‘Giga’ Coaster Operating for ‘6 to 10 Days’ Despite Damaged Pillar, Confirms Official

• An amusement park operator revealed that they ran a roller coaster for several days despite having a cracked beam, according to a labor official.
• A video posted by a park visitor on June 30 showed a visibly fractured steel pillar.
• The roller coaster, known as the Fury 325 and hailed as North America’s tallest, fastest, and longest giga coaster, was closed on July 1.

An amusement park in North Carolina put the lives of its visitors at risk by operating a high-speed roller coaster with a fractured steel pillar for approximately six to ten days, according to a state labor official.

Carowinds amusement park closed down the Fury 325 roller coaster on July 1 after being alerted about a crack at the top of one of the ride’s steel pillars. The crack may have been visible up to ten days before the closure, as suggested by North Carolina Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson.

Dobson revealed to the Associated Press that pictures taken prior to the closure indicate the inception of the crack, which eventually led to the complete severing of the pillar.

A video shared by park visitor Jeremy Wagner on June 30 captured the unstable movement of the Fury 325’s track as a coaster car passed by the cracked pillar. Wagner reported that park staff didn’t seem concerned when he brought the issue to their attention.

Carowinds’ website boasts the Fury 325 as North America’s tallest, fastest, and longest giga coaster, comparing its speed and intensity to that of an angry hornet pursuing its prey.

The roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 95 miles per hour and stands at a peak height of 325 feet. It features a 190-foot tall barrel turn and an 81-degree drop. Riders must be at least 4 feet and 6 inches tall to experience the coaster.

Carowinds

In a statement provided to Insider, Carowinds stated that Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc., the manufacturer of the ride, designed it with safety redundancies in place to protect guests in such situations as a cracked beam.

The park has ordered a new support beam, which is expected to be delivered within the next week. Afterward, staff will examine the Fury 325 with an accelerometer, conduct tests, and inspect the ride for 500 full cycles. Additionally, the park plans to utilize drones equipped with cameras to access and inspect hard-to-reach areas.

Carowinds has not yet responded to the labor official’s remarks outside of regular business hours.