Six Flags Entertainment Corporation bought a world-record roller coaster, and Carowinds in Fort Mill is one of the closest parks in the company's portfolio to the ride's former home.

The company announced Tuesday, Sept. 8, that it acquired ArieForce One, a 154-foot steel coaster featuring the world's largest zero-gravity stall. The ride operated at Fun Spot America Atlanta in Fayetteville, Georgia, until that park closed Aug. 2. Six Flags plans to install the coaster at one of its parks in 2028 or 2029, the Rock Hill Herald reported.

Six Flags has not named which parks are in the running. The company told the Herald that multiple parks are under consideration, but it declined to say which ones or how they compare.

Carowinds, the more than 400-acre theme park straddling Fort Mill and Charlotte off Interstate 77 at Exit 90, is the second-closest Six Flags property to ArieForce One's former home, behind only Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags owns 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resorts across North America.

"ArieForce One is a world-class coaster, and we want to ensure it lands in the park where it can deliver the best possible guest experience," Six Flags spokesperson Kristin Fitzgerald told the Herald.

What ArieForce One brings

Built by Rocky Mountain Construction, ArieForce One spans about 3,400 feet of track with four inversions and hits a top speed of 64 mph, according to WKYC. The ride lasts about two minutes. It ranked No. 7 on USA Today's 10Best fan vote for roller coasters in 2026.

Six Flags confirmed the coaster will keep its name, which honors Fun Spot America founder John Arie Sr.

The company declined to disclose the purchase price.

Fort Mill park already adding rides

Carowinds generates about $2 million a year in tax revenue for York County and $6 million for the state, according to Visit York County figures reported by the Post and Courier in March 2025.

The park is already adding new attractions. Construction of Rip Roarin' Falls, a log flume ride set to break three world records including the tallest log flume drop at 100 feet, is underway near Carowinds' signature Fury 325 coaster. That ride is expected to open in 2027.

Six Flags is also relocating its corporate headquarters from Charlotte to Arlington, Texas, with the move expected to wrap up by March 2027. The company said it will continue investing in Carowinds and its Carolina Harbor water park despite the move, WRHI reported.

Derek Perry, president-elect of American Coaster Enthusiasts, summed up the mood among ride fans in the company's announcement: "Today's announcement answers one question and opens the door to another."

Six Flags expects to name ArieForce One's new park by the end of 2026.