Vortex (Carowinds)

Vortex is a stand-up roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the ride opened to the public on March 14, 1992.^[2] Vortex was built a year before Paramount Parks (now Six Flags) purchased Carowinds and is situated on the former site of the Carolina Speedway miniature car attraction. It was B&M's third coaster and features a loop and a corkscrew element in its relatively short track layout. Vortex represented a new era of stand-up coasters at the time, which were more advanced than the previous generation introduced in the 1980s.

Vortex
Vortex's vertical loop.
Carowinds
Location	Carowinds
Park section	Carousel Park
Coordinates	35.1036°N 80.9416°W / 35.1036; -80.9416
Status	Operating
Opening date	March 14, 1992 (1992-03-14)
Cost	$5.5 million[1]
General statistics
Type	Steel – Stand-up
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Stand-Up Coaster
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
Duration	2:19
Height restriction	54 in (137 cm)
Fast Lane available
Vortex at RCDB

History

On August 15, 1991, Carowinds announced that a new stand-up roller coaster would be added to the park in 1992 called Vortex.^[3] It was the first coaster built at Carowinds since Carolina Cyclone in 1980, and also became the park's most expensive ride to date at $5.5 million.^[3] Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, Vortex was the sixth stand-up coaster to open in the United States.^[3] Construction began in September 1991, and officials believed it would be completed by January 1992.^[4]

Vortex officially opened on March 14, 1992. It was repainted for the 2011 season with red track and gray supports, similar to Thunder Striker.^{[citation needed]}

Ride Layout

Riders depart from the station in a standing position, then ascend a small 90-foot (27 m) lift. A pre-drop, characteristic of early Bolliger & Mabillard coasters, follows the lift hill, preceding the curved right drop. A vertical 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 corkscrew to the right. After another upward helix and a wide turnaround, the train enters the final brake run before entering the station.^[5]

Construction Data

• 109 columns and foundations
• 411,000 pounds of steel
• 931 cubic yards of concrete

Ride Elements

• Loop
• Corkscrew
• Banked Turn

• 
  Vortex's drop
• 
  Vortex's loop
• 
  Vortex's drop directly before the corkscrew
• 
  Vortex's corkscrew