When Carowinds opened in 1973, it promised to unite the Carolinas with thrills that transcended the state line it straddled. Fifty years later, the park has grown into a regional powerhouse, home to 13 roller coasters, a massive water park, and seasonal events that pack in crowds from spring through winter.
Yet this weekend, the gates will close not because of weather or mechanical trouble, but by choice. Six Flags, which owns Carowinds following its merger with Cedar Fair, has opted to shut the park to host a private event.
That means Sunday visitors won’t be boarding Fury 325 or cooling down in Carolina Harbor. The decision comes at a moment of uncertainty for the Six Flags portfolio, as the company navigates closures, declining attendance, and leadership changes.
Carowinds’ Roller Coaster Legacy
Carowinds’ most famous ride is Fury 325, the 325-foot-tall “giga coaster” that has consistently ranked among the best in the world. The steel behemoth hits speeds of 95 miles per hour and can be seen from miles away. In 2023, the coaster made headlines for an alarming reason: a crack was discovered in a support beam. Video footage captured the steel visibly separating as trains passed, forcing an immediate shutdown.
The incident sparked intense scrutiny from regulators and fans alike, though Carowinds worked with the manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, to replace the affected section and reopen the ride later that summer. The episode has since become part of the park’s lore, underscoring the balance between extreme engineering and rigorous safety standards.
Beyond Fury 325, Carowinds has cemented its reputation with a lineup of coasters like Intimidator, Afterburn, and Copperhead Strike. The park also caters to families with Camp Snoopy, while its Carolina Harbor water park provides a sprawling summertime escape. Seasonal offerings such as SCarowinds and WinterFest extend the calendar well beyond the summer peak.
Why the Theme Park Is Closing Now
On Sunday, August 17, Carowinds and Carolina Harbor will not open to the public. Instead, Six Flags will dedicate the day to a private event. The park posted a reminder to guests:
Reminder: #Carowinds and Carolina Harbor Waterpark will be closed for a private event on Sunday, August 17th.
Reminder: #Carowinds and Carolina Harbor Waterpark will be closed for a private event on Sunday, August 17th.
Calendar: https://t.co/srlaWxHyGf pic.twitter.com/fxrBEYg3g0
— Carowinds (@Carowinds) August 15, 2025
It’s not the first time this year that fans have faced unexpected closures. Storms forced Carowinds to close earlier in both June and August. This time, however, the decision was driven by corporate scheduling rather than weather.
Once the private event concludes, Carowinds will enter its fall operating schedule. The park will reopen Saturday, August 23, and primarily welcome guests on weekends. Starting September 12, Friday nights will return with the popular SCarowinds Halloween event, running until November 2. Additional dates include September 1, October 23, and October 30.
A Park in Transition
Carowinds’ temporary closure lands amid larger turbulence for its parent company. The Six Flags–Cedar Fair merger has been rocky, with multiple parks already confirmed for permanent closure, including California’s Great America and Six Flags America in Maryland. Beloved rides have also been scrapped, including Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Attendance numbers highlight the strain.
The company reported 14.19 million visitors at its parks in the quarter ending June 29, down from 15.5 million during the same period last year. Adding to uncertainty, CEO Richard Zimmerman announced plans to step down at the end of 2025.
Have you visited Carowinds yet this season?
