Stay up to date with WRAL’s Theme park news and reporting coverage
When you sell sun and fun, how do you prepare for unseasonable cold?
Triangle residents who are fans of thrills and themed attractions don't have to travel far to experience some of the best amusement parks.
According to team members at Land of Oz, a "Wizard of Oz" themed park in Beech Mountain, the theme park will stay closed for 2025.
Kings Dominion on Tuesday unveiled the car for its new Rapterra roller coaster coming to the amusement park in Virginia.
The Magic Kingdom, Disney's flagship theme park in Florida, will undergo the largest expansion in its 53-year history, with one new "land" devoted to classic Disney villains and another focused on Pixar's "Cars" movies.
Brooks Barnes, New York Times
The cost of being at the happiest place on Earth is going up while the perks are going away.
Tariro Mzezewa, New York Times
One mom experienced a huge scare when her daughter's safety belt came loose while they were riding the electric eel roller coaster at Seaworld in San Diego.
NBC News Channel
Mom says daughter's strap fell off mid-ride on SeaWorld's Electric Eel roller coaster in San Diego on Tuesday.
Triangle residents who are fans of thrills and themed attractions don't have to travel far to experience some of the best.
Joel Bryant
A North Carolina Department of Labor investigation found "unidirectional bending fatigue" to blame for the cracked beam that closed the Fury 325 rollercoaster at Carowinds for over a month last summer.
Jessica Patrick, WRAL senior multiplatform producer
Shareholders of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation voted Tuesday to approve the merger with competing amusement park company Cedar Fair, which owns Carowinds.
WCNC
WCNC Charlotte reports Cedar Fair, the company that owns Carowinds, will merge with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the company announced Thursday.
WCNC Charlotte
Carowinds has reopened the Fury 325 rollercoaster, which was was closed for more than a month after someone noticed a crack in a support pillar.
A series of tests will be conducted on Fury 325 after the repairs are complete, including a 500-cycle test and a third-party assessment.
Chris Lovingood, WRAL anchor/reporter
Carowinds is replacing a support column on the Fury 325 rollercoaster. On Thursday, a new support column and hardware are set to arrive.
WRAL Staff
North Carolina Department of Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson said he is grateful no one was hurt after a crack was discovered on the support beam of the rollercoaster on June 30.
Crews will remove and replace the damaged support column. The new part is expected to be delivered to Carowinds next week. However, the ride will undergo extensive tests and inspections, Carowinds said.
Carowinds on Thursday shared an update on the cracked Fury 325 rollercoaster and what it will take for the ride to reopen.
Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte closed a roller coaster Friday after a visitor discovered a crack in a support pillar.
A rollercoaster ride at Carowinds is closed until further notice after a large crack on a support beam was reported to park employees.
Starting Saturday, all guests younger than 16 years old must have a chaperone who is at least 21 years old accompany them for admittance or to remain in the park past 4 p.m.
Mark Bergin, WRAL senior multiplatform producer
The 13-year-old was given first aid and returned safely to his guardian.
Carowinds amusement park is celebrating its 50th anniversary by opening a new section dedicated to the history and future of flight.
Kathy Hanrahan, WRAL lifestyle editor
