[redrunner97]

If Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom truly does close as rumor suggests, I could definitely see them moving over a few slides to the area on the other side of Thunder Road, and opening up the pathway under it, like they've talked about wanting to do.

They could definitely fit the resort hotel off that side of the park, maybe a hotel/waterpark entrance there too? I think it'd be cool to call it Carolina Queen Hotel, for nostalgia's sake and theming.

[Edwardo]

Both posts are spot on, Jarsh. They've already spruced up the campground. They're working on making the park a multi day destination. Any hotel, with or without an indoor water park would be good.

The waterpark needs more. With a couple of thrill rides and a couple of family rides, add in some atmosphere and a nite time show, you'll have close to a CP South.

[Jonathan]

I would assume that a hotel would go to the east of the park where the land was recently purchased.

[Jarsh]

Both posts are spot on, Jarsh. They've already spruced up the campground. They're working on making the park a multi day destination. Any hotel, with or without an indoor water park would be good.

The waterpark needs more. With a couple of thrill rides and a couple of family rides, add in some atmosphere and a nite time show, you'll have close to a CP South.

Agreed on all accounts. They are definitely headed in the right direction! I think adding to the waterpark every year (even a little bit) and then building a Castaway Bay type hotel in the corner of the new land by 77 would catapult Carowinds into the only place like it in the Southeast.

[tylerSC]

Both posts are spot on, Jarsh. They've already spruced up the campground. They're working on making the park a multi day destination. Any hotel, with or without an indoor water park would be good.

The waterpark needs more. With a couple of thrill rides and a couple of family rides, add in some atmosphere and a nite time show, you'll have close to a CP South.

Agreed on all accounts. They are definitely headed in the right direction! I think adding to the waterpark every year (even a little bit) and then building a Castaway Bay type hotel in the corner of the new land by 77 would catapult Carowinds into the only place like it in the Southeast.

Why don't they just buy the old PTL hotel across the interstate at Heritage USA? And run a monorail over there? And there is also an unfinished hotel tower sitting there. I never understood why they let the PTL park go down after Jim and Tammy left. Especially the waterpark. It was very nice.

[Jarsh]

You do realize that even thought Heritage USA is technically "across the interstate", it's still several miles away from the park...

[RollerBee]

Probably the cost of said Monorail is too expenseive to warrant expanding it. Disney hasnt expanded theirs.

[mark40511]

I wonder why it's a "3" year 50 million expansion? I mean, parks are always being expanded. Is it just that they are planning to do more in the 3 years than after that? And if the new Giga is 30 Plus million, and they expand the water park, that doesn't leave much left for another coaster in that 3 years.

[Capler]

Both posts are spot on, Jarsh. They've already spruced up the campground. They're working on making the park a multi day destination. Any hotel, with or without an indoor water park would be good.

The waterpark needs more. With a couple of thrill rides and a couple of family rides, add in some atmosphere and a nite time show, you'll have close to a CP South.

Agreed on all accounts. They are definitely headed in the right direction! I think adding to the waterpark every year (even a little bit) and then building a Castaway Bay type hotel in the corner of the new land by 77 would catapult Carowinds into the only place like it in the Southeast.

Why don't they just buy the old PTL hotel across the interstate at Heritage USA? And run a monorail over there? And there is also an unfinished hotel tower sitting there. I never understood why they let the PTL park go down after Jim and Tammy left. Especially the waterpark. It was very nice.

1. Another ministry owns it now.

2. The new ministry has reopened the original hotel.

3. That tower is in shambles and would need to be stripped down to the skeleton. It would be cheaper to start new.

4. The reason Heritage went down is very complex. But the short version is because the Feds got involved. All those partners and other creditors were lean holders. It needed to be sold in order to pay the debtors. Because of the size, there weren't any buyers for the whole thing so they started by selling off the land and various parts. The core sat decaying for decades until a new ministry came in and bought the land and started renovating the buildings left. Here is a very sad video called The Ruins of Heritage USA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RObwAIiP5zQ

[Jonathan]

Also, good luck running a monorail along four to five miles of public right of way including through residential neighborhoods. You're talking probably at least a hundred million dollars and many years of planning, outreach, and legal wrangling. Aside from the "Main Street" area, the old PTL site has been almost completely redeveloped into single family homes.

I wonder why it's a "3" year 50 million expansion? I mean, parks are always being expanded. Is it just that they are planning to do more in the 3 years than after that? And if the new Giga is 30 Plus million, and they expand the water park, that doesn't leave much left for another coaster in that 3 years.

I believe 2014 was year 1, so there almost certainly will not be a new roller coaster in both 2015 and 2016.

[Firechaser]

Also, good luck running a monorail along four to five miles of public right of way including through residential neighborhoods. You're talking probably at least a hundred million dollars and many years of planning, outreach, and legal wrangling. Aside from the "Main Street" area, the old PTL site has been almost completely redeveloped into single family homes.

I wonder why it's a "3" year 50 million expansion? I mean, parks are always being expanded. Is it just that they are planning to do more in the 3 years than after that? And if the new Giga is 30 Plus million, and they expand the water park, that doesn't leave much left for another coaster in that 3 years.

I believe 2014 was year 1, so there almost certainly will not be a new roller coaster in both 2015 and 2016.

This is a bit of a stretch but what if they do like Magic Mountain FT-2013 Kids expansion with a kiddie coaster-2014?

[Edwardo]

The park is in the midst of its five year plan. The 3 year expansion refers specifically to the $50 Mill that was going to be given to either Carowinds or KD.

This expansion is to position the park going further. Again, look at what's been said by several seasoned people here.

Look at what the park did this year. This year is huge for what they're trying to do. Better food and more options. Major infrastructure this year and next. New slides and a new coaster.

I would think that the 2016 additions will look more like what CP did this year or Knotts did last year. Bring back a ride, add a family ride, and a mild thrill ride.

[Merthecat]

Think they could build new slides here?

newslides.jpg (451.77KiB)Viewed 4449 times

[gabed]

Think they could build new slides here?

newslides.jpg

I'd say so, if you took out the mini golf, (which is pointless), you would definitely have enough room for a new slide. Hint hint... water coaster. Yes, I know, that will probably never happen, but if Carowinds were to build a compact one like Deluge than I think it could work in that area. This is all wishful thinking of course.

[coasterbruh]

i think they would go under thunder road before removing the golf and the sand area. i wonder if they can add another slide to the raft tower? With only one family raft slide they can really benefit from adding another! But...i think we'll see a mat racer slide first...