[coasterdave]

What is a week that we do not see a gloom and doom post about Carowinds? Let us look at what is going on at the turnaround with Thunder Road and it is called a rebuild. I think it is great that they are taking the time to REPAIR the rides that are in need of it. I still can not understand why some people keep moaning and crying that the park got the shaft. It is at sometimes just an entertaining read, but it is sometimes sad.

[bgwfreak]

Didn't you hear? Dick personally burned down the park this weekend!

It will be just be a water park next year.

I hear ya on this one though Dave. I do my fair share of complaining myself, but I still like Carowinds. I'm just kinda bored with the place after several years of not getting a major thrill ride or coaster.

[Davidtmp]

I think people need to look at facts before they complain we don't get anything for a while.
Does anyone know the restrictions the FAA puts on Carowinds as to the maximum height of a coaster? I know we have the 300' Skytower, but it could have been grandfathered in when restrictions were put into place. Is the height restrictions something they did since 9/11 or before? We know HRP has a 200' restriction, but what about Carowinds.....
What I found with a little looking. Between 1996-2006...
Carowinds had some kind of Coaster addition in every year from 1998-2004, except in 2001. Kings Dominion opened a coaster in every year from 1996-2002 except in 1999 & 2000. Some were the same basic rides like Taxi Chase & Ricochet. Carowinds added Top Gun in 1999 and Borg in 2004. KD added Volcano in 1998 and Hypersonic in 2001. KD hasn't added a stellar coaster since 2001, a span of 7 years. It was time for them to get an addition, hence why they probably added Dominator to their park.
Why I ask about height restrictions? Maybe that is a reason we didn't get anything from Geauga Lake. You don't move a woodie easily or cheaply. Maybe not cost effective. X-Flight- we have a flyer. Dominator is 157' high, Steel Venom is 180', possible to be too high for Carowinds? Villian is a steal built hybrid, looks like a lot to tear down and rebuild, again not cost effective? Mind eraser looks like Deja Vu, run problems with that? Haven't been there so maybe you guys can enlighten me. Thunderhawk is an invert, but would have looked good here, and we have Top Gun.
I just think it is too bad some people want a new coaster every year, and that water park expantion isn't enough. KD had a major waterpark expantion last year. Don't get frustrated, if a new wave pool can bring in more money, the ENTIRE park benefits. Be patient, I don't see us having to wait 4 more years for another coaster.

[Thriller]

^ Somewhat agree! I remember seeing a special on the history channel about airline services and a section of the show talked about major cities being located near airports and the fears of planes being too close. The FAA regulates the heights, and no plane is allowed to fly no lower than I think 3000ft from gound level unitl the three mile mark for landing where the plane can slowly decrease to land (not sure, but I am close) and no less than 2000ft above any recreation site (theme parks, collosiums), tall structures, etc.. I firmly believe that Carowinds is allowed up to 300-320ft by FAA regulations...but I could be wrong? If carowinds had a lower level regulation of 300ft, to like 200ft, than I would think that the FAA would make carowinds remove the sky tower!

[RollerBee]

As long as CF gives, we are ok.  Once CF starts taking, we need to say our goodbyes!

They are takeing. We're loseing Super Saturator. Furthermore, I have yet to see any proof of Satie removal. There is 1.5 million dollars worth of water pipes under Satie most if not all of which would have to be removed before a new attraction could take it's place. Removal would have started by October. I believe the situtation with Satie is that it will become a waterpark attraction and only operated during the summer which would explain why the radio ad only says 11. I firmly believe that Satie removal is a false rumor.

You call that PO* a loss? More like a gain.

[Edwardo]

I'm just kinda bored with the place

But you're different than the general public, like most of us here. We get bored with our home park very easy when they don't add what we want (and that's normal).

But everyone else saying that Carowinds is declining and just crashing and burning have it wrong. Water Park Expansions bring in money because they're cheap. Even if attendance doesn't go up, a wave pool is cheap enough that they saved money this year and still added something while trying to get Per Cap spending up.

[RollerBee]

Question, if a wavepool is so cheap then why is the Wet N Wild wavepool in need of a new concrete floor? I swept up chucks of concrete as big as my hand, and seen them as big as me. Anyone know what the figure was for the Geauga Lake new wavepool.

[Thriller]

^ I noticed that also when I was there last summer. The problem is serious because I kept scrapping my toe's and feet over it! It can't cost that much becuase the local park in my hometown has a huge pool that is equal to size of the wave pools and they keep it smooth as glass! Wet'n Wild is just cheap.

[Edwardo]

What does a non-maintained pool have to do with it not being cheap? And even still, concrete and plumbing is far less expensive than a new coaster. Maintainence on a wave pool is easy as well if it's done.

[evaninmatthews]

KD hasn't added a stellar coaster since 2001, a span of 7 years.

But they got a sweet Drop Zone in 2003. They also got non coaster rides that were pretty good.

[RRRAPIDS]

Well it's now 2008. At least we are now a year closer to whatever we are getting in 09 or 10.

It would be nice if they could throw in a new FX movie to accompany Spongebob this year.