Copperhead Strike Comes to Life at Carowinds + Be a First Rider

© Carowinds

Full scale testing of Carowinds' new double launch roller coaster, Copperhead Strike, has started at the park.

Ahead of the theme park's season opening on March 23rd, the coaster has begun the first of many test runs.  Happily for us, Carowinds' was quick to share both on-ride and off-ride footage of the experience, up through the ride's second launch.

Check it out:

Looks like a blast!  Copperhead Strike features an initial launch, which can be seen in this video, that will send the trains from zero to 42 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds.  Riders then encounter a vertical loop, followed by a great looking air-time hill.  The twisted course then takes over, with trains maneuvering through a tangle of track.  When the ride is finished, passengers will have made it through a total of 5 inversions spread over 3,255 feet of track.

© Carowinds

© Carowinds

This video also gives us a peek at the ride's launch house, which is filled with theming that compliments the storyline of the ride.  These images, from the video, show a ton of theming that is already in place, though things don't look totally complete at this point.  I love that Carowinds has created such a full backstory for the ride, and I can't wait to see all that takes place in this building just before the first launch!

If you're excited and want to be one of the first to ride Copperhead Strike, Carowinds is auctioning off the first three trains of riders to benefit Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina.  The event will take place on March 21st, a couple days before the park opens for the season.  Bids can be made for a pair of seats at a time, and the highest bidder will get one of the first rides on the coaster!  To make your bid and learn more about the auction, click here.

© Carowinds

Finally, the park just shared a really neat aerial fly-over of Copperhead Strike.  Check out the video here!