The ride
Ricochet is a steel wild mouse roller coaster built by Mack Rides at Carowinds in Carolina Boardwalk, North Carolina, having opened to the public in 2002. After 24 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Carowinds midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 45 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 28.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 121 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Mack Rides have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Mack Rides installations will pick up on the same DNA in Ricochet's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Ricochet early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Carowinds typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Carowinds, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.