>> WELCOME TO "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND."
I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW THRILL THIS SPRING, HEAD TO
CAROWINDS, WHERE THERE'S A NEW RIDE CALLED THE FURY.
AND IT'S NOT A ROLLER COASTER.
IT'S A GIGA COASTER.
>> WHEN CAROWINDS OPENED IN 1973, THE VISION OF ITS FOUNDER,
PAT HALL, WAS TO CREATE A THEME PARK BASED ON CAROLINA CULTURE,
A PLACE WHERE GUESTS FROM ACROSS THE CAROLINAS COULD SPEND A
FUN-FILLED DAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AS THE PARK HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS AND THE ATTRACTIONS HAVE
CHANGED, THE GOAL OF THE PARK'S FOUNDER HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOP OF
MIND.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE KEEPING WITH THE VISION AND PROBABLY
EXCEEDING IN EXPECTATIONS FROM HIS VISION AND, OF COURSE, FROM
THE VISION OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT THE BEST EXPERIENCE EVER WHEN PEOPLE COME
TO CAROWINDS.
>> CAROWINDS IS FINDING SOME EXCITING WAYS TO ENHANCE THAT
EXPERIENCE.
WHILE THE PARK STILL HAS SOME OF ITS LONGTIME FAVORITE
ATTRACTIONS, LIKE THUNDER ROAD, THE GOLD RUSHER AND THE SKY
TOWER, THE 2015 SEASON IS CREATING QUITE A BUZZ WITH THE
PARK'S NEWEST RIDE, FURY 325.
[OOHING AND AAHING] >> IT'S THE WORLD'S TALLEST AND
FASTEST GIGA COASTER.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FURY 325, YOU HEAR 325 A LOT.
THAT LIFT HILL IS 325 FEET.
YOUR FIRST DROP IS LIKE 81 DEGREES.
SO YOU GO STRAIGHT DOWN.
IT LASTS THREE MINUTES AND 25 SECONDS.
AND 95 MILES PER HOUR IS THE FASTEST THAT IT GOES ON THIS
COOL COASTER.
>> THOMPSON SAYS THE REACTION TO THE COASTER HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMING.
>> THIS THRILL RIDE FURY 325, WE'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT
RESPONSES.
THEY LOVE IT.
THEY LOVE THE AIR TIME, HOW FAST IT GOES.
THAT FIRST DROP, I SAY, IS A DOOZY, BUT IT'S ONE THAT YOU'LL
REMEMBER, I THINK, FOR A LIFETIME.
BUT IT'S A VERY FUN COASTER.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT FEEDBACK FROM OUR CUSTOMERS AND
PEOPLE WANTING TO LINE UP AND GET HERE TO RIDE FURY 325.
>> IF YOU'RE A ROLLER COASTER ENTHUSIAST, YOU'VE GOT TO GET ON
THIS.
I MEAN, IT'S AWESOME.
IT REALLY IS.
IT'S SWEET.
>> MY FIRST EXPERIENCE ON IT, IT WAS GREAT.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO PITCH OUT ON THE FIRST DROP, BUT
YOU'RE SO SECURE IN THERE.
THE SPEED OF IT AND THE WIND JUST MAKES IT WORTHWHILE.
IT'S WORTH THE EXPERIENCE TO COME OUT TO ENJOY SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
>> NOT ONLY IS THIS WORLD RECORD-BREAKING COASTER MAKING
HISTORY, IT'S PART OF A $50 MILLION MULTIYEAR INVESTMENT TO
CONTINUE TO REALIZE FOUNDER PAT HALL'S VISION IN CELEBRATING
CAROLINA CULTURE WITHIN THE PARK.
WHEN IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THOSE FAST-PACED RIDES,
PARK VISITORS CAN HEAD TO HARMONY HALL, WHERE CAROWINDS IS
OFFERING SOME BRAND-NEW MENU ITEMS.
THE PARK HAS ADDED OVER 40 NEW ITEMS TO ITS MENU THIS SEASON,
INCLUDING SOME CAROLINA-INSPIRED FAVORITES LIKE BARBECUE AND
SHRIMP AND GRITS.
IF YOU HAVE A SWEET TOOTH, THERE'S EVEN A FUNNEL CAKE
OFFERING DESIGNED TO COMPLEMENT FURY 325.
>> THE BLUE IS THE BIRTHDAY CAKE AND THE GREEN IS ACTUALLY GREEN
APPLE.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY DELICIOUS.
>> WHAT VISITORS MAY APPRECIATE MOST ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS
THEY'LL NOTICE AS SOON AS THEY ENTER THE PARK.
>> BUT WHEN YOU COME IN, THE TRAFFIC FLOW IS EASIER.
'VE ADDED 900 ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES.
>> AND THE PARK IMPROVEMENTS ARE GETTING POSITIVE REVIEWS FROM
VISITORS OF ALL AGES.
>> IT REALLY NEEDED A STREAMLINED PROCESS TO GET INTO
THE PARK, WHICH HAS REALLY BEEN NICE.
THERE'S MORE RESTAURANTS.
>> FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S BEEN A NICE EXPERIENCE.
>> I LOVE IT HERE ACTUALLY.
I -- I WOULD COME HERE EVERY DAY.
>> WHETHER VISITORS DECIDE TO BRAVE FURY 325 --
[SCREAMING] -- OR JUST ENJOY SOME FAMILY
TIME IN THE PLANET SNOOPY AREA, CAROWINDS OFFICIALS SAY THEY'RE
EXCITED ABOUT NOT ONLY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE PARK BUT ALSO
THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON THE CAROLINAS.
>> CAROWINDS HAS A BIGGER AND BRIGHTER FUTURE, MORE THAN
PROBABLY ANYONE COULD EVER IMAGINE, AND 2015 IS JUST THE
START OF WHERE WE'RE TAKING THINGS HERE AT CAROWINDS, AND
IT'S A BENEFIT FOR EVERYBODY IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE'RE BRINGING LOTS OF VISITORS HERE.
TOURISM INCREASES, AND SO WE'RE DOING SO MUCH MORE TO HELP THE
CAROLINAS.
YOU KNOW, PUT THEM ON THE MAP, IF YOU WILL.