So this is my idea for how to renovate Goldrusher. I know other parks' decisions don't directly affect Carowinds, but since Knott's is "plussing" Bigfoot Rapids by turning it into Calico River Rapids, I figured Carowinds could do the same with Goldrusher.
Introducing
Goldrusher: 50th Anniversary

New Goldrusher.png (1.78MiB)Viewed 3632 times
Yellow line indicates enclosed track Like I said a few posts ago, I think Goldrusher has the potential to be a great family coaster, but its height requirement isn't doing it any favors. Change the trains and add some theming, and suddenly you've got one of the premier attractions at the park.
Here are the new features introduced to the ride:
1. Mine shaft. The first turn and the turn under Vortex would be enclosed in a tunnel themed to a mine shaft. Aesthetically, it would look similar to
this, but there would be lanterns lining the tunnel. They would swing and flicker as the trains passed by.
2. The area by the transfer track would be completely enclosed into a showbuilding. There would be animatronics of miners excavating and transferring gold nuggets. Think something similar to
this scene from Calico Mine Ride, but on a much smaller scale. After passing by this scene, riders would see a sign reading "explosives", which would lead into:
3. The dynamite room. This would have the first lift hill enclosed, and at the top of the lift hill, there would be crates full of dynamite. However, instead of an explosion (since that's already been done by Mystery Mine and BTMRR), the crates would tip over of the top of the lift similar to the falling crate that used to be in Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion.
4. Geysers. They would blast water as the train passed by (similar to Maverick)
5. Black Bear Cave. The first helix would be completely enclosed, and the entrance to it would be themed to a cave, with a sign outside warning of bears. As riders pass through, they would pass by a black bear animatronic similar to the
grizzly animatronic for Calico River Rapids.
6. Fire Tower. I actually couldn't think of something that would work thematically, but I figured it would look nice as far as scenery goes. The lift hill would just pass under it.
7. The final tunnel into the brake run would be lengthened, and inside, there would be several hundred hanging bat figures screeching. They wouldn't have to be animatronics, as the effect could be achieved by props and audio.
Overall, I think this would be a great way to revitalize the attraction while at the same time, being able to sell it as new. It would also justify adding new trains, or even modifying the current ones as a lower height requirement would give the park its best family attraction yet.