Copperhead Strike debuts with double launch at Carowinds

After reading through various social media sites yesterday I'm eager to ride Copperhead Strike. It looks like a fun roller coaster (and Carowinds has done a good job with providing "instagrammable" spots for photos).

Subtle detail I noticed, which I can't figure out if it's just placement in layout or a weird perspective messing me up... is the first loop more circular, and the second loop more teardrop shaped?

I feel like Carowinds is another one of those Cedar Fair parks that went a lot of years with a "meh" collection of rides to something awesome. I've only spent a few hours at the park (in 2013 on the way down to moving to Florida), but even that year I could see the potential. Since then, with this and Fury, it's a fairly strong, well-rounded park. I'm looking forward to a return visit.

Seems like the right place for a Gonchback.

This one comes to us from June of 2010. It's a little number called, "Carowinds Attendance Grows"

Gonch wisdom from then. Interestingly, their population has grown another 13% and Charlotte in particular has grown by 17% since that post. I still think in hindsight that the park blossomed because the area grew into something that could sustain that kind of investment and CF rode it to a bigger and better park.

I also find it interesting that so many of the issues many of us had with the Cedar Fair "way of doing things" have been addressed with the current leadership.

Sure, my observation is totally from a transient out-of-towner view. I'm sure the expansion is rooted in local population growth.

Lord Gonchar said:

I still think in hindsight that the park blossomed because the area grew into something that could sustain that kind of investment and CF rode it to a bigger and better park.

No, it's because Cedar Fair has an irrational and arbitrary grudge against Michigan's Adventure.

Got several laps on the new ride today. During the day it's a fun "big" family friendly coaster with great hangtime in the loop, a fun shed, and fast but not overly intense launches.

At night, it's absolutely nuts. I can't think of another ride that is such a different ride experiende during the day and at night.

There were a few hiccups throughout the day but the reliability seemed half decent for an Opening Day. The park definitely has a solid new addition to an already great coaster lineup.

BrettV said:

I also find it interesting that so many of the issues many of us had with the Cedar Fair "way of doing things" have been addressed with the current leadership.

Without a doubt. Cedar Fair was known for generic parks before buying the Taft parks. Even the first years of ownership of those parks was not that impressive.

They are now installing top quality themed attractions that match the themed areas and new themed areas at Carowinds

Improved live entertainment schedules in many parks. Amazing holiday events. And major infrastructure improvements like the Kings Island International Street renovation

At least the Taft parks have risen back to the top under current management

I'm not sure the former Taft/Paramount parks are that sad about getting "generic" B&M hypers/Gigas. Poor, poor CGA though (which I just got back from an hr. ago...what a mess of a park).

Shame they had to cut their Rapids this season. Strange to see parks ripping out their rapids whilst others build brand new ones.

Well, they're getting old, so maybe it's better if they shoot them all.

I will be making my second ever trip to Carowinds while on my big tour this summer. I've seen CS described as a mini-Maverick. If that is the case, I can't see myself waiting over 30 minutes for it considering Fury and Afterburn are such fantastic coasters. Out of curiosity's sake, I pulled up the GPS route to go there and to go to SFGAdv. Turns out that from Detroit, Carowinds is only 12 miles further than GAdv, which is my second favorite park. While GAdv has Hersheypark, my number 1 park, on the route, Dollywood and Kings Island are on the route to Carowinds. I think I would be much more likely to alternate between these road trips to these parks IF and WHEN Carowinds RMCs Hurler.

I view Carowinds and Canada's Wonderland, which is only 4 hours from me but involves Customs, to be too similar and still needing to replace too many horrible rides for me to make destination parks. But, they seem to be working on it.

Don’t look for another Hurler conversion...

^I heard the same thing about Mean Streak.

Not sure from who, that was an open secret for a long time. They’ve been consistently doing track work to hurler and have no plans to convert it.