A giga roller coaster at a North Carolina amusement park closed after a visitor discovered a huge crack in a support pillar while people were on the ride.
According to Coasterpedia, a ‘giga roller coaster’ is defined as “a complete circuit roller coaster between 300 feet and 399 feet in height or with a drop within those boundaries.”
Fury 325, located at North Carolina’s Carowinds amusement park, is considered “the tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America.”
From Carowinds:
Feel The Sting on the tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America – Fury 325! Riders begin their adventure on one of three 32-passenger, open-air trains to the peak height of 325 feet – following a dramatic 81-degree drop. Then, like an angry hornet chasing its target, riders race into a massive 190-foot tall barrel turn and a high-speed S-curve reaching speeds of up to 95 mph.
Just above the front entrance of Carowinds, riders experience an astonishing 91-degree overbanked horseshoe turn, and then take the “HIVE DIVE” underneath a pedestrian bridge, swarming at full force into the back half of the ride, through a high speed banked curve, camelback hill and an intense double maneuver.
Fury 325 is North America’s longest steel coaster, and is over 1.25 miles long. The average ride time is 3.25 minutes, and the ride crosses both North and South Carolina state lines. Fury 325 does not let up during its full throttle swarm!
Watch the Fury 325 Official On-Ride POV Video:
Visitor Jeremy Wagner posted to Facebook on Friday that he discovered the crack in the giga coaster’s support pillar and notified officials.
In the video, the crack moves as the ride turns the corner at the support pillar.
Jeremey Wagner wrote:
I HOPE THEY SHUT THIS RIDE DOWN AFTER I REPORTED THIS VIDEO AT GUEST SERVICES!!! IT MOVES 2-4 FEET!!! IT WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN WE LEFT! GOT CONFIRMATION THEY SHUT IT DOWN FOR INVESTIGATION FROM CFD.
A Carowinds spokesperson provided a statement to Fox News:
“Carowinds closed Fury 325 after park personnel became aware of a crack at the top of a steel support pillar,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “The park’s maintenance team is conducting a thorough inspection and the ride will remain closed until repairs have been completed. Safety is our top priority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process. As part of our comprehensive safety protocols, all rides, including Fury 325, undergo daily inspections to ensure their proper functioning and structural integrity.”
“According to CBS 17, a 911 call was also received regarding the crack. No one was injured as a result of the crack,” Fox News added.
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