Drop Tower: Scream Zone (Carowinds)

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Drop Tower: Scream Zone
Formerly called Drop Zone: Stunt Tower (1996-2007)

Carowinds
Location	Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Coordinates	35°06′18″N 80°56′39″W / 35.104896°N 80.944135°W / 35.104896; -80.944135
Status	Defunct
Operated	March 30, 1996 to 2024
Cost	$4,000,000
Rider height	54 inch minimum

Statistics

Manufacturer

Intamin

Product

Giant Drop

Type

Drop Tower

Height

174 feet

Drop Tower: Scream Zone was a Drop Tower built by Swiss manufacturer Intamin that previously operated at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It opened on March 30, 1996 as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, being themed to the 1994 Paramount film. It closed after the 2024 season and was subsequently demolished.

History

On August 10, 1995, Paramount's Carowinds announced that Drop Zone: Stunt Tower would be added to the park.^[1] At a cost of $4 million, the ride opened on March 30, 1996.^[2]

In August 1999, Paramount's Carowinds temporarily closed Drop Zone: Stunt Tower when an accident on a similar ride at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, California, USA killed a 12-year-old boy.^[3]

Carowinds again temporarily closed the ride on June 22, 2007 after a cable injured a 13-year-old girl on the similar Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.^[4]

For the 2008 season, the ride was renamed to Drop Tower: Scream Zone.

In a press release on December 18, 2024, it was announced that Drop Tower: Scream Zone, Nighthawk and Scream Weaver would not reopen for the 2025 season.^[5]^[6] The attraction began disassembly in January 2025.^[7] The ride was fully removed by the time the park opened in March.^[8]

Images

The ride while it was Drop Zone: Stunt Tower

References

↑ Fitzgerald, Pat (August 11, 1995). "Drop into a new thrill zone at Carowinds". The Herald. p. 23. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
↑ "The ultimate freefall". The Gaffney Ledger. March 22, 1996. p. 11. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
↑ Jameson, Tonya (August 26, 1999). "Carowinds closes popular ride". The Charlotte Observer. p. 28. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
↑ "More thrill rides closed after teen injured". Pensacola News Journal. June 23, 2007. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
↑ "Carowinds to retire 3 iconic rides: 'We have to make tough decisions'".
↑ "Changes on the Horizon at Carowinds". Carowinds. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
↑ "Drop Tower at Carowinds is coming down!". Instagram. carowindsfansonly. 2025-01-28. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
↑ "[Drop Zone] at [Carowinds] is Gone". Reddit. StarPrime323. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-03-15.

Present

Coasters

Afterburn Carolina Cyclone Carolina Goldrusher Copperhead Strike Flying Cobras Fury 325 Hurler Kiddy Hawk Ricochet Snoopy's Racing Railway Thunder Striker Vortex Wilderness Run Woodstock Express

Former

Coasters

Flying Super Saturator Nighthawk Thunder Road White Lightnin'

[1] Fitzgerald, Pat (August 11, 1995). "Drop into a new thrill zone at Carowinds". The Herald. p. 23. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

[2] "The ultimate freefall". The Gaffney Ledger. March 22, 1996. p. 11. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

[3] Jameson, Tonya (August 26, 1999). "Carowinds closes popular ride". The Charlotte Observer. p. 28. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

[4] "More thrill rides closed after teen injured". Pensacola News Journal. June 23, 2007. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

[5] "Carowinds to retire 3 iconic rides: 'We have to make tough decisions'".

[6] "Changes on the Horizon at Carowinds". Carowinds. December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.

[7] "Drop Tower at Carowinds is coming down!". Instagram. carowindsfansonly. 2025-01-28. Retrieved 2025-01-29.

[8] "[Drop Zone] at [Carowinds] is Gone". Reddit. StarPrime323. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-03-15.

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