Rip Roarin’ Falls at Carowinds revealed for 2027

Carowinds is going big on water ride thrills with Rip Roarin’ Falls, a 2027 super flume aiming to break three world records.

Rip Roarin’ Falls at Carowinds is not the usual modern park announcement. For 2027, the North Carolina/South Carolina theme park is going big on a water ride, with a new super flume that promises a 100ft drop, a 50mph top speed and three world records.

The new attraction is being built by WhiteWater and will be themed around an abandoned lumber mill. Guests will board eight-passenger boats for a 6.5-minute ride, travelling along 2,240ft of track and water channel, with two high-speed reversing switches sending the boats forwards and backwards during the experience.

Carowinds says Rip Roarin’ Falls will claim the records for tallest flume drop, tallest reverse drop and tallest reverse camelback. It will also feature what the park describes as the world’s first super flume mega drop, before ending with the headline 100ft plunge and splashdown.

The family-thrill balance is the interesting part. A 100ft, 50mph flume sounds like a serious centrepiece attraction, but the ride will have a 35-inch accompanied height requirement, making it far more accessible than most major thrill additions.

Construction is already underway, with the ride being built on the former site of Rip Roarin’ Rapids, which closed in 2019. The station is being designed to improve capacity and reduce wait times, with access through the Thrill Zone area near Fury 325.

The TT Take:

In a world of coaster announcements, a giant new log flume has a pleasing splash of old-school confidence. This looks like good news for Carowinds: a big, marketable, record-chasing attraction that is not simply another roller coaster. The family-thrill balance is the detail to watch, because a 100ft drop and a 50mph top speed do not sound like the log flumes many guests grew up with. If Rip Roarin’ Falls lands well, it could make a serious case for the humble water ride having a blockbuster era across more Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks.

Source: Carowinds