[Disney Loser]

Who was it? I dont know!

[coasterbruh]

Im gonna take a crazy guest and say..............THE CAROLINAS!! The park wasnt designed around characters like Disney. First...........what is the second, or third. The park doesnt have a mascot. I think disney is the only one that has one; the mouse

[montumax]

CoasterDave!


No, it was some squirrel wasn't it? Rocky? Rippy? Nuts? I know he didn't last very long after the park first opened. Scooby might be the "unofficial" mascot now or the insipid SpongeBob.

[Dukeis#1]

Yea. In addition, I believe there was also a dog, a pig, and a whole bunch of rodents. I saw them on a cup that was up for auction on Ebay one time.

[Top Gun]

Yea. In addition, I believe there was also a dog, a pig, and a whole bunch of rodents. I saw them on a cup that was up for auction on Ebay one time.

That would be Pogo. I have listed Pogo toys on Ebay before, and I don't even know a thing about them. Anyway, Pogo is a strange theme, because I have no idea what they have to do with Paramount. I think that Nick is the theme now, it's all over the place now. And montumax, I have no idea why you think that SpongeBob is insipid. :angry: (Just my opinion) He'd make a cool mascot.

[wdwspider]

Well, Paramount didn't always own the park.

[Top Gun]

Well, Paramount didn't always own the park.

Realy? :blink: Now thats strange, I thought they always have, who owned it before Paramount? :huh:

[Jonathan]

In 1975 Pat Hall sold the park to Family Leisure Centers. In 1980 Carowinds became under the ownership of Taft Broadcasting, and in 1992 Paramount Parks purchased the park.

[CaRoWiNdSrUlZ]

Carowinds has mascots?!? I didn'T kNow That. Well, You leaRn someThing eveRYday.

[garync]

The first mascot was Ricky Racoon, honest! he was joined by some other characters but only lasted a year or so until they got Hanna Barbera rights.

[AaronClint]

The first mascot was Mike Crowder...because I played him

[coasterdave]

Must be a full moon tonight.

[Trev32]

who's mike crowder?

[mxpro]

Jonathan my grandpa has worked for duke power for 46 years and has been retired for 8 he said Duke power owned and ran Carowinds at some point in time i just dont remember when i pretty sure hes right because my uncle said the same but he hasnt worked with them as long.

[Dukeis#1]

Jonathan my grandpa has worked for duke power for 46 years and has been retired for 8 he said Duke power owned and ran Carowinds at some point in time i just dont remember when i pretty sure hes right because my uncle said the same but he hasnt worked with them as long.

I Seriously doubt Duke Power was ever involved with Carowinds. I believe Carowinds did file a very interesting lawsuit with them back in the 80s, but that is about it.

It's pretty much like this: (According to Carowinds' site, and Jonathan's great CC)

1969-1972: Park designed and constructed by E. P. Hall's real estate company.

1973: Park opens behind schedule and has a reasonably good attendance for the first season.

1974:Carowinds has a bad second season, E.P.H. and his r.e. company decide they have no business in the park industry.

1975: Taft Broadcasting partners with Kroger, and they purchase the park. Together, they form Family Leisure Centers. FLC also owned Kings Island and Kings Dominion.

1980: FLC Purchased fully by Taft Broadcasting (Including Carowinds, Kings Island and Dominion, and the under construction Canada's Wonderland)

1983: Taft splits up within the company. The parks are purchased by KECO, (Kings Entertainment Company) which is made up of Park General Managers, and Taft Vice President. These are known as the dark years for Carowinds. Theming decreased, and not much was added other than a few water and flat rides. Vortex and Rip Tide Reef were about the only big improvements in this era.

July, 1992: KECO is purchased by Paramount Pictures, who at the time is owned by Gulf Western Industries, and Paramount Parks is formed.

1994: Paramount is is gobbled up into Viacom.