Fury 325 at Carowinds shuts down after discovery of foundation issues

CHARLOTTE — Fury 325 is shut down due to foundation issues, Carowinds officials said.

The North Carolina Department of Labor said the popular giga coaster will not reopen until officials deem it safe. The issue was found one week ago during daily inspections.

Many parkgoers said on Wednesday that they were grateful that Carowinds caught the issue before it got worse.

Those who call The Fury the highlight of the park hope it’s fixed soon.

Heather Overman and her family are season pass holders. Once inside the park, her son goes directly to Fury 325.

“So, I’m not a frequent rider of the Fury; however, my son is, and he will ride it over and over again,” Overman said.

The Fury is a 325-foot giga coaster. It is North America’s longest steel coaster and one of the tallest in the world.

SkyDrone 9 was over Fury 325 on Wednesday to get a closer look. It was shut down, and part of it was surrounded by a fence.

State inspectors grounded the coaster after Carowinds discovered and self-reported an issue with the ride foundation last week.

“And I’m glad that they caught this, and hopefully they’ll get it fixed and back up and running,” Overman said. “You always want to be safe, and it’s good that they’re taking it seriously.”

Dozens expressed concern on social media. One man said he will not travel seven hours next week if the ride isn’t working.

NCDOL officials said on Wednesday that it’s overseeing the evaluation of the Fury.

“Out of an abundance of caution, I have issued a shutdown order for the ride,” Commissioner Luke Farley said. “The ride will not reopen until NCDOL has conducted a complete re-inspection of the ride and is fully satisfied that it can be operated safely.”

Farley said he was at Carowinds on Wednesday with inspectors overseeing the evaluation and any repairs.

Carowinds said crews are repairing the ride but have not released a timeline. Park officials said the process will not be rushed, and it will be open as soon as possible.

Past problems

The Fury was closed for months in 2023 after a crack was found in one of the ride’s support beams.

A visitor noticed the crack on June 30, 2023.

The daily maintenance reports from June 16-29 said the track passed visual inspections without concerns.

A second crack was found the next month.

The support beam was supposed to last over 50 years, according to a state report.

It barely lasted eight months that time.

The ride was tested more than 500 times before letting riders back on.

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