[redrunner97]

Flashback to my wishlist post about the return of a moonshing themed coaster since it's so topical right now in this phase of the park's teaser campaign. It'd be cool if they incorporated some of the elements from my post, even if the name does end up being Copperhead Strike (which could very well be the name of granny's hypothetical brew).

Designing a truly breathtaking ride can be like trying to catch lightning in a bottle... But Mack Rides' Launched Mega Coaster looks pretty freakin' awesome! By all accounts, Blue Fire is a blast; the same can be said for Helix too. Let's face it: Carowinds desperately needs a launched coaster to help diversify its lineup. The park has only ever had one launched coaster and it was removed 30 years ago.

WHITE LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN!

The time is now to make White Lightnin' strike twice! This particular coaster model is fairly unique, so bringing one stateside to Carowinds would be a big deal. It's a move that would continue putting Carowinds on the map. Also, since this would be considerably tamer than the last two monster coasters the park has most recently installed, a Mack could please both thrillseekers and family alike!



THEME. THEME. THEME.
- It's all about THEME if Cedar Fair wants Carowinds to become more of an actual THEME PARK like Knott's. And we've already got a perfect theme to work with for this one: MOONSHINE! After all, that's what "white lighting" is, isn't it? This theme would only add to the recent trend of new additions that are distinctly Carolinian. Moonshine was a shockingly big part of Appalachian life. This is reflected by pop culture references to the Carolinas in movies, music, and novels of the 20th century, which often delved into the mountain people and their ways around prohibition. Sure, it's not super kid-friendly, but neither are shootouts in the wild west, etc. It's still a kick-ass Carolina-centric theme, IMO. That's probably why E. Pat Hall and others involved in the early days of the park chose those names and themes originally.

- Blue Fire's pre-launch sequence is reminiscent of a dark ride, and Carowinds is sorely missing a traditional one, so an all-new White Lighting could be a double whammy! Theme the pre-launch to a mountain hideaway where moonshine is being brewed illegally. Then, just as the revenuers and lawmen are about to bust the joint and catch up to the riders, the iconic words "LIGHTNING... STRIKES... NOW!!!" boom as the train goes shooting out of the gate, those on board escaping into an epic police chase filled with twists, turns, loops, and other surprises!

- Paint the track and supports a vibrant white. Design the trains to look like '50s muscle cars (Thunderbirds, perhaps?), give them each a "radio" that plays the classic "White Lighting" and "Thunder Road" songs that at least partially inspired Carowinds' original coasters, which were also both about moonshiners escaping the police (videos linked below). Couple those music tracks with police sirens, gunshots, lightning, thunder, and other audio/visual effects for maximum effect!

- The gift shop/queue/exit could be themed to a '50s-era speakeasy. Carowinds could even partner with one of the many local breweries to sell a park-exclusive craft beer called "White Lightnin'". There could be signs hanging up advertising retro sodas and gasolines (or different attractions throughout the park), like an old-timey cafe. Don't forget to hang up some black-and-white photos of the original White Lightnin' and Thunder Road (and movie posters from the films of the same name, also about moonshining ), as well as other past attractions to really give the place a nostalgic vibe.

- Play music from the '50s in the immediate area, they could even incorporate some of the Carowinds characters, like the dim-witted deputy or the mayor, maybe a new rough-and-tumble sheriff who won't stand for moonshining at Carowinds—and a dirty, bare-footed hillbilly with a straw hat and big brown XXX jug tied around his waist with rope (good old stereotypes lol) . Photo ops in a moonshine outhouse or jail cell could be fun too... The possibilities with this theme are truly endless! It'd be so unique!



LOCATION. LOCATION. LOCATION.

- Where would the all-new White Lightnin' go? Maybe back towards Country Crossroads? There could be enough room now that so much has been removed, depending on how the coaster itself would (hypothetically) be designed. What about the wooded land beyond Drop Tower, that area could make for a fun terrain ride that interacts with the land and dense forest nicely. How about the spot currently being occupied by the Dinos? That's a huge slice of the park and surely they're going to look there for future expansion relatively soon.

BLUE FIRE POV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt3qyCqv-eU

WHITE LIGHTNING - GEORGE JONES SONG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E5WWX_40gs

THE BALLAD OF THUNDER ROAD - ROBERT MITCHUM SONG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2KLIO7WRm0

[lingerdog]

I'll say again, there is a song about moonshine running called Copperhead Road.

Also, was it the beverly hillbillies where they were in a race and they poured the moonshine in the gas tank causing the car to launch forward flying past everyone else?

[Panthersfan43]

I am all for more theming in carowinds but a old lady making moonshine seams like an odd theme

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

There is also a copperhead moonshine https://copperheadmtn.com/index.php Came across this after all the talks of a moonshine type theme, which is plausible. Thunder Road was technically "moonshine themed". There is so much they can do so many ideas and everything, cant wait to see the teasers this week. My first thoughts were some kind of "moonshine explosion" that happens at the launch kind of like blue fire and the lab explosion. So many concepts, no matter what it is, its going to be great!

[Rabidfrog]

If I had to guess based on the teasers we’ve seen, the ride will be a moonshine-running coaster with a barn-themed station, and Granny’s “Secret Recipe” will be for a moonshine called “Copperhead Strike” (though why an 80 yo woman would be making moonshine is beyond me). That missing car from Jukebox diner will be at the entrance similar to the truck in front of Mystic Timbers at Kings Island.

I hadn’t considered CopperheadStrike being about anything other than a snake. Being the name of the moonshine would be clever.

[mark40511]

I agree that White Lightin' and the color vibrant white with the muscle car trains would be so much better to me than copperhead strike...even though I know the name is most likely going to be copperhead strike and it's not going to be white. The park does not have a white coaster though.

[redrunner97]

I am all for more theming in carowinds but a old lady making moonshine seams like an odd theme

Not odd at all. Old ladies usually made "the recipe" and the men would run it. It's how they made a living in the mountains. Moonshine and little old ladies are synonym. And Carowinds already has a "Granny" character who roams the park, so it makes sense to loop her into the theme. She wouldn't necessarily be the ride mascot, that privilege would probably go to the Copperhead Strike logo snake.

This is just speculation of course.

[sorashaun]

I am all for more theming in carowinds but a old lady making moonshine seams like an odd theme

Not odd at all. Old ladies usually made "the recipe" and the men would run it. It's how they made a living in the mountains. Moonshine and little old ladies are synonym. And Carowinds already has a "Granny" character who roams the park, so it makes sense to loop her into the theme. She wouldn't necessarily be the ride mascot, that privilege would probably go to the Copperhead Strike logo snake.

This is just speculation of course.

The entire concept of theming a ride to moonshine is odd, considering the fact it’s illegal. That’s no different than theming a ride to weed.

[redrunner97]

The entire concept of theming a ride to moonshine is odd, considering the fact it’s illegal. That’s no different than theming a ride to weed.

Not really an equal comparison. It's (more or less) legal to produce alcohol for private consumption in small quantities, but distilling and selling large amounts is a federal and local tax crime. That's the real reason it's illegal. Marijuana is illegal because the government considers it a Schedule I drug that poses a public health concern (which is ridiculous, but that's a different conversation).

Besides, as recently as 2015 Carowinds had Thunder Road, which was themed to moonshiners racing cops. And White Lightnin' was also loosely themed to moonshine as well. It's a major part of the history of the region because it inspired stock car racing. It's deeply ingrained in our culture, even in ways people don't immediately associate with prohibition.

[RollerBee]

^^Thunder Road at one time featured real stills in the que line.

[deaconnor]

All I'm saying is if this is themed to moonshine and drinking there better be a bar next door with some moonshine drinks or I WILL NOT RIDE.

[uscbandfan]

Carowinds has bars so I wouldn't think that to be too far out of the question.

[Wood Coaster]

All I'm saying is if this is themed to moonshine and drinking there better be a bar next door with some moonshine drinks or I WILL NOT RIDE.

Shh..... Keep this to yourself... Secret Bar underneath the Coaster.

"Like what was done inProhibition Days"

[tarheel1231]

Weird thing about this is that Probibition lasted from 1919 to 1933. How popular was moonshine running in the 50’s?

[mark40511]

The cam not working is driving me CRAZY....