[Thriller]

Remember those days of pulling into the park to see the Monorail and Sky Tower testing as the park was nearing operation for the day? The days back when Scooby Doo and the Flintstones greeted you at the gate. The days of Smurf Island and Hannah Barbra Land filled with crazy kids running around with their Jetsons novelty stuffed toys. The memories gained from riding the classics like Black beard’s Revenge, Raging Bull, the "racing version" of Thunder Road (with the single lap bars) and relaxing in Coral Reef (old water park). Just whatever happened to all the old country themeing that was inspired by the Carolina's? Afterall, Carowind's got it's name from the winds that pass through the Carolina's!?!

I would give anything to experience that excitement as a youngster again for just one day. I will always remember Carowinds for those days; as that was when I feel in love with the park and probably the only reason I still go today. Even now, I reminisce about the old decor and theme throughout the park. Although 90% of the original Carowinds is gone, I still enjoy going to the park and taking in the excitement from when I was a kid. I only wish today's memories could match up to those as a kid. The park has grown and added some nice additions since those days, but the loveable feel of the park has been long gone.

[Jay]

I think most of the time nostalgia clouds our judgment and paints things as better than they actually were. Sometimes I watch tv shows or look at pictures or read books from my childhood and just go ... what the hell? Why did I enjoy this?

Not saying if Carowinds is this way because I only visited once prior to 1997 and I can barely remember that. It would sure be interesting to take a trip back in time though.

[Davidtmp]

Hanna-Barbera Land was great. I don't know if it is really worse or not though now. I grew up watching the Flintstones, Jetsons, Scooby Doo, etc. Kids now days don't like most of those, although my son does like Scooby Doo. There are alot of kids that will connect with the new characters we have today.
I do miss the monorail at the exit though, even a ride during a hot day just to rest if nothing else. Times change, we get older. Not sure if Carowinds is appealing to me like it used to, but the kids get excited to go and that is good enough for me right now.

[CoasterDad]

Even after having visited some 17 different parks, as a family, in the past few years, my kids still get excited when they see that all-familiar Carowinds Blvd exit on I-77. I do too, a little, owing to the sick-coaster puppy I am at age 46 and glad I have a family that shares the enthusiasm.

I, too, long for those good old days that, as a child, I didn't need Top Gun to get me through a day at the park. Certainly the monorail was a great thing. Of course those Disney monorails are quite something in their own way. I still take a ride each time I visit HersheyPark on their old tired monorail and will again, no doubt, when we check out Fahrenheit later this summer. I always remember the one a Carowinds whenever I ride the one at HP.

Maybe, if you need that good old park feeling, with great theming and GREATER rides, a trip to Busch-Williamsburg should be attempted sometime this year. Fall is great, at Busch, and they're open Fridays 10-10, and not too crowded on those days ~ you ought to go!

[Thriller]

I can also agree that the new kids area is better than what is was when I was a kid. I just miss the old charm that Carowinds use to have. A change that I would not take back for anything is Top Gun. I just wished we could have kept more of the original shops, theme, and little water ponds that use to be throughout the park. But like you guys have said, change comes with age and time. Wonder what Carowinds will be in another 10 years???

[swampfox43]

Most definitely the original theme. The park was originally built as a Carolina themed park and Paramount and Cedar Fair are slowly raping the hell out of it's heritage. But no worries. 2009 will be another GREAT year with used 3rd class merchandise from Geauga Lake, as someone in CF marketing feels southerners will be too ignorant to know better....

[RollerBee]

3rd class, wow, that is a new one. Is that like when a ride isn't being moved from it's original home?

[MarkD]

ok swampy, if my Dad was born in West Virginia, my Mom in Tennesee, they met in Ohio, had me, moved to Albemarle NC that would put me in the CF frame of mind of not knowing any better right?

Anywho, bring the Carolinas back to Carowinds.

[coasterfreak75]

I can't speak a whole lot about Carowinds of old, because I was only there once when the boat was still there. I can speak alot for parks in general. I miss the old KI and same I'm sure goes for Carowinds. The old Hanna Barbara stuff, the Smurfs, hell White Lightnin'.

I only hope CF figures out soon that the real Carowinds fans will quit coming to the park and buying season passes soon if they don't quit giving us every one else's junk. Sorry, they seem to be giving KI a new mega coaster next year and where is their Six Flags compitetion there, KK? You would think they would worry more about SFOG, HRP and BGW more than KK.

[CoasterDad]

Hey Coasterfreak75, I agree that CF should be more concerned about all the competition within reasonable distance of Carowinds, but apparently, they are not. I had such high hopes on that day two years ago, when we learned of the impending CF purchase. Now, two years later, the four sister Paramount parks have all received OR are going to receive MAJOR new coaster additions. Yet geographically, Carowinds is in a great location with substantial population base. At the same time, the park has lost that old time charm it used to have and yes, I do think that many of us will continue to find our way to the competition if some excellent new additions don't begin to occur. Now, it seems that 2010 is the earliest that could possibly happen...

[Thriller]

I am all about moving forward in the future and obtaining new high class rides, but to do this, you don't have to take away all the original theme's and charm the park had. Paramount brung a lot of new additions that were needed at Carowinds, but I blame them for stripping away the Carolina theme once in place. Many spots in the park have low rate themeing that is either wore out or just out of place. They took away the old world feel to the park and in many cases, put nothing back in itsplace? So, who knows what the plan is???

[Dukeis#1]

I think KECO got rid of quite a bit of the park's theming in the 80s, Paramount just finished it off by ripping out what was leftover when they tried the whole "movie park" thing.

From what I've seen, the first few years Carowinds was open and independently owned it had near Dollywood-level theming. After Pat Hall sold the park to Taft they kind of lowered the bar to just generic theme park stuff, like what was at Kings Island and Kings Dominion.

[RollerBee]

The Ferris Wheel from Geauga Lake would look nicely in the County Fair overlooking WhiteWater Falls. County Fair seems to be getting all the love from Cedar Fair.

[Davidtmp]

At one time County Fair seemed more like that, a County Fair! Now I don't get that feeling. It is just a bunch of games thrown into the middle of a few rides. Just seems BLAH! It would have been better to move the old shooting saloon down into that area. A Ferris Wheel would be nice, something you see at all county fairs. You don't find Motion Theaters at county fairs! Just seems misplaced!

[Thriller]

The Ferris Wheel would actually make a great addition to that area. The only purpose that the motion simulator has is just a place to chill and cool off during the hot months!