Carowinds

[Disneyhead]

Yeah, I spent a big chunk of my youth on Thunder Road. Sad to see it go.

 

[USO92]

I was lucky enough to ride it the weekend before it closed. One of the smoothest woodies I've ever ridden!

 

[martymcflyy85]

I was lucky enough to ride it the weekend before it closed. One of the smoothest woodies I've ever ridden!

Really? I have to say its the roughest ride I've been in ever. Literally gave me a headache the last 5 years. I know they did work on it towards the end but it was still pretty bad in my opinion. But still, Man I hate to lose this one.

 

[USO92]

Really? I have to say its the roughest ride I've been in ever. Literally gave me a headache the last 5 years. I know they did work on it towards the end but it was still pretty bad in my opinion. But still, Man I hate to lose this one.

That's strange indeed. I was suffering from severe motion sickness that day and it is the only coaster that actually made me feel better. Funny thing isn't it? But yes, a shame indeed! Far too few good woodies left in the world today.

 

[kingcooger]

That's strange indeed. I was suffering from severe motion sickness that day and it is the only coaster that actually made me feel better. Funny thing isn't it? But yes, a shame indeed! Far too few good woodies left in the world today.

Agreed.

With the advent of hybrids we are going to see a lot more good 'wooden' coasters but as far as traditional goes, the good ones are few and far between.

That being said, Hersheypark has the best wood coaster lineup I know of with all three (four if you count the racer twice) being solid.

 

[cwgator]

Double post..sorry

 

[cwgator]

Coming to Carowinds 2016: Carolina Harbor.

A tidal wave of splashtastic fun is crashing into the shores of Carowinds with the addition of the all-new Carolina Harbor Waterpark, included with the price of Carowinds admission! The new expansion will double the amount of water slides, bring amazing staples of Carolina cuisine, add luxurious amenities and enhance our offerings to families and children. It's all new experience that will make Carowinds home of the largest waterpark in the Carolinas.

Explore the waters of Carolina Harbor below. We can't wait to bring this amazing new expansion you're "shore" to love to life!

Guests of all ages will find plenty of fun to keep them busy at Carolina Harbor - including Blackbeard's Revenge, an enormous new six-story water slide complex inspired by the Carolina's most notorious pirate; Surf Club Harbor, a large wave pool that cranks out waves up to six feet; Seaside Splashworks, a massive multi-level water complex with over 80 play elements and a 423-gallon tipping bucket; Harbor House, a new restaurant that will serve Carolina inspired dishes; and two new interactive family areas - Kiddy Hawk Cove and Myrtle Turtle Beach.

Included in the expansion:
* Surf Club Harbor (new wave pool)
* Blackbeard's Revenge (6 slide complex featuring drop slides)
* Seaside Splashworks (water play fortress)
* Myrtle Turtle Beach & Kiddy Hawk Cove ( children's splash pad & pool)
* Harbor House (restaurant)
* 5 sand volleyball courts
* New bathouse, concessions & cabanas
* Water Park Entrance (for those not wanting to lug their stuff through the main park)

Also new for 2016:
* A 3,000 sf Starbucks
* Cirque Imagine (Acrobat show) in Carowinds Theater.
* Something related to Plants vs. Zombies (more info coming in Oct.)


Blackbeard's Revenge:

Seaside Splashworks:

Myrtle Turtle Beach:

Kiddy Hawk Cove:

Surf Club Harbor:

New Waterpark Entrance:

Harbor House:

 

[cwgator]

Carowinds 2017:



Check Out Our New Rides & New Entertainment | Carowinds

WHAT'S NEW

Family Thrills and New Holiday Traditions Coming in 2017

An exciting, new lineup of family fun is coming to the place where the Carolinas come together in 2017! Carowinds is proud to announce the addition of FOUR new rides in the new County Fair and an extra season of festivities with our all-new holiday celebration, WinterFest. With so many exciting experiences for families to enjoy next season, there’s never been a better time to own a 2017 Gold Season Pass to Carowinds!

COUNTY FAIR

Family Fun in County Fair with FOUR New Rides - Coming Spring 2017

A new lineup of family fun is coming to the place where the Carolinas come together! Take a step back through time and experience the home-grown thrills of a early era Carolina County Fair. True to this classic tradition, guests will experience a blast from the past with FOUR new rides, new food offerings, experiences and an atmosphere full of timeless fun for all ages!

Electro-Spin
Get ready for a jolt of fun when Electro-Spin sends riders through a freely rotating orbit through the air on its floorless gondolas. This unique ride will leave thrill seekers awed by its arsenal of tangled tricks.

Zephyr
This classic family swing ride will suspend guests as the ride rotates in a circular, wavelike motion – all while serving up some breathtaking views of the new County Fair and the rest of the park.

Rock 'N' Roller
A staple of any County Fair, the Rock ‘N’ Roller is a fast-paced circular ride that will rock n’ roll you around and around, up and down as high-energy tunes and spectacular lighting complement this awesome experience.

Do-Si-Do
This super-fun spiraling adventure will send guests flying through the air and gliding up, down and around as three giant arms rotate riders in different directions – all while increasing speed and elevation.

The Flying Cobras
The Carolina Cobra is getting a makeover with a new name and theme. Fitting for any Carolina County Fair, guests will look to the sky for an air show featuring the daring aviation maneuvers of The Flying Cobras.



WINTERFEST

Ring in the Holidays with a new family tradition - Coming Nov. 2017

Excitement fills the air at WinterFest, a grand celebration of the holiday season at Carowinds. Guests will be immersed in the season’s spirit with spectacular holiday lights and décor, world-class live entertainment, luscious treats and fanciful experiences throughout the park. Carowinds will be magically transformed into a winter wonderland full of enchantment and holiday cheer!

Best yet, 2017 Gold & Platinum Season Passholders will receive FREE admission to this extended season of festivities and celebration!

This new holiday tradition begins November 2017.

FYI: The four "new" flats were retrieved from Europe. They show footage of similar rides at Cedar Point & Kings Island for show. When this was announced many people unaware of how parks advertise thought they were getting them from those parks. Their comments may still be on youtube and FB.

The only ride (s) being removed for the new County Fair is Southern Sidewinder in Carolina Harbor Waterpark. They have completed taking the slides down, but still unsure if they will re-install elsewhere in the water park. They did take it down carefully as if it will be reused if not in the park, elsewhere. There is plenty of room over by the new wave pool and the empty plot where Thunder Road's turnaround was. There is still no work on what they are doing with the original County Fair area as of yet.

 

[Porkchop]

My son just rode FURY 325 yesterday, and Carowinds tweeted about him "Zach C."

He loved it. Only 8 years old, but is obviously insane when it comes to coasters.

 

[Honor_Knight]

Carowinds 2017:



Check Out Our New Rides & New Entertainment | Carowinds



FYI: The four "new" flats were retrieved from Europe. They show footage of similar rides at Cedar Point & Kings Island for show. When this was announced many people unaware of how parks advertise thought they were getting them from those parks. Their comments may still be on youtube and FB.

The only ride (s) being removed for the new County Fair is Southern Sidewinder in Carolina Harbor Waterpark. They have completed taking the slides down, but still unsure if they will re-install elsewhere in the water park. They did take it down carefully as if it will be reused if not in the park, elsewhere. There is plenty of room over by the new wave pool and the empty plot where Thunder Road's turnaround was. There is still no work on what they are doing with the original County Fair area as of yet.

WHOA! Looks like someone did some shopping at the theme park flea market. Well done!

 

[cwgator]

Carowinds is preparing for their 2018 announcement which will be August 16th. So far there have been permits filed for the renovation of Vortex Plaza with a ride relocation and game relocation from within the park. It is presumed the moved game is the 3-Point Challenge that's currently located near the Skytower, and the Character Carousel currently in Planet Snoopy. Both will be added to Carolina Showplace/Vortex Plaza. The Carousel will be placed where a former fountain was located in the plaza.

The Carousel is the likely ride not only because of size, but because there have been markings reported all in that vicinity. The bigger picture points to other additions to Planet Snoopy for 2018. The Carousel takes up a huge area currently with it's cover building. With it removed and the area around it, they could fit 2-3 decent flat rides comfortably. There are also permits for removal/reconstruction of bathrooms in Planet Snoopy.



So far there isn't anything in the plans (shown above) about converting Vortex into a floorless coaster. However, those may be separate plans seeing as the only thing changed in the plaza would be new signage since the queue area would likely remain unchanged.

 

[cwgator]

Carowinds 2018 Teasers (So Far)

Carowinds is doing 7 days of gifts that started on Snoopy's birthday (this past Thursday) and ends on Wednesday, August 16th when the official announcement takes place. As my previous post mentions, 2018 appears to be a Planet Snoopy expansion. The teasers so far also point to this as well...if not just outright obvious.

Teaser 1: Toy Bus

Which will likely be one of these:

Teaser 2: Toy Car

Likely will be one of these:

Teaser 3: Tea Party

Likely will be one of these:

Teaser 4: Kite Stuck in Tree

Obviously will be one of these:

 

[cwgator]

Teaser # 5: A racing helmet.


This one has caused a wrench in what I've posted before in terms of the toy car.
This one seems more suited to the Peanuts 500


For the toy car, and going by Zamperla's rides I'm now leaning towards this one (as seen at OWA):

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Camp Snoopy will be coming for the 2018 season.

Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 16, 2017 – Carowinds will debut a newly expanded kids’ area, Camp Snoopy, opening for the spring 2018 season. Formerly known as Planet Snoopy, Camp Snoopy will feature new rides, a climb and play area and a more natural looking midway that celebrates the beauty of the Carolina wilderness. Also new for 2018 is the Pre-K Pass, a season pass offering free admission to children ages three to five.

The Camp Snoopy playtime spot will feature five new rides:

• Camp Bus: Buckle up on the wacky camp bus and take a ride that will lift guests into the air and back down to the ground in smooth extensions.

• PEANUTS™ Trailblazers: Get behind the wheel of a Jeep-themed vehicle and burn rubber on a small, round speedway.

• Kite Eating Tree: Ride along in a kite vehicle that travels up and down a tree.

• Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies: Take a trip in a “mud buggy,” where guests will rotate around the popular Pig Pen character while bouncing on a bumpy ride.

• Woodstock Whirlybirds: Spin around in an oversized birds nest on this classic ride.

In addition, an 8,000 square foot climb and play area, Beagle Scout Acres, will be added. Children can explore the wide open space with three all-new features:

• The youngest adventurers will be able to gather in a fenced-in toddler area with lots of hands-on activities.
• A new play hill will be an open area for guests to enjoy slides and climb on a turf covered mound.
• Playground wood structures will have hands-on interactives, slides and plenty of things to climb.

The child care facility and Snack Shack restaurant will receive improvements as well.

Also for 2018, Carowinds will introduce the Pre-K Pass, a free season pass specifically for children. The Pre-K Pass provides complimentary admission for kids three to five years of age throughout the 2018 season as well as the remainder of 2017. Online pre-registration is required.

“The expansion of our kids’ area along with the introduction of the Pre-K Pass puts Carowinds as a top destination for families,” said Pat Jones, Carowinds vice president and general manager. “The new Camp Snoopy area joins our world-class attractions such as the record-breaking Fury 325 giga coaster and the massive Carolina Harbor water park in offering features that meet the needs of guests ranging from three to 23 to 93, providing unique opportunities for creating family memories.”

Guests may purchase a 2018 Gold Season Pass at the lowest price of the year. 2018 Gold Season passholders receive unlimited access to Carowinds as well as its Carolina Harbor water park in 2018, along with free admission to SCarowinds and WinterFest, access to special passholder-only events, plus one free visit during the remaining 2017 season. The special pricing ends October 29, 2017.




About Carowinds
Carowinds, a 400-acre theme park located on the border of North and South Carolina, is home to more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including 13 world-class rollercoasters and Carolina Harbor, a top-rated 27-acre water park.

Carowinds is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership and one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world. The Company owns and operates 11 amusement parks, two outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels. For more information, see www.cedarfair.com.

 

[cwgator]

I was close. Pig Pen's Dust Buggies was off and I wasn't aware of the play area. 3 rides are being removed completely and 2 moving to other areas in the park. Woodstock Whirlybirds (helicopter monorail), Snoopy's Yacht Club and Snoopy's Space Race are leaving. Character Carousel will go by Vortex and Woodstock Gliders somewhere. I think it may take Yo-Yo's spot since it's honestly just a sucky ride anyway...lol

 

[Disneyhead]

I was close. Pig Pen's Dust Buggies was off and I wasn't aware of the play area. 3 rides are being removed completely and 2 moving to other areas in the park. Woodstock Whirlybirds (helicopter monorail), Snoopy's Yacht Club and Snoopy's Space Race are leaving. Character Carousel will go by Vortex and Woodstock Gliders somewhere. I think it may take Yo-Yo's spot since it's honestly just a sucky ride anyway...lol

No worries. You did great at keeping us up to date as the hints were coming in.

 

[cwgator]

This morning, NBC Charlotte (and other news outlets) were on a construction tour for Camp Snoopy. During the tour it was confirmed that Woodstock Gliders (Flyers) won't be back until 2019 as part of whatever they are doing by WWF. I know this will be quite upsetting to many knowing it's popularity.

It's around the 13 minute mark. The reporter calls it Flying Ace Aerial Chase, but, it's understood what she meant as this was the area it was in.

 

[cwgator]

Cedar Fair has filed a new trademark for an attraction. "Copperhead Strike". The name is fitting For Carowinds. They already have permits filed that cover a 5-acre area of the park that was once comprised of White Water Falls, Sand Dune Lagoon, and the remainder of Thunder Road's station and entrance area. It is already known that the gliders (Larson Scooters) will be placed in part of this area either later this summer, or with the 2019 attraction (s). As of now, it is assumed to be a coaster, most likely a GCI wooden, given the parks lack of a thrilling wooden coaster and current trend with Mystic Timbers (and Goldstriker added in recent years). The area is large enough for something like Mystic Timbers or even Thunderhead. There are already markers all over the area, and Sand Dune Lagoon (kiddie pool) has started to be ripped out. Most of the area was completely walled off before the season started.

This is the approximate area that is walled off for construction in red. The blue circle is bathrooms that are still on the park map. Word has it since they are in SC, they have to keep those open unless an additional bathroom is built within a reasonable distance from other attractions. I can see those being removed once Carolina Harbor closes and a new bathrooms being built elsewhere so this space can be utilized. They were only there mainly because of Sand Dune Lagoon to begin with.



Other's are hoping for a launch coaster, something else that's missing entirely since White Lightning was removed 30 years ago. There are others who think B&M Wing or Dive. Those would be less likely since we already know Canada's Wonderland is getting another large B&M. Not that it's out of the question, but Carowinds already has 4 B&M's, which is a lot compared to other parks in similar markets/size.

Here is the Trademark:


There are lots of pictures and further speculation at Carowinds Connection with more recent pics here:
(I would post them here, but since I didn't take them I'll just share a link for those interested)

2019 Rumors and Speculation - Page 40 - Carowinds Connection

 

[Dhdhddh]

According to Screamscape it's not going to be a wooden coaster. I don't know how accurate his information is, but he was right about Thunder Road leaving, so....

 

[cwgator]

There are multiple rumors. His are no better than anyone else's. Other options I could see is if it's an all steel RMC (preferably the T-Rex model that hasn't been built yet over the Raptor), Infinity coaster or some sort of launch coaster. I'm really hoping it's a GCI. Carowinds needs a great wooden coaster more than anything. Hurler is ok, and has been kept up better than it's former clone at KD, but it's just boring in comparison to other wooden coasters at comparable parks.