Carowinds
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| Carowinds | |
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| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States  |
| Website | Carowinds |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| Opened | March 31, 1973 |
| Previous names | Carowinds (1973-1993),(2007-present) Paramount's Carowinds (1993–2006) |
| Operating season | mid March-late October |
| Area | 112 acres |
| Rides | 49 total
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| Slogan | Carowinds...Where Else? |
Carowinds is a 112-acre theme park, located adjacent to I-77 on the state line between North and South Carolina, in Charlotte and Fort Mill, respectively. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $30 million, after a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland and a dream of bringing the two states closer together.
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[edit] History
The Carowinds theme park itself was originally envisioned as a component of a large resort-type area that would have included hotels, a shopping center, a golf course, and a pro football stadium. However, like many other theme parks across the country, attendance at Carowinds was severely diminished by the 1973 oil crisis, and the plans for the resort that would have surrounded the park were abandoned. Hall and the other stockholders of the Carowinds Corporation continued to operate the theme park through 1974, though sagging attendance forced the company to sell out to Taft Broadcasting in early 1975.
The park was purchased by Paramount Communications in 1993 and joined the Paramount Parks family, after ownership bounced from Taft Broadcast Company to Family Leisure Centers (a joint between Taft and Top Value Enterprises), to Kings Entertainment Company, which was the last owner prior to the acquisition by Paramount. The park was renamed Paramount's Carowinds in 1993. Viacom then purchased Paramount in 1994.
The name "Carowinds" was derived from the park's original theme. Since the park was built around the history and culture of the Carolinas, the name is a combination of "Carolina" and "winds", representing the winds that have blown across the two states. As the park changed ownership over the years, most of the Carolina themes and cultural attractions were dropped in favor of more generic television and movie themes.
Carowinds opens in late March each year and closes in early November, after the park's Halloween event, "Scarowinds". In 2005, a portion of the park reopened during December for the Winterfest Christmas festival. However, the park did not repeat the event in 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island's Winterfest.
On January 27, 2006, the website of the Dayton Daily News reported that CBS Corporation (which split from Viacom at the end of 2005) would be selling Paramount's Carowinds and other parks in its Paramount Parks division. [1]
On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. acquired Paramount Parks, including Carowinds. [2]
Although Cedar Fair continued to use the Paramount's Carowinds name through the remainder of the 2006 season, it began to phase out the Paramount name in press releases and on the website. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired will also be receiving similar changes. As of February 2007, the "Paramount" name has been dropped from all of the parks.
Though it is the smallest and least well-known of Paramount's former parks, Carowinds is still a popular destination for tourists, especially considering that it is the only large theme park in the Carolinas region.
[edit] Rides
[edit] Roller coasters
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A Bolliger and Mabillard inverted roller coaster. Located in the South Gate section of the park. Previously named Top Gun: The Jet Coaster.
Arrow Dynamics coaster featuring 2 loops and 2 corkscrews. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to feature 4 inversions.
- Carolina Goldrusher
First roller coaster ever at Carowinds, made by Arrow Dynamics. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to cross state lines.
Formerly the Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster and themed to Fairly Odd Parents. Located in Nickelodean Central section of the park.
- Hey Arnold's Taxi Chase
A kiddie coaster themed to Hey Arnold. Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.
A wooden out and back roller coaster formerly themed to Wayne's World. Located in the Thrill Zone section of the park.
A Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster. This ride operated as Stealth at Great America before being installed at Carowinds. Previously named Borg Assimilator.
A Wild Mouse Coaster. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park.
Vekoma Inverted Coaster themed to Rugrats. Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.
Twin wooden roller coaster that crosses the NC/SC border.Both sides go forwards and race each other. Located in the County Fair section of the park.
A Bolliger and Mabillard stand up roller coaster. Located in the Carolina Showcase section of the park.
[edit] Thrill Rides
- Drop Tower (formally, Drop Zone Stunt Tower)
An Intamin free fall tower. It's 160 feet high and has a 100 ft. drop. It's located in the Thrill Zone section of the park
- Scream Weaver
A Schwarzkopf Enterprise ride. With a 1 and a half minute ride time. It's located in the Thrill Zone section of the park.
- Southern Star
An Intamin Looping Starship (ride). Located in the County Fair section of the park.
[edit] Other Rides
- Carolina Skytower
An Intamin 320 foot tall cable tower that gives guests a view of Carowinds and Charlotte. It was originally sponsored by and branded as the Eastern Airlines Skytower. It is located in the Carowinds Plaza section of the park.
- Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion
A dark ride where guests shoot targets and get a score and is themed to Scooby Doo. Originally, the building was a theater and variety shows were shown inside. It is located in the Carolina RFD section of the park.
- Spongebob Squarepants 3D
A 3D Ride in the Paramount F-X Theatre themed to SpongeBob SquarePants. Located in the County Fair section of the park.
- Yo-Yo
NEW FOR 2008
A Chance yo-yo swing ride, currently occupys the spot where Whirling Dervish, a park original wave swinger sat. Located in the County Fair section of the park. (Relocated from Geauga Lake in Ohio)
[edit] Nickelodeon Central
Backyardigans Swing-A-Long
- A miniature swing ride themed to Nick Jr.'s The Backyardigans.
Boots' Ballon Race
- A flying balloon ride featuring Boots from Dora the Explorer.
Danny Phantom's Phantom Flyers
- A flying object ride where the guest pilots the car. Themed to Danny Phantom.
Dora the Explorer's Azul Adventure
- A miniature train ride themed to Dora the Explorer.
Lazy Town Sporticopters
- A monorail with helicopter cars themed to Lazy Town.
Little Bill's Cruisers
- A mini speed boat ride themed to Little Bill.
Nick Jr. Jets
- A small flying jet ride.
Nick-O-Round
- An antique carousel.
Rocket Power Air Time
- A swinging ride that falls at 33 feet per second themed to Rocket Power.
The Flying Dutchman's Revenge
- A rotating pirate ship ride themed to SpongeBob SquarePants.
Tommy's Take Off
- A small plane ride.
[edit] Water Rides
- The Wild Thornberry's River Adventure
A log flume ride themed to The Wild Thornberrys. Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.
- Rip Roarin Rapids
A white water rapids ride. Located in the Carowinds Plaza section of the park.
- WhiteWater Falls
A small splash boat ride. Located in the Carolina RFD section of the park.
[edit] Boomerang Bay Water Park
NON WATERSLIDES
- Crocodile Run
A lazy river ride on water rafts that crosses over and back between North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Kangaroo Lagoon and Wallaby Wharf
Kid's section with pools for infants and toddlers.
- Great Barrier Reef
25,000 sq ft. wave pool, the centrepiece of the water park.
- Bondi Beach
NEW FOR 2008
600,000 gallon beach style wave pool complete with rentable cabanas.
WATERSLIDES
- Down Under Thunder
- Awesome Aussie Twister
- Sydney Sidewinder
- Pipeline Peak
[edit] Ride and attraction timeline
- 2008: A second wave pool named Bondi Beach is to be added along with cabanas. This will add 20 acres to the park making it 112 Acres. Geauga Lake's Yo-Yo swing ride added. When some of the Paramount names were dropped Top Gun was renamed Afterburn, and Borg Assimilator was renamed Nighthawk. The ice show returns for a second year. Flying Super Saturator does return but only operates on the Boomerang Bay Water Park operating calender. Flying Super Saturator receives a new coat of paint. Much of Thunder Road and Fairly Odd Coaster were retracked.
- 2007: Frenzoid was put back in as Southern Star in County Fair. Three Point Challenge was built near the north entrance. A new ice show premiered entitled Carowinds: Endless Summers on Ice. The price for a single day ticket dropped for the first time ever. Skytower was repainted to look like an American flag. The Flying Super Saturator was closed and will possibly be removed after Labor Day. Winterfest will not be held in 2007.
- 2006: The Frenzoid was removed. The WaterWorks Water Park was rethemed to Boomerang Bay waterpark by adding a used slide from Kings Dominion and converting the old Frenzoid lake into a heated lagoon. Thunder Raceway (go-karts) are built in Thrill Zone. Winterfest does not return for a second year.
- 2005: Nickelodeon Central expansion, featuring Phantom Flyers, Flying Dutchman's Revenge, Little Bill's Cruisers, Yogi's Jellystone Garden (Original Ride) is rethemed to Dora the Explorer's Azul Adventure; Frenzoid removal begins in September; Winterfest:Home for the Holidays returns to Carowinds. Stan Miketa's in Thrill Zone changed to Happy Days Diner.
The Paramount's Carowinds logo, used from 2003 until 2007. - 2004: Borg Assimilator coaster added. The ride was renamed Nighthawk in 2008.
- 2003: Nickelodeon Central, featuring Rugrats Runaway Reptar, Powder Keg Flume (Original Ride) rethemed to Wild Thornberrys River Adventure; Gauntlet (Original Ride) rethemed to Rocket Power Air Time; Carolina Sternwheeler (Original Ride) riverboat removed.
- 2002: Ricochet (coaster) and rethemeing of area to Carolina Boardwalk; Cyber Says.
- 2001: Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion; 7th Portal and Meteor Attack updates for Action F/X Theatre; Waterworks expansion; Whirling Dervish (swing ride) removed.
- 2000: Scarowinds (Halloween event); Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator (coaster).
- 1999: Top Gun (coaster) added. The ride was renamed "Flight Deck" in 2008 and roughly a month later renamed yet again Afterburn
- 1998: Expansion of Animation Station with Zoom Zone featuring Taxi Jam, Road Rally, and Chopper Chase; James Bond 007 A License to Thrill in Paramount Action F/X Theater (replacement for Days of Thunder).
- 1997: WaterWorks (expansion/rename of water park).
- 1996: Drop Zone Stunt Tower (Intamin freefall drop).
- 1995: Animation Station (expansion/rename of Hanna-Barbera Land); Skyflyer.
- 1994: Wayne's World section (now Thrill Zone) with The Hurler (coaster); Monorail removed.
- 1993: Days of Thunder Motion Simulator Theatre (now Action F/X Theatre).
- 1992: The Vortex (coaster).
- 1991: Expansion of Paladium; Speedway Cars removed.
- 1990: Gauntlet (now Rocket Power AirTime).
- 1989: Riptide Reef (water park rename/expansion); Expansion of Paladium.
- 1988: WhiteWater Falls; White Lightnin' removed; Black Widow (thrill ride) removed.
- 1987: Expansion of Hanna-Barbera Land with three new rides; Old Jalopies antique car ride removed; Oaken Bucket removed.
- 1986: Frenzoid.
The original Carowinds logo used from 1973 until 1993. - 1985: Blackbeard's Revenge (mystery house).
- 1984: Smurf Island (themed area).
- 1983: Winterfest (Christmas event) opens but doesn't return; Cable Skyway removed.
- 1982: Rip Roarin' Rapids; Ocean Island (water park).
- 1981: No changes.
- 1980: Carolina Cyclone (coaster).
- 1979: Meteorite (now Scream Weaver); Demolition Derby (bumper cars); Whirling Dervish (wave swinger); Wild Bull; Carousel.
- 1977: White Lightnin' (Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster); Whirling Well renamed Oaken Bucket and moved to east midway.
- 1976: Thunder Road (wooden coaster); Carowinds and Carolina Railroad removed.
- 1975: Paladium Amphitheatre; Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera (themed area) featuring Scooby-Doo roller coaster; Surfer (Tagada); Wagon Wheel (Chance Trabant); Waltzer (Schwarzkopf spinning ride).
- 1974: Stagecoach(now Country Kitchen) is added; Whirling Well(Chance Rotor); picnic areas open. The Double-Decker Carousel is removed from the park at the end of the season and placed in storage.
- 1973: Carowinds opens on March 31, 1973; the Monorail is still under construction and opens later.
[edit] Notes
- A 340 foot tower at Carowinds was cited as a possible causitive factor in the 1974 fatal crash of a jet airplane at the nearby Douglas Municipal Airport, which is now Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. (See: Eastern Air Lines Flight 212)
- Carowinds is home to a family of white squirrels that were brought in and released when the park opened to bring good luck.
- Carowinds' official address has it in Fort Mill.
[edit] External links
- Carowinds Official Site
- Carowinds Zone (Unofficial guide to Carowinds, and fan site)
- Carowinds Connection (Unofficial Carowinds fan forum)
- Carowinds: The Early Years (1973-1977) - Includes Pictures From 1972
- Video of the Rides of Carowinds Park
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