Carowinds is currently under construction on the new Blue Ridge Junction area of the park adjacent to the County Fair. The name Blue Ridge Junction (2001 and earlier) pays tribute to the original area of the park that is located where the Carolina Boardwalk (2002-current) is now. See historical Carowinds maps for reference.

One of the major improvements is a complete change for the former Wings restaurant. The restaurant is receiving a complete new seating and queue area, which will allow for double sided service. Considering Wings was always one of the more popular dining locations, this will be a welcomed change. The new location will be called Blue Ridge Country Kitchen and will help tie the County Fair and Blue Ridge Junction sections together nicely.

The Blue Ridge Country Kitchen should be similar to the Kings Island Coney Bar-B-Que and Knott’s Boardwalk BBQ. We even hear the park is in the testing phase for the rotisserie that will be installed inside the Country Kitchen!

Additional food and beverage improvements will be seen as guests walk from the WindSeeker area into the Blue Ridge Junction.

The Coke stand and ICEE Mix-It-Up that were located on the outskirts of Blue Ridge Junction will receive a complete makeover.

SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Carowinds

Construction is also on schedule for the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Carowinds. The site will house 130 rooms and be a great convenient location for visiting Carowinds.

Copperhead Strike Construction

There is also this other minor enhancement coming to the Blue Ridge Junction, featuring a play on the old copperhead. Not only is it a snake, but the top of a moonshine still has also been known to be called by the same name. So the park is constructing this moonshine distillery with this different style copper color piping twisting around the site. We hear the label will be called Copperhead Strike.

The new still will simulate the harrowing chase of getaway cars racing through rolling farmland, sending riders on two launches through a relentless winding ride over half a mile of steel. You ready to try the moonshine yet?

Ok, the centerpiece of Blue Ridge Junction is the new Mack Rides of Waldkirch, Germany roller coaster!

In this innovative ride, the coaster dynamics are carefully crafted to offer a thrilling and intense low-to-the-ground experience. With three 16-passenger trains fashioned after 1930s coupes, Copperhead Strike sends riders cruising into a Jojo roll right out of the station. They then go into a lightning fast launch to a 360° loop, the second of five inversions, moving into a series of near-miss twists, turns and flips. Without slowing down, the ride launches a second time to accelerate into a memorable hang time loop, leaving passengers breathless and wondering which way is up.

A full construction walk-through of Carowinds Copperhead Strike is available on The Crazy Pop YouTube channel.

The first train from Copperhead Strike is currently sitting at the port, and expected for delivery before the end of January.

Once the trains arrive and are placed onto the tracks, they perform a controlled pull-through test. This ensures the ride vehicles meets all necessary clearances to ensure guests do not hit any body parts on any structure of the ride. In addition, it gives them a chance to make sure all the track and Linear Synchronous Motors (LSM) launch system is aligned property.

Details inside the first barn following the JoJo roll will feature special show elements, which Weber Group is currently on-site constructing.

The ride is also going to feature quiet an extensive backstory and theme around Granny and what on the surface looks like a jam business, but in reality evolves around some classic Blue Ridge Junction moonshine production.

Of course, you may just see a Copperhead!

Another thing you may notice is Cedar Fair appears to be stepping away from the exit gift shop layout. Therefore, as guests exit, they will have a photo shop, and there will be a separate gift shop location remotely to the ride.

Also in the Blue Ridge Mountain area will be an outside fireplace, which we are excited to see, and we are sure will make for some great relaxing while watching Copperhead Strike.

Carowinds Mountain Gliders

The “Phantom Flyers” will be returning to Carowinds and the Blue Ridge Junction in 2019! The newly themed Mountain Gliders will pay tribute to the beauty and majesty of the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Carolinas.

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