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.