Vortex (Carowinds)

Vortex

The vertical loop
Carowinds
Park section Carolina Showplace
Coordinates 35°06′13″N 80°56′30″W / 35.1036°N 80.9416°WCoordinates: 35°06′13″N 80°56′30″W / 35.1036°N 80.9416°W
Status Operating
Opening date March 14, 1992
General statistics
Type Steel – Stand-up
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Stand-Up
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 90 ft (27 m)
Length 2,040 ft (620 m)
Speed 50 mph (80 km/h)
Inversions 2 (Vertical Loop, Corkscrew)
Duration 2:19
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Fast Lane available
Vortex at RCDB
Pictures of Vortex at RCDB

Vortex is a steel stand-up roller coaster at Carowinds that was built during the last year before Paramount bought the park in the year 1992. This ride, which was unusual at its time, officially opened on March 14, 1992, on the former site of the Carolina Speedway miniature car ride. Vortex was Bolliger & Mabillard's 3rd coaster and contains a loop and a corkscrew element in its small circuit. Vortex was repainted for the 2011 season with red track and gray supports, quite similar to the park's Intimidator coaster. Debuting with Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America and Vortex at California's Great America in the 1990s, Vortex was one of the first of a new generation of more developed stand up coasters than what had been introduced in the 1980s.

Ride Layout

Riders depart from the station in a standing position, then ascend a small 90-foot (27 m) lift. A small dip, characteristic of Bolliger & Mabillard rides, follows the lift hill, preceding the curved right drop. A loop follows the drop and is followed-up by an upward right and downward banked turn. An upward helix follows the downward turn and is followed by a right corkscrew. After another upward helix and a wide turnaround, the train ends the finale brake run before entering the station.

Construction Data

Ride Elements

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vortex (Carowinds).