Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 11

Carowinds Unveils 100-Foot Rip Roarin' Falls for 2027 as Park Chases Water-Ride Records

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 11

Carowinds Unveils 100-Foot Rip Roarin' Falls for 2027 as Park Chases Water-Ride Records

Q: Beyond record stats, what unique sensation will the ride's forward-and-backward coaster elements actually create for passengers?

The standout sensation will be an unusual mix of disorientation, weightlessness and splash impact while riders are moving backward, not just forward. Carowinds says the boats will change direction twice using high-speed reversing switches, so passengers will not experience the ride like a traditional log flume where they can see the drop coming. Instead, riders are expected to be rotated backward and then sent down a 42-foot reverse drop, creating the feeling of being pulled into a plunge they cannot fully anticipate. That loss of visual cue is a major part of what enthusiasts describe as the “crazy sensation.” The ride is also designed to produce backward airtime. On the reverse camelback element, riders can briefly feel lifted out of their seats while traveling backward, a rare sensation on a water ride. Because the boat is reversing through these elements, the body experiences forces in a less familiar way than on standard coasters or flumes. Combined with speeds up to 50 mph, multiple drops and water splashes, the effect should feel like a hybrid of a water ride and a shuttle coaster: passengers will get the surprise of a backward plunge, the floating sensation of reverse airtime, and the unusual experience of hitting splash effects while facing the opposite direction. That forward-and-backward motion is what makes the ride’s thrill distinct beyond its record-setting height.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 11

Rip Roarin' Falls will open at Carowinds in 2027, replacing the Rip Roarin' Rapids attraction that closed in 2019.
The new water ride is designed around a 100-foot plunge that the park says will be the tallest drop on a water ride or log flume.
Carowinds also says the attraction will feature a 42-foot backward drop, two reversing switches, 2,240 feet of track and top speeds of 50 mph in eight-person boats.
Themed as an abandoned lumber mill, the ride is aimed at both thrill-seekers and families, with a 35-inch minimum height with an adult and 41 inches for solo riders.
The announcement quickly drew attention from theme-park fans online as Carowinds adds a major new attraction ahead of its broader push to refresh offerings.