Carowinds has taken Fury 325, the park’s record‑breaking giga coaster, out of service after inspectors found an issue with one of the ride’s foundations during routine maintenance earlier this month. Park officials are calling the move precautionary and say the condition did not affect guest safety, but the closure, confirmed by the park and local TV outlets, leaves riders and passholders wondering when they will be back on the 325‑foot headliner.
What Carowinds Told Reporters
According to WRAL, the foundation issue surfaced during routine maintenance on July 7. Park crews then notified state regulators, pulled Fury 325 from operation, and started corrective work. WRAL reports that crews put fencing around the area near a footing and that park officials described the response as taken "out of an abundance of caution." The outlet also notes Carowinds has not given any estimate for when the ride might reopen.
Park Confirms Closure
On July 13, local station WBTV confirmed the park’s statement, reporting that "The ride is currently closed for maintenance" and that Carowinds is "working diligently toward reopening it as soon as possible." The station adds that officials did not immediately say how long Fury 325 had already been down when that statement went out.
Why This Echoes 2023
The latest downtime instantly calls back Fury 325’s highly publicized 2023 shutdown, when a guest spotted a crack in a support pillar. A subsequent state review determined the fracture resulted from "unidirectional bending fatigue," as reported by The Charlotte Observer. That earlier incident led to replacement of a damaged column, extensive testing, and third‑party inspections before the coaster finally reopened in August 2023.
Riders React
Theme park trackers and fan communities quickly flagged the new closure. Fury 325 showed as closed on multiple ride‑status sites, and fans posted photos of temporary fencing and activity around a footer. Queue‑Times listed the coaster as "Closed," while discussion threads captured the mood among visitors and passholders. One particularly active thread appeared on Reddit, where users traded updates, speculation, and no small amount of frustration.
What Repairs Could Entail
Park officials say crews have already started repair work and are coordinating with regulators and engineering partners on next steps. After the 2023 incident, Carowinds and the ride’s manufacturer replaced a damaged support column and conducted extensive testing and third‑party inspections before reopening, according to WFAE, suggesting a similarly thorough engineering review is likely this time as well. For now, the park is not offering a timeline and is urging guests to watch official channels for updates.
Anyone planning a visit should check Carowinds’ official site for real‑time operating status and park alerts: Carowinds. The park’s mobile app and social media channels will carry any changes to Fury 325’s status.
