Known for insane roller coasters such as Fury 325 and kid-sized play areas like Camp Snoopy, the Charlotte, NC theme park has a little bit of everything.
For 45 years and counting, Carowinds has brought families from across the country and the Carolinas together. As of August 2018, they’ve stepped their thrill ride game up with the announcement of Copperhead Strike, the park’s newest roller coaster.
Copperhead Strike: The Story
Copperhead Strike isn’t your typical roller coaster. There’s far more than what meets the eye! The story goes as follows…
Legend has it, Granny Byrd’s award-winning jam recipe can’t be beat. But now you have a chance to get your hands on it! To do so, you’ll have to head way, way out into the country to a run-down farm on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Oh, and did we mention there are copperhead snakes, everywhere?
Once you reach the farm, you notice something is a little off. That’s not jam she’s cooking… it’s… well, you’ll see!
Suddenly, a loud commotion rings out and you’ve been caught! The only way out is on Carowinds’ new coaster, Copperhead Strike.
The Stats
Sure, the story is fun. But all roller coaster enthusiasts want to know about the stats. How fast does it go? What exciting new features will it boast? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Copperhead Strike is the Carolinas’ first double launch roller coaster. At the start, you’ll take off at 0 to 42 miles per hour in a mere 2.5 seconds. Halfway through the ride, a second thrust will launch you to the rest of the ride. To add to the thrill, Carowinds included 5 head-over-heels inversions, making it the most of any double launch coaster on the continent.
Of course, there’s no downtime on Copperhead Strike. The entire 2 minute and 24-second ride across 3,255 feet of steel track is a non-stop rush from start to finish.
- Coaster Type: Double Launch coaster
- Launching System: Linear Synchron Motor (LSM)
- Number of Launches: 2
- First Launch: From 0 to 42 mph in 2.5 seconds
- Second Launch: From 35 mph to 50 mph in 2 seconds
- Track Length: 3,255 feet
- Number of Inversions: 5
- Duration: 2 minutes, 24 seconds
- Height Requirement: 52"
- Trains: 3
- Riders per Train: 16
- Amount of Steel Used: 530 tons
- Ride Manufacturer: MACK Rides GmbH & Co KG, Waldkirch, Germany
If you fancy yourself a roller coaster nerd, take a closer look at the engineering and design of the ride here.
How to Ride Copperhead Strike
Copperhead Strike debuts at Carowinds in the spring of 2019 in the Blue Ridge Junction area of the park. Use the next few months to secure your Carowinds discount tickets and get amped up about this brand-new coaster.
Before you go, be sure to read up on Everything You Need to Know About Carowinds Theme Park. Inside our guide you'll find helpful visiting tips, tricks, and special park experiences. Oh, and of course, how to save $23 per ticket! You can thank us later.
