gotten off of a "fun" ride complaining about pain or ride comfort The Georgia Cyclone is still my all time favorite Coaster & that thing was rough as hell! Being critics I get the information but, these people seem to take not having Burberry business chair comfort on a roller coaster as like a personal sleight.

[@bruhmypancakes6200]

I love the hurler. Nothing beats a good wooden rollercoaster

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

But hurler isn't good its rough and boring

[@user-le4rw6rt9p]

@@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3odit’s pretty fun

[@pproteinc]

Ok so let's talk Copperhead lol. So the theme is a pun if we may. So you are in grandma's farm snooping around as she is the queen of winning pie contests every year at the county fair. As you are snooping you see in her barn she makes moonshine. Copperhead is one of the pieces of the copper machinery used to make moonshine. Since we are in the South REAL moonshine was made this way back in the day, I'm pretty certain people who live in the rural RURAL areas of NC?SC and the South in general still do it, plus we are known to have a lot of copperhead snakes in SC/NC, hence the sign being a snake may of copper pipes. Grandma catches you snooping and you jump into your chevy truck and is chased out of the farm by her two grandson, hence the pre-show.

[@user-pl6pt8ec4n]

I agree with #1

[@RichieBEAR88]

Kiddy hawk It's fine for the all family lol 😆

[@user-dk3op7wr4n]

I Love 💕 The Coasters

[@365sol.travel]

Wow, what an awesome and thrilling video! 🎢 I absolutely loved the way you showcased the top 14 roller coasters at Carowinds. Your excitement and passion for roller coasters really shine through, making the video incredibly engaging and enjoyable to watch. Katie and you make a great team, and I can't wait to see more of your adventures and content. The idea of offering your photos on Etsy is fantastic, as it will allow coaster enthusiasts to bring some of that adrenaline-pumping energy to their homes. Keep up the fantastic work, and I'm eagerly waiting for your next video! 🌟🎢🌟

[@twentysevenmoles485]

are you chatgpt

[@colbygraves97]

isn’t copperhead strike based on copperhead road?

[@jacksonalbrecht3652]

The Hurler was the first big coaster I road the gold rush is awsome

[@michaelg9442]

Great review.

[@IClickYT]

I went to scarowinds about a week ago and hurler shocked me. It was glass smooth minus one jerk on the last turn. I thought it was a fun ride 6th in the park behind nighthawk and it had some airtime pops

[@quecroft6385]

Can’t wait!!! I’ll be there in July!

[@jakeb1024]

I went yesterday and most of the rides were smooth

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

My Rankings 1 Fury 325 (overrated but undeniably the best here) 2 Copperhead Strike 3 Intimidator 4 Afterburn 5 Nighthawk 6 Carolina Cyclone 7 Flying Cobras 8 Ricochet (this top 8 at a park with over 14 Coasters is super weak) 9 Carolina Goldrusher 10 Hurler 11 Woodstock Express 12 Vortex 13 Wilderness Run 14 Kiddy Hawk

[@jacksonalbrecht3652]

Night hawk is such a good coaster

[@lambo_plays_roblox]

I’ve written 12 out of the 14 rides I haven’t written intimidator or fury 325 and I’m only 9

[@cindygaray127]

I have been purchasing season passes to Carowinds since the mid 90's. I have seen it grow so much and it is definitely a "coaster" park. Over the years the Hurler has become too painful to ride. I am glad to hear they are redoing some of it, however, I wish they would replace it. I find nighthawk painful also because of the flip over (however, I'm now in my 60's so....). A very different ride since you experience going backwards and forwards (because of the flip) in the same ride. I love The Intimidator due to the float time. I have seen a person pass out on The Fury just because of how fast it goes down. My son has also briefly lost consciousness on Afterburner. I know that you just review coasters; however, you did show some of the carnival rides and didn't mention the water park. The water park is awesome and is included in the park day pass and season passes. Thanks for the video!

[@jamesreis2126]

Same with me but nighthawk and cyclone switch

[@jenniferbrown3527]

I agree

[@legoball8]

Was not expecting Parkitect OST at 5:55! Great choice of music from a great theme park game. Otherwise, great video with some very interesting takes in it!

[@KoasterMania]

I’ve gotta include all my favorites!

[@ScottyMania313]

I would love to see Carowinds rename the carts of 325 after former Hornets legends, Larry "Grandmama" Johnson and Alonzo morning, that would be Fire AF. Carowinds is definitely getting the attention of Cedar Fair when it comes to their parks, I love the new 2023 theming, but bummed about the loss of some unique flats. As much as I love this collection of unique coasters, I also got to say that besides the Top 4, the coasters range from Mid to Green Bay Packers Mid. Ewwwww. (Go Lions, BTW) Despite it all, in honor of The Carolinas, there isn't a better Four Horseman outside of Pro Wrasslin than the Carowinds four of Intimidator, Fury, Copperhead Strike (named after one of the most chill snakes in America, BTW), and the vastly underrated Afterburn. Good work my dude on the list

[@samuelblack7314]

You can't make it up: Fury 325 is the best roller coaster at Carowinds. Source: Golden Ticket Awards 2022

[@brandonuribe3450]

I love COPPERHEAD STRKE❤

[@VerticalLoop]

You are SUPER underrated! Just gained a new sub!

[@KoasterMania]

Thanks for subbing! Love the encouragement!

[@christinegrant9605]

The thing about the Vortex is you need to sit on the seat till they lock it in.

[@timothyriggins8651]

It was called Philadelphia Toboggan Company at one time.

[@jacksonalbrecht3652]

Rip the Fury Tho

[@cruiseaddicts4987]

very good video

[@SillyNoopy]

Intimidator is amazing I’ve rode it a bunch

[@Nctracklife]

I was there this past week (5/4/23) and noticed that Vortex had a sign stating that it was closed until later this summer. I’m curious if they are working on improving the ride or something else. It is in bad need of a paint job which honestly has me wondering if they are thinking of replacing it all together or completely trying to revamp it with more comfortable seating. Because of it still being fairly early into the season, some of the coasters didn’t open until around midday. I’m not sure if it was because of the cooler morning temperatures or staffing, my guess is a little bit of both. This was my first time going in years, i wanted to wait until my twins were tall enough to ride the roller coasters before taking them. They have been begging to go back ever since! I can’t do “Fair style” rides, they make me sick, but I absolutely love roller coasters & am so excited that they seem to be hooked on them now too!❤

[@basilstorm9461]

Maybe it’s being converted to a floorless! I’m going to be at the park tomorrow so I’ll check it out and see if I can get a staff member to spill, but Cedar Point converted their B&M standup to a floorless when the original coaster was getting pretty rough. It’s a great move, way more comfortable and then they didn’t have to retrack anything to make it smoother

[@Nctracklife]

@@basilstorm9461 that’s what I was thinking and hopefully that’s what they’re doing. It’s been years since I rode it but i have heard a lot of people complaining about how uncomfortable it was. I love roller coasters and now my 12 yr old has also become obsessed with them, I’m sure we’ll be going a lot more often. His twin brother was still scared of them & my husband doesn’t ride them, so it’ll probably be something that the two of us do together. I’m just excited that at least one of them enjoys riding them as much as I do!😁

[@yourlazyperson]

I hit my nose oh the hurler so bad I almost cryed😢

[@lambo_plays_roblox]

My favorite is copperhead strike

[@katie_smith132]

i live a good 20 minutes from carowinds on the NC side so we go all the time. i think the copperhead story is you go inside the indoor area where the people are talking about the snake and explaining the situation and the car style is because “we” are the people chasing the snake. so the people get in the car and are chasing the copperhead basically if that makes sense 😅 at the end of the ride there’s a voice from a speaker that says “aw shucks, we lost em” explaining that “we” lost the snake. you can only really hear it if you ride in the front and lookout for it

[@matchesmalone2201]

Sorry, but that’s just not true. Maybe it’s because I’m a NC native, but the theming is completely about moonshine, just nicely disguised to keep the innocent guessing. The “snakes” are the coils coming out of the distillery. The copper tops are the barrels for the moonshine. The bust at the start up scene is when the cops show up and you make your getaway in the old moonshine truck. And yes, you lose the cops at the end, free to make and sell moonshine another day!

[@ComradeMarlow]

Kinda weird to see what all these coasters I grew up riding were turned into. Top Gun is Afterburn, Borg is Nighthawk... I really do miss the paramount branding. A whole gd lot.

[@100titaniclover4]

Ok, I recommend going to Carowinds in early October, usually within the first two weeks of it. Mainly because the ride ops are phenomenal, when I rode Flying Cobras, there were barely any lines and ride ops were incredible.

[@KoasterMania]

Thanks for the tip!

[@barbaracampbell664]

Cyclone is too head banging for me. Hurler too rough. Track has redone some track recently. Vortex bad seating. Night Hawk is ok to. A part of the track makes you feel like your inside a washing machine. Flying Cobras I wish it went backwards first then forwards last. Intimidator now Thunder Stiker is good. Furry 325 is the best ever. Front row seats on the outside a must. Copperhead strike is a great coaster after Furry 325. I miss Thunder Road though. I wish Carowinds would bring it back just newer version of its self. I do like wooden coasters to.

[@JcbGaming-ij8yx]

So your telling me that when goldrusher was built for 2 whole years the only thing people got to ride was that

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

I didn't know Flying Cobra's was a Geauga Lake survivor! That make's it a mandatory part of my "must ride" list of coasters.

[@KoasterMania]

Feels kinda crazy that I rode this one before going to Carowinds, and I never even lived in Ohio

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

@Koaster Mania, I have family up there so I've also ridden it as Mind Eraser at Geauga Lake, I just thought it had been scrapped.

[@Scorpionvrofficial]

Who remembers the og orange and yellow color scheme for Carolina Cyclone 😢

[@rustyharris5213]

The theme of Copperhead Strike is clear when NC/SC prohibition and distilling history has been made available. The cars are themed after 1936 Ford Coupe, the moonshiner's favorite " rum runner" hotrod because of the large trunk and Flathead V8 making 88 horsepower. To achieve a certain flavor and note, moonshine must be distilled with copper coils. The coiled condenser was often called the Copperhead, after the most prevalent venomous snake in these parts. Now the jam part.... well the jam is a sham! Being a family park the "Granny's jam" is a cover! A shell company!😂 The adults know, but it goes right over the children's heads. ALL themes at carowinds tend to represent local history and traditions. Next time you round these parts, I'll share some of " Granny's jam " with you.

[@Fireball_]

I thought ptc was company too

[@TommonSensePro]

2:15 Nice conflicting audio overlay!

[@bruhmypancakes6200]

I’m still upset they took out the racing wooden coasters it was my favorite ride

[@quecroft6385]

I miss Thunder Road also

[@meef1610]

Ty

[@CRCombat0616]

never seen wild run or vortex

[@Evi1penguin5]

My favorite coaster at Carowinds is the The Crackshot. I hear the employees don't care much for it though.

[@phosphorus9867]

I personally like intimidator a smidge more than copperhead strike, but only a little.

[@user-rl4kv1ty3q]

Ok not to be rude but my opinion was way different, I like afterburn the most and the rides you said caused pain didn't cause pain for me, and maybe it was Katie's fault for hurting herself on ricochete bc I didn't get hurt on there.

[@randywest5149]

Randy West Love Carowinds & Randy West Favorite Roller Coaster at Carowinds:- Fury 325 in Charlotte, North Carolina USA 🇺🇲 North Carolina / South Carolina USA 🇺🇲.

[@peedeesanddigger4862]

Fury is down due to a break in the track. They are working on it should be fix soon. Thanks

[@jakeb1024]

Night hawk herts your leg like really bad I had to see the doctor

[@trolly8104]

bro of all the years i been to carowinds i still dont know where wilderness run is☠

[@CRCombat0616]

never seen it either

[@couch2558]

I feel like there may have been a few audio issues in this, as in some places the audio seems to skip words

[@KoasterMania]

If you have a moment, mind mentioning timestamps?

[@couch2558]

@@KoasterMania i will put them in this comment and edit it as I go 2:15 audio glitch 4:04 maybe just a mispeak? But an error none the less 12:05 missing the 0-50 in blank seconds Also Fury 325 is a giga, not a hyper. Thats all of them. I wanted to point things out not to make you feel bad, but just to point them out to help get things better. There may be other audio issues but I have issues with listening closely

[@KoasterMania]

Funny thing is, all three of these examples are meant to be jokes the first one is me saying “it’s fun for the whole family,” but I overlaid the word pain over fun to describe that it is NOT fun. The second one is a bit of a joke saying that says how mediocre or bad something. “This movie is one of the movies of all time.” And the third one is a bit of a joke attempting to emphasize the slowness of the launch of this coaster. “It launches from 0-50mph in…. “ then not saying anything after is me emphasizing how slow the launch is

[@couch2558]

@@KoasterMania ah, well none of them really landed with us because of the tone not having a significant change, it all just sounded like errors

[@KoasterMania]

I’ll make sure to consider this for the future

[@brianfurderer2685]

You were right, the C in PTC stands for Company.

[@spentron1]

When that was built, anyway.

[@kelp7177]

The name of the company has actually Changed a few time, between company, and coasters. For instance right now it’s company, but in the 1970s in was coasters

[@brianfurderer2685]

@@kelp7177 I’m just going to say PTC going forward as a CYA 😉. That way I don’t have to worry about it.

[@IvyPeeoee-ml9bn]

I meant to say copperhead strike

[@user-fg1qc8kh7b]

Rip the fury

[@nikeiathompson6010]

Spend the extra money and buy the fast lane band if you don’t wanna spend most of your time just waiting 😂

[@schrapnellcotton3413]

Why are roller coaster reviewers negative? I hear a lot of it's great, but it really isn't that special. This is good but the worst part of it. Like art gallery critics.

[@randywest5149]

Randy West Have a Cedar Fair Entertainment Company Platinum Pass Passholder & Cedar Point Season Pass Passholder Since 2003 in Sandusky, Ohio USA 🇺🇲.

[@Mouseblouse22]

I’m still mad they took away the Nickelodeon characters and replaced them with peanuts 😢

[@whoistt1914]

THEY HAD NICKELODEN CHARACTERS?!?

[@Mouseblouse22]

@@whoistt1914 they sure did 😩. They had so many character themed rides too. Rocket power, fairly odd parents, rugrats etc!

[@RMCHurler]

hurler is the worst in the park... wilderness run is even better. nighthawk also will give you a concussion.

[@slaynan421]

Hurler ain’t even bad and nighthawk is extremely underrated it’s SO fun

[@RMCHurler]

@@slaynan421 you have to be kidding. this is my home park and i regularly visit. both coasters are GARBAGE. never had a good ride on either and thats every year since 2015.

[@slaynan421]

@@RMCHurler home park as well and gone there off an on my whole life 🤷🏻‍♂️ hurler is fun although an RMC conversion would be 👌 nighthawk is amazing I hope it never leaves.

[@fontalewis8725]

Must not be from NC THE HURLER is an old school ride... The thunder road forwards and backwards Carolina cyclone Carolina gold rusher I can go and on Vortex is another my favs.

[@bruhmypancakes6200]

Hurler is my favorite ride. I’m guessing you are an older man? It’s supposed to be rough it’s a wood coaster

[@boopyloopy1072]

OKII ALSO OMG WEEEEE HAVE TO GO TO THE PETTING ZOOOOO!!! OWo YESSSSS SO I CAN LIKE GET USED TO BEING AROUND ANIMASL. Oh the aniamls? Oh -;-;;; okay LETS HOPEE THAT THEYA RE YEAH!!! OWO PETTING ZOOOOOO omg bruhh XDD shoukd I? Just for funsies :p

[@boopyloopy1072]

Bruh this is sos tuoid XDD

[@boopyloopy1072]

Omg visit the comment and oodt on it XDD

[@boopyloopy1072]

Vusit ittt

[@boopyloopy1072]

Wow kiddy coaster XD so they wont get scared righr. Actually yeah XDD lets try that first so I can get used to coasters

[@boopyloopy1072]

Like less scary right. Ohh okii yeah cause..the fury just ;-; ohh ewwww ong omg when I went on that rollercoaster, the okay nit rollascoaster sorry its the first ride ive ever been on, it was like a swing rmeber? Yeah like a large swing noo in lake compounce two years aho or last year sum like that idk if I was, I dont think so. It was in june. I think ohhh wait no I think I was frineds with you? Eithwr I was r wasit OKAY VIDEO TIME SORRY

[@kellymcmahon468]

FURY 325 CRAcKS??? HELL NO!!!

[@Chi1O821e]

I’m sorry to break it to you but you need a kid to ride the kitty coaster

[@marymarkham4653]

No

[@user-gi6kz1hp1z]

You didn't ride #14, but rated it? 😂😂😂😂Stop it dude. Clickbait 101.