[coasterbruh]

As far as future plans, it seems like the reason TR in particular was targeted is because it is in the way of the water park. As people have said, if Carowinds really wanted to get rid of a woodie, they should have chosen Hurler since it's less popular and not as deeply tied into the park's history. I think it's not impossible for TR to be turned into a hybrid coaster, but I'm not expecting it. It just seems like too big of a "coincidence" that we were expecting a water park expansion/new water ride and then they announce the closing of the roller coaster right next to the water park. But I will certainly still hope for the best (:

[Jonathan]

Everyone keeps saying that Cedar Fair doesn't care at all about the park's past which is a lie.

While I generally agree with the first part of your post and am more or less a fan of Cedar Fair as far as big corporate chains go, it's laughable that you can suggest this with a straight face. No matter how good or bad Cedar Fair are or how much anyone loves or hates them, there is no objective argument that can be made that preserving history is something they are concerned about. You can look across all of the parks in the chain and see that. When something is in the way of expansion or becomes more costly to maintain than desired, it gets axed. And I'm sure they feel they have a solid business case for doing that. But preservation is not a part of their mindset. I don't think they bought Carowinds because they liked what it was, but because they liked what they could transform it into. And that's great. It's exciting that Charlotte is basically going to end up with what's almost a new park after these years of renovations. But it's disappointing that Carowinds, the Carowinds that a lot of us grew up going to, is basically gone.

[amyers420]

I completely understand what you are saying and agree change to the park is good and will generate more business. The only thing I am interested in preserving at Carowinds is Thunder Road. It tied in the whole thing with the park being in NC/SC with the early days of racing history here in the Carolinas as well with the cars racing each other to see who would make it back first. This ride, to me and many others, is the glue of Carowinds. Take it out and they might as well rename the park.

[ColetD]

I think I am just going to stay in denial until I actually see them start an actual tear down. I will definitely make sure to get more rides in before the end of July just in case, but.. I just don't want to believe it won't be there next year. I am going to be stubborn and hope that it will be getting special treatment (even if that means converting into a hybrid) for its anniversary next year.

[tarheel1231]

The petition is almost complete..... not that it matters....

[RollerBee]

Without Thunder Road, there will be a hole in the coaster lineup that Hurler will never fill. Three letters come to my mind. GCI!

[Sean978]

Without Thunder Road, there will be a hole in the coaster lineup that Hurler will never fill. Three letters come to my mind. GCI!

As much as I want this, I don't see it happening. A brand new woodie, even a conversion, would be very unlikely right after a $30 million coaster, but if CF wants to give us that I'm not arguing.

[coasterbruh]

Without Thunder Road, there will be a hole in the coaster lineup that Hurler will never fill. Three letters come to my mind. GCI!

You do know a lot of good coaster line ups don't include wooden coasters...

[jordN1414]

Am I the only one that is ok with this? I mean don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed the times I've had on TR but I think its time for it to go. TR always annoyed me when I was in the waterpark because its so loud. Nothing says relaxing in the waterpark like Thunder Road going past.

[tarheel1231]

^ What? I thought having Thunder Road so close to the water park was pretty awesome! It was always exciting to see the trains pass by while I was in Bondi Beach. It's going to be so weird and empty walking into the water park without Thunder Road flying by.

[coasterbruh]

Am I the only one that is ok with this? I mean don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed the times I've had on TR but I think its time for it to go. TR always annoyed me when I was in the waterpark because its so loud. Nothing says relaxing in the waterpark like Thunder Road going past.

Get him...

[chknwing]

I dont want to see TR go for something like a shoot the rapids. That would be a fail. From other sites I have been reading, the consensus is carowinds most likely is getting some type of water ride next year but an actual water park expansion may not take place until the year after.

[kirkgun]

So many of you all keep using the work "historic" to describe Thunder Road.




There are coasters out there that have been giving great rides to people for generations before the first brick was laid in the construction of Carowinds. And Thunder Road didn't come for a few more years after that! There is nothing historic about Thunder Road. The closest thing that Carowinds has to a "historic" ride is Woodstock Gliders. And that isn't accurate either, as they were basically mass produced and still a whole number of identical examples around. It's just old. It's not historic.

Thunder Road isn't even old. It's just falling apart.

And then there is the word "iconic"...

You guys are sentimental about Thunder Road for personal reasons. I get that. I feel bad for you guys that a ride that you have enjoyed for quite a while is being "retired". I understand that you are sad to see it go. But you do have to understand that the park management is not getting rid of it for personal reasons (just because you want it to stay for personal reasons). They have to answer to the state inspectors. They must have insurance coverage to cover liabilities for people who ride it. Have you once considered that Cedar Fair was probably faced with the inevitability of removing Thunder Road the first day that Cedar Fair took ownership of the park? They've sunk money to keep it open for the past few years for us. It's removal was probably the one and only part of this 3 year 50 million dollar park investment that was not open to changing or discussion. Not because they didn't like it for personal reasons, it's because they couldn't do it professional reasons.

Hurler might not be as fun as thunder road. I agree, I like Thunder Road better. But with brutal honety, Thunder Road is not all that great of a wooden coaster either. The difference is that Hurler is about 20 years newer. It's not about removing rides for the sake of removing rides. It's about removing A ride, because they can't keep it open without it being a huge loss. Cedar Fair knows amusement parks. They know roller coasters. They know how to make sure that Carowinds will be there for your kids, and grand kids to have fun generations from now. That is something that nobody who ever owned Carowinds in the past knew how to successfully do. Keeping it open for many many more years is their goal. Period.

You don't need to be happy that Thunder Road is being retired. I wouldn't expect folks to be happy about losing a ride they love. But you all are insane if can't understand this isn't about the park managers voting to remove the rides they personally don't like. It's just the business of amusement park management.

[Jonathan]

But you all are insane if can't understand this isn't about the park managers voting to remove the rides they personally don't like.

I love it when people argue against things that literally no one has said.

[redrunner97]

^ ^ I don't think anyone is suggesting that Cedar Fair has some personal vendetta against Thunder Road.

Thunder Road has an emotional attachment to people all over North and South Carolina. For many, it was their first roller coaster. It's also a Carowinds staple, as well as an icon of the Carolinas in general. I think the petition with over 1,000 signatures in one day speaks to that (IIRC, that's more than SFMM's Colossus got in it's petition campaign as a whole -although that's a slightly different case). I do think some people are letting their emotions get the better of them, but I have to agree that there must be some kind of work-around that could preserve the ride and still allow their plans for the "big splash" to continue.

On the flip side, I don't think blaming the chain or park management is going to solve anything. This is a really tough situation to wrap your head around because we essentially do not know what it is we're "trading" Thunder Road for. So while sitting back and not voicing your opinion won't help the predicament, neither will bashing Carowinds for this decision, since we don't yet know all the details.

Lastly, my personal feelings are that this is an unfortunate decision. In my mind there are four "classic" coasters at Carowinds: Woodstock Express, Goldrusher, Carolina Cyclone, and Thunder Road. Honestly, Thunder Road is the last one I expected to leave the park -which saddens me to think that in several years, there's a chance that list will decrease even further. That's the biggest thing that worries me about this news.