[claxicorn]

The above quote by Ouimet (not a very old guy) is where CP of the south comes from.

And cedar point isn’t ever going to add a 100 million dollar expansion. Period. None of the parks are.

They didn’t open a satellite corporate office here because they intend on making Carowinds their top priority. Charlotte has moderate weather and is near an airport that’s a major hub. Six Flags corporate offices aren’t near their ol biggest pros, there in an area that benefits the corporation.

You folks can believe what you want but according to what the company has said publicly, in addition to private conversations I’ve been privy to with, and around their corporate people, I can assure you that you’re wrong. And that’s not my opinion.

You obviously dont understand what sarcasm is. Also, you have nothing to prove that, so it is, in fact, your opinion.

[LoveMeSomePrunes]

Cedar Poibt is still a higher priority than Carowinds. They just renovated and expanded Express. They added another tower to Breakers. They just demolished Sandcastke and added luxury camper spots. They just added more restaurants. The park takes in a lot of money because it’s on a beach and in a touristy area. That doesn’t mean Carowinds is getting the shaft but CP has so much untapped potential that they’re finally focusing on that Carowinds will never have.

So what was said was true. They most certainly are not prioritizing Carowinds over CP. They’re trying to get both Parks o be st their full potential. CP just has more potential with higher attendance and profits, and a larger potential customer base.

Sandusky is not a touristy area w/o Cedar Point. Charlotte actually has other things that bring people to the area, including the whitewater center, great wolf, nascar, other major sports teams, colleges, and the city itself. Carowinds is also right near a major international airport. I am not surprised that Cedar Fair sees this park as a pot of gold, tbh. Not disagreeing with you, but I do believe Carowinds has potential that CP won't always have. It can't exactly grow much bigger in physical size...

For those that haven't ever driven around Sandusky OH, let me tell you: Other than Cedar Point, this place reminds me of South of the Border area on NC/SC border... or Fayetteville or Jacksonville, NC. The town and the area is a dump. They don't call the area the Rust Belt for nothing. Very poor quality of life, very few professional industries, poor quality of life and economic conditions. Basically the exact OPPOSITE of Charlotte. The insects in the summer, absolutely DISGUSTING. Google "midges on weather radar Ohio" and you'll see. I've stayed on site a couple times there at CP, in the campground and one of the hotels. The park I love. The town...YIKES. Nearby Cleveland just showed up on list of Top 50 worst US cities to live in. I think it was USA Today. CP and the lake area is a great escape for the locals, too, just because of the hell hole that area is. It's downright depressing driving around the town, especially once you get more than 15 minutes from the causeway.

[Edwardo]

The company had publicly stated it as fact...so it isn’t my opinion. Others here have quoted the company. In this thread.

And as for Sandusky, Myrtle beach is Run down too. But it’s still a tourist destination. The entire shore is a tourist destination. Otherwise there wouldn’t be all those hotels. It isn’t just for CP.

[LoveMeSomePrunes]

The company had publicly stated it as fact...so it isn’t my opinion. Others here have quoted the company. In this thread.

And as for Sandusky, Myrtle beach is Run down too. But it’s still a tourist destination. The entire shore is a tourist destination. Otherwise there wouldn’t be all those hotels. It isn’t just for CP.

I HATE Myrtle Beach, but I'll take it all day long over Sandusky BFE Ohio. At least in Myrtle Beach there are millions of dollars in condo developments and over a hundred signature golf courses drawing retirees from all over the country and multiple airlines for nonstop flights from all over the North.

Northern Ohio, notsomuch.

There are MOTELS at Sandusky, not hotels. HUGE difference in quality of life between the two areas. One is a resort area that goes on for dozens of square miles along the Atlantic Ocean, Myrtle Beach, the other is the town that Cedar Point is located at, and nothing else.
Have you actually ever been to Sandusky and ever driven around in the past five years? The town is a dump.

The comparison in this discussion wasnt about Myrtle Beach vs. Sandusky. It's about CHARLOTTE vs. Sandusky, and the potential gold mine Cedar Fair knows they have in that city of Charlotte. NOT Myrtle Beach. I honestly have zero idea why you even brought up Myrtle Beach?

Population in Charlotte is booming, East Coast hq for banking and finance, multiple universities, booming population and airport, high quality of life, vs. ghost town of NE Ohio. No wonder Cedar Fair is pouring $ into Carowinds.

[Jrlooney88]

Looking into the Architect for the New Station, he also did the Stations for Fury, Gatekeeper, Banshee, and Valravn, as well as the renovations to County Fair. Gatekeeper is kinda bland, but Furys' is decent, and I thought Valravn and Banshee's were both very neat looking. So I'm pretty excited to see what he has in store for this.

[sorashaun]

Cedar Point is the flagship park because it’s the original Cedar Fair park. Their rides and investments are because of this, nothing more. Knott’s Berry Farm and Canada’s Wonderland eclipse Cedar Point in attendance. CP is struggling to stay ahead in it’s own state as the most-visited park with KI.

No other Cedar Fair park has seen the level of investment as Carowinds within the past 5 years.

[KIJester]

It’s amazing how much the beach was underutilized before Ouimet. Cedar Point can be a vacation for anyone, not just those looking to go to a theme park. Carowinds doesn’t have that advantage.

We might be closer to having that advantage if the CEO of Crystal Lagoons US has his way. He wants to build a lagoon similar to what Tampa Bay just got, but has not disclosed the exact location in addition to the fact that he needs city approval.

Here are two shots...one from Charlotte Stories (cr) showing rendering of the lagoon in Uptown (not sure if I like this location) and the other from The Tampa Bay Business Journal (cr) showing the completed lagoon.

Now all we have to do is convince Uri Man (CEO) to buy about 10-12 acres near the state line (if available). I would imagine this would boost Carowind's attendance if located near the park and they added a large waterfront hotel similar to Hotel Breakers at CP. Also, you can jet ski, paddle board, pedal boat, kayak and FlyBoard (jetpack) on these lagoons. Yes, without a doubt Charlotte is growing!

[Grobble]

Cedar Point is the flagship park because it’s the original Cedar Fair park. Their rides and investments are because of this, nothing more. Knott’s Berry Farm and Canada’s Wonderland eclipse Cedar Point in attendance. CP is struggling to stay ahead in it’s own state as the most-visited park with KI.

No other Cedar Fair park has seen the level of investment as Carowinds within the past 5 years.

NO NO NO! Cedar Point gets the rides and investment b/c it makes the most money, not b/c it's "the original". It's EBIDTA is 130M+, Knotts is 115M range and 3rd and 4th or 60 to 65M. CP makes more money than the #3 and 4th combined, They are over 1/4th of all EBIDTA. CP with Knotts are over 50% and are thus treated special. FYI, Knotts EBIDTA is growing fast and they are over double of Carowinds, which is in 5th

The attendance has been explained before. CP attendance is just over 200K more than KI but the EBIDTA is more than double. That's business gold to produce twice as much profit on just 200K more visitors. This is function of the visitors CP gets. .The per caps at CP are the best in the chain. Your notion CP is "struggling " in attendance is nonsensical. Cedar Fair wishes the other parks had CP's per caps.

The notion no other park has seen the level of investment in the last 5 years is wrong. 2014 they got Water park expansion. and received 50M over 3 years(2015,16,17) and 2018 Planet Snoopy. 2019 the new coaster will be 20M+

Cedar Fair spent 50M alone on Breakers revamp and the new wing. CP got Rogorou conversion (6M+) Valryvn(18-20M), Water park 20M, Steel Vengeance 20M, and that excludes the costs of the new restaurants and complete renovation of Frontier town. Lighthouse Point expansion. CP over 5 years is over 130M easily. 2019 CP who knows how big or small they go, but 2020 is surely they are getting something massive. Tony Clark when asked how do you top Steel Vengeance for 2020,,he responded don't worry about it with a smirk. They have something record breaking surely up their sleeve.

[Koallinbear]

Any construction progress today?

[Atombomb]

Carowinds will never be as good as cedar point!!!!! Considering you could demolish half their coasters and still have a better lineup than carowinds. They literally only have 2 bad coasters in their whole lineup

[Koallinbear]

Carowinds will never be as good as cedar point!!!!! Considering you could demolish half their coasters and still have a better lineup than carowinds. They literally only have 2 bad coasters in their whole lineup

I'm curious to see what your opinion is on what those 2 coasters are.

[Atombomb]

Corkscrew and cedar creek mine ride. Iron dragon is still somewhat enjoyable

[Carowindsman]

Can we get back on topic. This the 2019 construction thread. Not about park numbers or which is better.

As far as construction I have not seen much change couple little things I’m sure they are about to ramp up construction within the next couple weeks.

[tarheel1231]

I’m confused about the entrance. I thought it would be where WWF used to be but now that the shed is gone, I don’t know where they would put it. Logical answer would be in Crossroads but I don’t remember seeing any markings there as of late.

[EDIT] I do remember seeing markings by Crossroads! When I was on Windseeker, there were orange and yellow markings in the area of the construction site directly behind dodgems. So I think it’s likely that we see the two games in front of the site get demolished.

[RW_Fury325]

I feel at the moment there are three places where I could see the entrance going...
1. Where WWF's old entrance was
2. To the right of dodgems, where the Black wall is
3. Where Thunder Road's old entrance was.

My personal favorite would be where Thunder Road's entrance was, to breathe more life into that area. I could see them removing/moving the Rita's and Carnival games in favor of a new plaza.