Hurler (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hurler |
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Hurler's first drop at Carowinds
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| Carowinds | |
| Park section | Thrill Zone |
| Coordinates | 35°06′18.88″N 80°56′37.39″W / 35.1052444°N 80.9437194°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 4, 1994 |
| Kings Dominion | |
| Park section | Candy Apple Grove |
| Coordinates | 37°50′10.81″N 77°26′44.29″W / 37.8363361°N 77.4456361°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | April 28, 1994 |
| Closing date | November 1, 2015 |
| Replaced by | Twisted Timbers |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | International Coasters, Inc. |
| Track layout | Triple out and back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 83 ft (25 m) |
| Drop | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Length | 3,157 ft (962 m) |
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Capacity | 1100 riders per hour |
| G-force | 4.1 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
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| Hurler at RCDB | |
The Hurler is an exciting wooden roller coaster you can find at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was built by a company called International Coasters Inc. and first opened to the public in 1994.
Interestingly, an exact copy of the Hurler also opened at Kings Dominion park in Virginia during the same year. However, that version of the ride was later changed into a different type of roller coaster called Twisted Timbers in 2018.
Contents
History of the Hurler
How the Hurler Began
On September 9, 1993, Carowinds announced some big news. They were adding a new area to the park. This area would be 8-acre (3.2 ha)s big and themed after the Wayne's World movies. It would have new places to eat and shops. The main attraction would be a wooden roller coaster named Hurler. It was said to be the first movie-themed wooden roller coaster in the United States.
Just one month later, in October 1993, Kings Dominion announced their own Wayne's World section. They would also get a Hurler roller coaster, which was a copy of the one at Carowinds.
Opening and Theme Changes
Both Hurler roller coasters opened in 1994. The rides were originally themed after the 1992 movie Wayne's World. The characters in the movie often used the word "hurl."
In 2006, the company that owned both parks, Paramount, sold them. The new owner, Cedar Fair, kept the name Hurler. However, they removed all the parts of the ride that referenced Wayne's World.
Changes at Kings Dominion's Hurler
The Hurler at Kings Dominion had some changes over the years. In 2006, it was closed for a while to get new track pieces. In 2010, a new brake was added right after the first hill. This happened before the park opened for the season.
The Kings Dominion Hurler closed again for part of the 2014 season for regular check-ups. In March 2016, the park announced that the ride would not open at all that year. They said it needed "extensive maintenance."
Later, in October 2016, Kings Dominion shared a video on Facebook. The video announced that the Hurler at their park was closing for good. It showed a headstone with the ride's name and the years it operated (1994–2016). The video ended with a hint, saying "for now." This made people wonder if it would come back in a new way.
In August 2017, the park confirmed the rumors. They announced that the Hurler would become a new type of roller coaster. It would be a hybrid coaster called Twisted Timbers and would open in 2018.
Ride Experience
Climbing High
When you ride the Hurler, your train is pulled up a tall lift hill. This hill is about 83-foot (25 m) high. After reaching the top, the train makes a wide turn. Then, it plunges down the first big drop! As you go down, a camera automatically takes your picture.
Twists and Turns
After the first drop, the ride continues with a wide, banked turn. This means the track is tilted, like a race car track. Then, you go over several hills and drops. These parts of the ride can make you feel a bit shaky and jostled around.
The Hurler's path is like a "paperclip" shape. It has two sections where the train goes out and then comes back. The Hurler is also a mirror image of another roller coaster called Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom.
Theming Details
Original Movie Theme
When the Hurler first opened, its waiting line was designed to look like a movie set. You would walk underneath the coaster, as if you were on a "hot set" where a movie was being filmed. When you entered the station where you get on the ride, you would walk through a full-size set. This set looked like the famous basement hideout from the Wayne's World movie.
After the Theme Change
After the Wayne's World theme was removed, the waiting line and station still had some leftover decorations. You might see movie-making items like stage lights, cameras, props, and signs scattered around.
At Carowinds, some of the old props were even used again. For example, pieces of baby dolls were recycled into a scary maze called "Maze of Madness" for the SCarowinds Halloween event. Even after the Wayne's World theme was officially gone from the Kings Dominion Hurler, you could still find many stickers and stamps of the Wayne's World logo around the station until the ride closed.
