[swampfox43]

As much as I loved and miss the early Carowinds, I like moving forward. But here's what I would do to change what we currently have.

I would add more flats and quality dark rides and theme the entire park on the scale of Busch Gardens.

The only coasters I would remove would be Nighthawk (ouch) and Carolina Cobra (yawn). Now that I've taken out the trash, bring the waterways back around the Goldrusher's 2nd half. Give Goldrusher some extreme theming. Make it an experience. A real mine shaft themed ride. Breath new life into this family coaster.

I would RMC the Hurler and build a nice Gravity Group wood out & back twister on the scale of Voyage. Do something with Vortex, like we think's gonna happen eventually. A launcher similar to Maverick. Something Intamin....I love B&M but it would be nice to have an extreme Intamin feel now and then.

The big change overall for me would be theming. Make each coaster a 2D experience. The rails and the theme. Like no other park between Busch and Disney.

[FamousAmos]

Huh, I would also LOVE to see a fountain in Carowinds Plaza.
But there's something in the way...
I wonder how soon???

[Jonathan]

The previous page

[tarheel1231]

Here's part two of my reimagining of Carowinds:

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I would gut every building other than the Cinnabon/Edy's. The old photo processing spot is getting replaced with a Starbucks. A fountain would look nice behind the state line sign. I'd put in a new emporium gift shop in the spot of the plaza stage. Carowinds Cafe would get converted into a full service restaurant. A Friday's would be great but I'd love for Cedar Fair to pick up a Bob Evans. It doesn't even have to be a chain restaurant, something a little more "down home" than Harmony Hall would fit perfectly in that spot. I'd open up another photo processing spot where Premiers is and a few other unique shops. I have a few more ideas but what I want the Plaza to look like is a southern version of International Street.

Here's my idea for the retheming of Carolina Showplace:

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I've already gone over Scrambler/RRR, but for the antique cars. I'd take out Papa Luigi's. The station would be located in its spot and the ride would travel over the maintenance road. From there, it would cross over a bridge above RRR and run parallel to its course for the first half of the ride. It would weave through the trees and cross a few more bridges before heading back to the station.

[gabed]

LOVE your antique cars idea! Having it run parallel to parts of RRR and the bridges going across RRR would be an awesome way to have the rides interact with each other. Also, considering that that area is really the only heavily wooded area of the park left, it's the perfect place to put them.

[coasterbruh]

How are you gonna explain the case of that kid that fell in the rapids from the car ride bridge . . .

[Littlegiles]

How are you gonna explain the case of that kid that fell in the rapids from the car ride bridge . . .

I think it is a cool idea and the bridges could be old-fashioned covered bridges, but sadly, I don't see something like that happening. First, the old cars really aren't a big draw for people and it isn't something that would be heavily advertised and cause a stir like a new coaster, massive water park or flat ride. Second, the logistics of building it to work with, and around, the existing RRR would be a nightmare; and third, constructing the new ride would delete most (if not all) of the existing trees to allow construction equipment. Then you end up with a new ride that has no awesome woods around and an existing ride that lost a lot of its charm when the trees came out.

[tarheel1231]

^ Didn't consider that..... my idea was that the reconfiguration of Carolina Showplace would come along with the floorless transformation of Vortex. I didn't think they'd need all that heavy construction equipment to build an antique cars ride.

[EDIT] You're probably right about the constitution equipment. The ride would have to stay fairly elevated to allow clearance for Rip Roarin' Rapids and the maintenance road. I still think relocating the entrance for RRR is a good idea. I don't know how redundant this would be but a log flume would look cool in that area as well.

[pproteinc]

Not if the pull a Lake Compounce and use man power and ropes to keep the trees and have only minimal removal just for the track. I do agree that if they do it cedar way all the trees would be demolished build the ride and replant the trees which will then take years for it to fill back in to how it is now which would prolly not happen caused by that time both rides would be gone lol

[tarheel1231]

Finally came up with a name for what I'd retheme Thrill Zone to: Classic Carolinas.

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This section would focus on the period of Carolina history from 1950 to 1989 (minus all the racial tension... ). I kind of wanted to do strictly 50's but Fury has nothing to do with the 50's. By stretching out the timeline, I can include the Hornets theme (Charlotte Hornets started in 1988) so nothing would feel super out of place. Like I said before, I'd give Carowinds Theater a facade upgrade and rename it something like 'Pat Hall Theater.' I'd replace Scream Weaver with a Huss Rainbow with a similar theme to El Dorado and put Scream Weaver back in the County Fair as Meteorite. Maybe in Southern Star's spot (I already covered where I'd put it). I would get RMC to topper track all four of Hurler's turns so the trim wouldn't be needed anymore. I'd paint Drop Tower Carolina-Blue and give it a new sign. I'm sure another dumb idea will pop into my head and I'll get to share it with you all. Maybe something to do with Carolina Boardwalk....

[arby]

...Don't forget that there are two Cedar Fairs: 1) Kinzel Cedar Fair 2) Ouimet Cedar Fair. They are two similar companies but with different focuses.

I am excited for the new Carowinds with continued focus and theming towards the Carolina's heritage. I suspect that over the next 5-10 years, we are going to see the entire park themed towards the Carolinas. It won't be Disney or Universal level, but that level isn't required for theming to categorized as theming over what it has previously been since Mr. Hall sold the park and ALL the owners since then have taken part in removing what used to be the old Carowinds.

[formeryogi]

My wish list is simple:

1. I would completely restore the original Harmony Hall to the showplace it was. It had such atmosphere. Ripping out the building for Boo Blasters was sinful! The fact that the blasters don't work make it even more sickening.

2. I would buy out Tweetsie Railroad and move the train to Carowinds. Follow the same concept-- a train ride adventure inside of just circling the park.

3. It would return to being a "theme park."

[RollerBee]

On the topic of Tweetsie....
It is a nice side stop but not enough for a full day event; they have good hillside that could be used for wooden family coaster without going too high above the trees. As old as Tweetsie is I am surprised that it isn't more developed than it is.

Buying out Tweetsie would be difficult, the County owns stake in the park's future staying in that County b

[tarheel1231]

My wish list is simple:

1. I would completely restore the original Harmony Hall to the showplace it was. It had such atmosphere. Ripping out the building for Boo Blasters was sinful! The fact that the blasters don't work make it even more sickening.

2. I would buy out Tweetsie Railroad and move the train to Carowinds. Follow the same concept-- a train ride adventure inside of just circling the park.

3. It would return to being a "theme park."

1. Why do we need 2 harmony halls? Personally I'd rather see them turn Action Theater into another show venue.

2 and 3. Carowinds needs a lot more than a train to turn it back into a theme park. My wish is that they would extend Shortline RR to circle around Planet Snoopy. Easier than buying a brand new one and it would feel like a legitimate train instead of a glorified version of the one at Zuma Fun Center.

[tarheel1231]

Sorry for the double post, I have one final idea for my "re-imagining" of Carowinds. It would be the retheming of Carolina Boardwalk. The theme would be 'Gold Creek,' a (fictional) Carolina ghost town once famous for its rich gold mines. This way, Golsrusher wouldn't look out of place. I would bring back the gold panning attraction in front of Goldrusher (I believe Carowinds used to have this). I'd rename Ricochet something like "Salmon Run" or something else cheesy and fish-related. Carolina Cyclone would be repainted to its original colors. I'd move the lighthouse and all the extra boardwalk theming to Carolina Harbor and replace it with an old-timey water tower. I'd move Chickie's and Pete's to Wings' location in "Pirate Island" where it would get a heavy dose of ECU among other Carolina teams. In its place, I'd open up a fried fish restaurant. If Carowinds moved the offices behind Cyclone, I'd place a splash battle in that area. I'd open up a pond and place a quartet of singing salmon similar to the mushrooms at KD.


I think that about wraps up my terrible ideas/pipe dreams. I'm sure we'll see Carowinds return somewhat to its original form, but it will be much better than the ridiculous ideas in my head. Just to recap, my ideas are:

• Piedmont Plains (West Plaza + West RFD)

• Blue Ridge Pass (Carolina Showplace minus Carowinds Theater)

• Classic Carolinas (Thrill Zone + Carowinds Theater)

• Gold Creek (Carolina Boardwalk)

• Pirate Island (Eastern RFD)