[Capler]

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.

You addressed the situation in your second paragraph. There has been little to talk about concerning 2019, especially since they turned the construction camera off. The park numbers conversation is actually an offshoot of the 2019 project and explores the rational for Cedar Fair's continued investment in the park. I find the conversation very interesting and educational especially the information Grobble brought to the table. This helps buy time until there is actually something substantial to report on the 2019 project.

[fishels]

That dream may not be such a stretch if you look at Cedar Fair's past as it relates to installing signature coasters at their big parks. Next year's dive coaster will be a record breaker. Steel Vengeance is a record breaker for this year. Look at most of the big coasters that preceded them.

My feeling is that Cedar Fair will go all out on this one because, frankly, that is what they are known for. I expect it to have the fastest launch, and the tallest first drop of any of the other Mack two launchers. I saw an interview where Rob Decker stated they purposely raised the height of Steel Vengeance to over 200 ft. just so they could have that record. It was an ego thing just to show Six Flags how a hybrid should be done. Sorry kids, but that is simply the way our parent company rolls.

Cedar Fair is not going to spend nearly $30 million on this ride just so it can play second fiddle to another ride of the same type somewhere else on the planet. That information is on a solid footing, or a solid footer.

Then there is the little tidbit from the last quarterly report where Zimmerman elevated Carowinds to the Cedar Point level of priority. When you are at that level, you don't get 'seconds'. It does not hurt that Zimmerman lives on Lake Norman either.
Consider this, the untrained eye would think Canada's Wonderland is getting the big expensive priority project for next season. I mean it's a B&M and likely a record breaker right? The caveat here is that Valravn is only estimated to have cost between $18-$20 mil. The recently opened Icon cost $28 mil. As Fury was a few years back, this will be the anticipated project for the new season.

This is just something to think about as we wait for the announcement.

Question. Was the statement about Carowinds being on the same priority of cedar point the same quote about “cedar point of the south”.

Or are you talking about a different statement altogether?

When the term Cedar Point of the South was first used a few years back, I paid it little attention. But since then, there seems to be something to it as it relates to the upgrades that have been made to the park. In terms of priority, I would say that Carowinds is of a higher priority. Investors are not focused on what a business is doing today, but instead they focus on where future profits are going to come from.

I understand that completely and I know very well what you’re implying when we see all these great additions

But my question is has there been another OFFICIAL statement since then that directly says “Carowinds has a huge priority” or “Carowinds has the same priority as cedar point”?

Or nah. I’m not attacking you or anything I just don’t follow that close like you guys.

Thank you.

Edit: I read through the thread. I take that as a no?

[claxicorn]

Most companies aren’t very straight forward, so if they have to go back on their claims, they can do it relatively easily.

They stated that they want Carowinds to be the “Cedar Point of the South”, which you could infer to mean, “Carowinds has the same priority as Cedar Point”.

I don’t believe it has the same priority, but I believe Carowinds potential is far greater than Cedar Points. Charlotte and it’s suburbs are some of the fastest growing areas in the US. The cheap housing market (4000 sq ft house for less than 400,000) as well as some of the top schools, provide for an ever growing market and fresh, new customers.

[Grobble]

Most companies aren’t very straight forward, so if they have to go back on their claims, they can do it relatively easily.

They stated that they want Carowinds to be the “Cedar Point of the South”, which you could infer to mean, “Carowinds has the same priority as Cedar Point”.

I don’t believe it has the same priority, but I believe Carowinds potential is far greater than Cedar Points. Charlotte and it’s suburbs are some of the fastest growing areas in the US. The cheap housing market (4000 sq ft house for less than 400,000) as well as some of the top schools, provide for an ever growing market and fresh, new customers.

Cedar Fair never stated they wanted Carowinds to be the "Cedar Point of the South.". That was never stated it as a corporate goal or plan. People are making big leaps from a the actual statement made. ...Fanboying!

The notion Carowinds potential is far greater than Cedar Poin's just ignores all facts, logic and is pure fanboying. You sound like somebody that has never been to CP and thus is unaware of the uniqueness of the location ,etc...

[SafetySam]

You wanna talk about fanboying.....most of us on this forum will never get the opportunity to visit any of these other parks so let us take a little pride about our home park and remember this is called Carowinds connection not Ceder Point connection

[tarheel1231]

Carowinds is part of a chain, and this has been an interesting and thoughtful discussion. Compared to the last three days, this is preferable.

Just because Cedar Point has more untapped growth potential doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Carowinds. Cedar Point will always rake in the most money because it’s surrounded by several large population centers and it has the lake to sell the resort aspect. That doesn’t take away from Carowinds as a park.

Also, Grobble is not a fanboying for Cedar Point. He’s presented facts and evidence to support his rationale. If you take it personally then that’s on you.

[Capler]

No fishel, the company never said that officially, nor will they ever. By doing that, you run the risk of antagonizing one of your products or a group of investors. Here is an example I think we all can relate to here in N. Carolina. Kroger announced last week they are closing all of their Triangle stores and are converting some to Harris Teeter. Clearly Kroger is the 'flagship' but Harris Teeter has the greater future growth potential. The company will not announce in a public call that Harris Teeter is now the priority. Doing that will spook investors.
If Cedar Fair made such an announcement, investors may infer that there is something wrong with the cash generating machine at Cedar Point, and decide to divest before they lose money.

So, yes Cedar Point is a priority today and represent all those things Grobble mentioned. You have teams at work trying to extract money from the product there in order to maintain and grow profits . On the other hand, you have the growth parks, where they are applying the Cedar Point tried and true formula to grow the future revenue. In the future when the Carowinds market becomes saturated, they will take what worked at Cedar Point and apply it here.

[uscbandfan]

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.

WOW, somebody needs to take the majority of these last few pages and move them to a "Bicker about Cedar Fair parks thread". Lets stay on topic.

The pig racing game is closed just to the right of the entrance to Crossroads as well. I hope this is a signal that a major path expansion will connect where the black wall is to the right of Dodgems over to the new County Fair. If they establish a new path there, then an entrance to "new coaster" (Copperhead Strike or whatever it may eventually be called) can be on that path behind Dodgems.

[Koallinbear]

I hope we can see a re-use of the Thunder Road entrance area with the removal of the basketball game and Ritas. This could open the whole area up, including drawing more feet towards PvZ and promote a Southgate Refurbishment.

[Capler]

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.

WOW, somebody needs to take the majority of these last few pages and move them to a "Bicker about Cedar Fair parks thread". Lets stay on topic.

You think the pile of dirt near the old White Water station spot has gotten bigger today? Perhaps they will mound that up into a mountain so we will have a spectacular drop out of the station. This will prove Carowinds don't need an active volcano to make a mountain. What about the trench, you think they are really going to put those drainage pipes in there and cover them up? I hope not. Once the coaster drops off the side of the newly formed Carowinds Mountain, the trench could be a underground cavern filled with animatronic venomous snakes with yellow glowing eyes, and a gift shop of course. Once in Carolina Snake Pit Trench, the train will come to a stop, where King Copperhead lunges at riders as alarms sound and the trench fills with Scarowinds like dry ice fog. Right before complete annihilation by King Copperhead, the train is thrust out of the ground back to daylight.

Dang, it feels so good to be back on topic.

[LoveMeSomePrunes]

I hope we can see a re-use of the Thunder Road entrance area with the removal of the basketball game and Ritas. This could open the whole area up, including drawing more feet towards PvZ and promote a Southgate Refurbishment.

and if dinos goes away end of 2019 as predicted elsewhere, then there's a **LOT**of real estate between top gun and the turnaround of intimidator where dinos used to be that will be available to build on/fill in

I'm hoping they put flyers right next to the first game kiosk across the water park path from the swings, sort of the first county fair ride you come to, and right in front of the new coaster behind it

[Chris]

I don't know if it's the right size but I could see the flyers going in Yo-Yo's spot (with Yo-Yo going to another park, or even in Camp Snoopy as a step up from 'Charlie Brown's Wind-Up').

[swampfox43]

Cedar Fair never stated they wanted Carowinds to be the "Cedar Point of the South.". That was never stated it as a corporate goal or plan. People are making big leaps from a the actual statement made. ...Fanboying!

Entirely untrue. I was sitting 20 feet from Bart Kinzel at lunch during the European Coaster Club's visit to Carowinds in 2010 when he emphatically made that statement over a microphone about CF's desire to make Carowinds the "Cedar Point of the South". I heard it, and 100 other people heard it.

[Grobble]

Cedar Fair never stated they wanted Carowinds to be the "Cedar Point of the South.". That was never stated it as a corporate goal or plan. People are making big leaps from a the actual statement made. ...Fanboying!

Entirely untrue. I was sitting 20 feet from Bart Kinzel at lunch during the European Coaster Club's visit to Carowinds in 2010 when he emphatically made that statement over a microphone about CF's desire to make Carowinds the "Cedar Point of the South". I heard it, and 100 other people heard it.

LOL! I leave the fanboying of you at that.

[Carowindsman]

We all heard it that day. If you dont believe us thats your call. But lets stay on topic make your own topic if you want but leave this thread to Project Alpha 2019