Carolina Cobra
Encyclopedia
Carolina Cobra is a steel Vekoma
boomerang
roller coaster
located at Carowinds. Standing 125 feet (38.1 m) and reaching 47 mi/h, , it is the third tallest coaster in the park. It is the first roller coaster addition to Carowinds since the park's purchase by Cedar Fair from Paramount Parks
.
roller coaster, which was dismantled and put up for sale after the 2008 season. This was the first roller coaster for Carowinds since the addition of Nighthawk in 2004. Carolina Cobra opened on March 28, 2009.
around the world, but it is the first boomerang roller coaster to feature all new re-designed trains directly from Vekoma http://carolinacobra.carowinds.com/public/ride/index.cfm#trains. After dispatch, the train is pulled backwards up the 125 feet (38.1 m) lift hill. After that, riders are dropped 120 feet (36.6 m) down, fly back through the station and into a Cobra Roll element. The riders then are taken through a 360-degree vertical Loop
and are sent up a second 125 feet (38.1 m) hill. The riders pause, and are sent down to do the full circuit again backwards.
No serious injuries were reported.
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
boomerang
Boomerang (roller coaster)
Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
located at Carowinds. Standing 125 feet (38.1 m) and reaching 47 mi/h, , it is the third tallest coaster in the park. It is the first roller coaster addition to Carowinds since the park's purchase by Cedar Fair from Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
.
History
Originally named Head Spin, Carolina Cobra is a relocated coaster from the now defunct Geauga Lake park http://rcdb.com/id4269.htm. Geauga Lake's rides side closed after the 2007 season by Cedar Fair, causing for many of the rides in the park to be relocated to other parks within the chain. The ride occupies the spot of the Flying Super SaturatorFlying Super Saturator
Flying Super Saturator was a water ride and suspended roller coaster at Carowinds amusement park, which lies on the border of North and South Carolina. Flying Super Saturator was the first roller coaster of its kind, allowing riders to dump 4-gallon payloads of water on those Carowinds patrons who...
roller coaster, which was dismantled and put up for sale after the 2008 season. This was the first roller coaster for Carowinds since the addition of Nighthawk in 2004. Carolina Cobra opened on March 28, 2009.
Ride Experience
Carolina Cobra is one of over 50 boomerang coasters installed by VekomaVekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
around the world, but it is the first boomerang roller coaster to feature all new re-designed trains directly from Vekoma http://carolinacobra.carowinds.com/public/ride/index.cfm#trains. After dispatch, the train is pulled backwards up the 125 feet (38.1 m) lift hill. After that, riders are dropped 120 feet (36.6 m) down, fly back through the station and into a Cobra Roll element. The riders then are taken through a 360-degree vertical Loop
Loop (roller coaster)
The generic roller coaster vertical loop is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. Specifically, the loop refers to a continuously upward-sloping section of track that eventually results in a complete 360 degree circle. At the top-most piece of the loop, riders are completely inverted.-...
and are sent up a second 125 feet (38.1 m) hill. The riders pause, and are sent down to do the full circuit again backwards.
Break Down
On October 18th 2009, the Carolina Cobra's second lift hill failed to catch, resulting in a rollback that couldn't make it back through the second set of inversionshttp://www.wsoctv.com/news/21332224/detail.html. The passengers were able to exit the ride onto a nearby platform. All of passengers were taken to first aid. Seven of the riders were released back into the park; the eighth was taken to a local hospital and examined.No serious injuries were reported.