Whats Next For Paramount's Carowinds?

HOW does anyone figure Paramount "ruined" Carowinds?

Looking at an '89 park map - still well before Paramount took over - I see 4 coasters - the newest of which was the 1980 Carolina Cyclone. The only rides that aren't still at the park now (not counting Hanna-Barbera Land / Animation Station) are Whirling Dervish, Wild Bull, Blackbeard's Revenge, the Monorail, and the Speedway cars (Carolina Turnpike). Smurf Island of course also isn't around these days.

In exchange for these 5 rides, Paramount has added *7* coasters (although Vortex was planned by KECO before the sale), turned around a train on Thunder Road, added Drop Zone, the 3D theater, Scooby's Haunted Mansion, and expanded both the water park and the kids' area quite a bit.

The great myth that Paramount took out all the old flat rides is just that - a myth. Oaken Bucket, the Skyride, Witch Doctor, Hillbilly Jalopies, etc. were taken out during KECO's reign with nothing much to show for them. Renaming of original themed areas and removing theming like the Pirate Ship also happened under KECO, not Paramount. Heck, they tore out the train before the park was 5 years old, and replaced White Lightnin' with a water slide.

I fail to see how actually adding GOOD (not average) coasters like Top Gun and Hurler, fun family coasters like Ricochet and Saturator, improving tired areas like Old World Marketplace and Blue Ridge Junction into something fresh, and adding events like Scarowinds are BAD things.

If Paramount was trying to remove all of Carowinds past - they're doing a bad job of it. The Sternwheeler is still there, as is the water wheel on the side of the candy shop, the cheesy shooting gallery, etc. It's not the same park as it was when I went in 1973, or the day after graduation in 1985, or in 1990 - in some ways that's bad, but mostly it's good.

I'd love to see a hyper, more flats, another woodie, a launch ride ("White Lightnin's Revenge") and even more stuff to do - the park isn't perfect by any stretch - but I find myself wanting to go to the park MUCH more now than I ever did in the late '80s or early '90s when the park was feeling somewhat old and tired.

One more week and I can start riding - and stop writing about it! :)

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Ken

You're locked and ready to fly!

Ken, you are my hero.

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/\ Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com | ThrillSpot | Lord of the Fish
Oh yeah, that's a walk off challenge my friend.

I totally agree with Ken, Carowinds is NOT a bad park(though I do disagree with Hurler being called a good coaster, but that's just My personal opinion). I've not been since 99, but I can tell you that Top Gun alone is a reason for a visit, as it's my fav. inverted.

I feel that all this family stuff will pave the way for something in a couple of years that enthusiasts will be proud of...

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Coasterbuzz-The only place you can say SOB or MF and not be considered a potty mouth:).

Indeed. Carowinds isn't one of those parks that gets something moderately okay every year - they go little by little and then suddenly they get something amazing.

They have plenty of room and plenty of space to expand so there's definately a possibility of something big in the future.

Yeah i still think FSS is an amazing ride. SOO much better now that they removed those guns that shot into the line.... sooo many close mental breakdowns.

RollerJunkie (Edit) (Reply) (Quote) 3/16/2003 4:12:35 PM

Indeed. Carowinds isn't one of those parks that gets something moderately okay every year - they go little by little and then suddenly they get something amazing.

~But isn't that the path that all parks take.... slowly adding and then surprising (exceptions: SFMM and CP).

And by the way, I enjoyed shooting people in the FSS line.... what a blast..... nothings better than relentlously torturing people by sparing water on them..... but i can understand why they removed them ;)

No - Carowinds gets hardly anything year after year (before this whole kiddie-phase came through). But then suddenly they get a huge amazing coaster. Most parks usually get a flat one year and then a coaster the next, and continue that pattern.

You know, one thing I gotta give credit to is Carowind's kiddie area. By far one of the kid-friendliest parks I've ever been to. I wish SFOG had even half of what PC does for the kids... they're sort of stuck without much at SFOG.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Someone above said that we were originally supposed to get some flat rides this year, where did you get that info?

Scott Anderson, the Vice-President of Public Relations, talked about it at the ACE event on October 12.

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/\ Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com | ThrillSpot | Lord of the Fish
Oh yeah, that's a walk off challenge my friend.

TopGunKen said:

...a launch ride ("White Lightnin's Revenge")...

Dammit.. you stole my idea.. ;) j/k ..You are my hero as well..

Anyway, since we're all spurting out ideas here's one I've been thinking of for quite some time actually...

Turn the former Smurf Island into an Atlantis themed area.. Put a B&M flyer in with tons of misty tunnels (misty tunnel at the bottom of a pretzel loop.. :O ..oh and of course you have to have the obligatory "Poseidon" name might as well throw an "Adventure" there as well.. hey.. "Poseidon's Adventure" ..I get royalties if they use that right? ;)) I also had a thought about putting an Afterburner on the island as well. Name it after Poseidon's 3 pronged spear thing, "Trident".. and of course, you have to have an Atlantis restaurant and gift shop.

Now the problem is getting *on* the island.. bleh.. silly Sternwheeler..

*** This post was edited by JamminJ 3/20/2003 4:27:57 PM ***

I heard that in 2004, they are supposedly supposed to rehab the waterpark including a brand new wave pool. Not bad considering the hot 90+ degree Charlotte summers. 2005 is right now the talk for the hyper, but whether that will happen who knows. I think if the new hyper started behind hurler(like its rumored to), and somehow weaved its way over to he picnic groves flying under the bridge at the North Gate, would create an awesome coaster experience. Of course plans are never locked here at Carowinds, they were planning on a much needed flat ride package until all of a sudden at the last minute plans changed to Nick Central. As long as they stay away from family/kiddie attractions for the next few years I will be happy.