CAROLINA CYCLONE

Carolina Cyclone

When the Carolina Cyclone debuted at Carowinds in March 1980, it was the first rollercoaster in the world to turn riders upside down four times! Manufactured by Arrow Development (now Arrow Dynamics) in Mountain View, California, the 95-foot high, $2-million Cyclone used more than 2,100 feet of tubular steel for its construction. As the Cyclone was unveiled to the world through a million-dollar advertising campaign, riders flocked to be the first to experience its revolutionary design.

Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of Carowinds, the Cyclone features two seven-car trains. Year after year, it has stayed true to its name, as riders spin, sweep, and storm through—in rollercoaster parlance—a “double-looper, double-corker” journey. Start out with a 65-foot drop. Then, circle through two back-to-back 360-degree vertical loops and two consecutive barrel rolls, finishing up with a 450-degree uphill helix.

Still crazy after all these years—30, in fact!—the Cyclone continues to prove its mettle to countless thrill-seekers. And it’s not only riders who have all the fun on this one. Your friends on the ground can walk under the last two inversions and cheer you on through your whirlwind tour.

• A quadruple-looping roller coaster with trains spinning through two 360-degree verticle loops, two 360-degree barrel rolls and 450-degree uphill helix. Special Access Entrance is at ride exit.

Hover over icons for details