- May 28th, 2010, 5:22 pm
#40822
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/0 ... -roll.html
Now that the initial excitement over the opening of Carowinds' marquee new roller coaster Intimidator has died down a bit, we can step back and ask: Is it really the best ride at the theme park? The answer is simple. Yes. But don't forget that Carowinds - which as of today is open daily for the summer - has more than one coaster that will satisfy adrenaline junkies. Read on for our reviews of the best roller coasters the park has to offer.
Carolina Cobra
What it is: A steel "boomerang" coaster, which travels the same track forward and backward.
Stats: Max height is 125 feet, max speed is 48 mph, ride time is 2 minutes. Opened in 2009.
The good stuff: To begin with, the train is backed up a steep lift hill and then dropped into a freefall that - if you sit in the back - measures about 120 feet. Sitting up front makes for a weak start, but once you get to the second lift hill on the far side, you get a decent backward freefall.
The not-so-good: Because the entire coaster has a relatively small footprint, it can seem like a rather insignificant ride. In fact, the amount of time riders spend hurtling along the track (as opposed to crawling) is just over 30 seconds. There's not much replay value.
Nighthawk
What it is: A steel "flying" coaster, in which seats recline backward before the train starts moving, so riders are lying on their backs.
Stats: Max height is 115 feet, max speed is 51 mph, ride time is 2 minutes. Opened in 2004.
The good stuff: It's the park's most distinctive coaster. You realize this the moment the seats start reclining, but you really realize it on the first major descent: The track twists, the cars are inverted 100 feet above the ground, and you literally feel like you're flying while you zip downward. Swooping over water and bystanders also makes for fantastic moments.
The not-so-good: Due to slow load times and its popularity, lines can feel interminable. On a recent Sunday, I waited 20 minutes to get on. During the summer, lines can be twice as long. Be sure your phone and keys are secure, or you'll lose them on this one.
Afterburn
What it is: An "inverted" steel coaster, meaning the trains are hanging below the track; the cars swing out when turning, and run on the outside of the track on loops instead of the inside. It's the park's second-tallest and second-fastest roller coaster.
Stats: Max height is 144 feet, max speed is 62 mph, ride time is 2 minutes 47 seconds. Opened in 1999.
The good stuff: The initial drop is breathtaking, as you dip and swoop over a parking lot behind Carowinds. From that point on, the inversions, loops and rolls come fast and furious. The pacing is outstanding, the ride is smooth, and unlike most coasters at the park, there are virtually no moments when you find yourself waiting for something exciting to happen. The lines are often almost nonexistent, and load times are swift.
The not-so-good: Skip the backseat; it's a letdown. The farther up front, the better.
Intimidator
What it is: This steel coaster is the tallest, fastest and longest in the Southeast, inspired by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.
Stats: Max height is 232 feet, max speed is 80 mph, ride time is 3 minutes 33 seconds. Opened in March.
The good stuff: It's an awe-inspiring view from afar, but that sight doesn't hold a candle to the one you get when the ride crests that skyscraping first hill. I've never felt such a sense of height - or of speed - as I have on the Intimidator. The open-air, stadium-style seats are extremely comfortable, and the ride is silky-smooth; it's hard to imagine a coaster could move on a track much more quietly. Lines move fast, too: On a recent sunny Sunday, I went from the back of the line to sitting in a car in 7 minutes flat. Wait the extra few minutes to sit in the lead car.
The not-so-good: It's all good, although the second half of the ride doesn't match the intensity of the first.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/0 ... z0pFXuBmnu
Coaster Count - 203
