[Wormy]

But, doesn't the whole "winged" statement made shake things up?

It certainly did for a while. Took a loooong time to put out that fire.

[Jonathan]

I know we've been through all this, but what needs to be remembered when it comes to that transcript is that Peter Zeiler works for the city of Charlotte in the Neighborhood and Business Services department. He is not an employee of Cedar Fair or Carowinds and it seems clear that he was given some basic facts about the ride and some images of Gatekeeper to demonstrate a recent Cedar Fair coaster project that made a statement at the front gate of a park. His lack of knowledge not just about the project but Carowinds itself is evident when he mistakes the Palladium for the front gate and is corrected by a councilman.

Who the hell really knows whether the winged coaster comment was based on information the park gave to him or a jump to conclusions that the Carowinds ride would be a bigger version of Gatekeeper.

[Merthecat]

What I'm concerned about is the speed figure. 65 MPH is a bit boring, and wouldn't attract me for a season's pass.

[Capler]

Some folk are focusing too much on small side details. The meat of the presentation was about a 300ft coaster, examples were give of others. It was also discussed how such height would impact attendance. What interested me most was about attendance at Dominion and Carowinds. Intimidator added 300,000 to the figure. Historically I was under the impression Dominion drew more people than Carowinds, but apparently that is not the case now. It goes to show Carowinds is a fast growth park like Wonderland and could explain why we are getting the Wonderland treatment. Apparently the 1, 2 punch of a hyper and giga has paid off in Canada and they hope to replicate the success here. It also could mean the addition of Intimidator here had a larger impact on attendance than the one at Dominion. High times at the Winds!

[Edwardo]

Carowinds has a lot of potential. Heck, Paramount added like 5 new coasters and a dark ride in, what, a 7 year period? I think the park is catching up to the growth of the metro area around it. I think CF is committed to leaping forward with Carowinds.

[gabed]

Carowinds has a lot of potential. Heck, Paramount added like 5 new coasters and a dark ride in, what, a 7 year period? I think the park is catching up to the growth of the metro area around it. I think CF is committed to leaping forward with Carowinds.

But, as Jay said in the "This Season's Intimidator" thread, that was when the economy was good. Also, keep in mind that three of those coasters were family coasters and one was used. But, I wouldn't be surprised if Carowinds experiences another leap like it did in the early 2000's now that Cedar Fair plans on making Carowinds the "Cedar Point of the South"

[saxrokinhomo]

Exactly. CF wouldn't be building a satellite office in Charlotte if they didn't plan on really bringing up the status of the park, not saying Carowinds is bad but it has potential to be awesome. And if I'm not mistaken all of this $50 million is a " first phase"...hopefully more to come.

[gabed]

Exactly. CF wouldn't be building a satellite office in Charlotte if they didn't plan on really bringing up the status of the park, not saying Carowinds is bad but it has potential to be awesome. And if I'm not mistaken all of this $50 million is a " first phase"...hopefully more to come.

You're probably right, I'm willing to bet that in 10 years, Carowinds will be a completely different park.

[Edwardo]

I'm not saying CF will do what was done in the early 2000s. I'm simply pointing out the park's potential, regardless of the economy.

[Capler]

I wonder how many weeks track is allowed to rust, 1 month, 2 months?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSl5MMlJIho

[intaminboy]

Those tracks are already painted. It looks in the video as if they let the tracks rust and then they paint them. So, I don't think those tracks are being left out to rust. I think they are sitting and waiting to be shipped.

[Chris]

Those tracks are already painted. It looks in the video as if they let the tracks rust and then they paint them. So, I don't think those tracks are being left out to rust. I think they are sitting and waiting to be shipped.

Would you like to watch the video he linked and try again?

[intaminboy]

Look at minute 3:28. I think that is rust not paint.

[Chris]

Look at minute 3:28. I think that is rust not paint.

Click this link and listen closely... http://youtu.be/QSl5MMlJIho?t=3m24s

[Edwardo]

The track is allowed to rust before they paint them. I think what intamin boy is saying is that the track in the aforementioned pictures of white and yellow track that are outside appear to be painted, not rusted, which is correct. The track isn't left to rust after they paint it.