[bgwfreak]

I thought it'd be interesting to see how people were on their first trip to Carowinds.

I myself am an old fart I guess, I was 1 year old the year (1973) that Carowinds opened. I've got a picture of myself in a stroller at the park too. lol Sorry it scanned a little blurry.

See below

[Jonathan]

Nice pic hehe. I think I went for the first time when I was 2 years old or maybe even younger. I don't have any photos from then, although I'm sure my parents do, but here is one from a few years later at a cub scout Carowinds campout.

[MarkD]

Well I have no pictures of back then(Dad has them all) but I was 11 when I went in '73.
Funny how you say you are an old fart when I was already 11 at the time of opening.

[KenB]

I'm in-between the previous responses here - I was 6 in 1973 when the park opened. I rode several of the rides that are now gone - the train, Skyride, monorail, Hillbilly Jalopies, Speedway, Whirling Dervish, Oaken Bucket, and of course - White Lightnin' - I hate it for those of you that never got to ride that one.

First coaster - Gold Rusher when I was about 10 or 11 which makes that about '78. First big coaster, probably that year or the next on Thunder Road. First looping coaster was White Lightnin', either '80 or '81 because it was after the big, mean, red Carolina Cyclone opened. It was a few years before I'd ride that one, I didn't mind loops but the corkscrews freaked me out back then - looked too easy to fall out lol. It was probably mid-80's before I actually rode Scooby Doo - by the time I was riding the other rides I thought that one was too small - found out it packed quite a punch for it's size, and still does!

"Lightning strikes.......NOW!" - man, I do miss that.....


KenB

[Cephas]

I went when I was 4 and rode Scooby. Man I thought that was soooo fun. I rode it untill my mome barfed and wouldn't go on it anymore with me. Then I rode it a few times by myself.

[bgwfreak]

Funny how you say you are an old fart when I was already 11 at the time of opening. 

Also Ken, man do I miss the Oaken Bucket!  That was a great ride!!  And I also miss "Lightning strikes now!"

I was actually terrified of Scooby Doo when I was about 8 or so, my first big coaster was Mind Bender at SFoG and that wasn't until I was like 14 or 15 that I got brave enough to ride a looper.

Well the average age on most of these forums is like 15, (not that that is bad), but at Thrill Network (gasp!) the average age seems to be like 14 or 15.

I'm really surprised there's as many people on here that are around my age

[Dukeis#1]

First visit in 1983, at the time I was five. Didn't do much on that trip other than ride the Carousel and the Shortline/Jellystone Garden Railroad a few times. I also recall riding Scooby Doo, but I think it scared me pretty bad.

I went again in 1986, and I did alott more on that trip. I rode Goldrusher, Thunder Road, and Scooby Doo. I also remember Rip Roarin Rapids and the Riverboat.

In 1987 I finally got up the nerve to ride White Lightnin'. I rode it two or three times, and it was instantly my favorite. I also rode Carolina Cyclone, but it beat me up pretty bad and I swore not to ride it again. ( Although I now consider it a must part of the "Carowinds Expierience".)

[Trev32]

i was about 4-6,i didn't ride a single coaster,just the kiddie rides,i was scared to ride the coasters,it was about in either 1997 or 1998


i can't remember it well at all,i remember my dad riding drop zone,and riding the balloon ride.


i've been reminded by my mom a few times that when we first went,we were in line for the ballon ride,and oil sprayed everywhere!

in 2001 i rode my first ever real coaster,it was cyclone, i remember in that same year i was all amped up about vortex,and when i got there,i was like 4 inches too short,i was so mad.

[montumax]

I was 8 when the park opened. Guess I just dated myself

[pkidude03]

1996 was my first year to Carowinds. In fact it was my first year I went to a real amusement/theme park. I was only 11yrs old at the time. The Hurler was my first real coaster. I luved that thing!!!! That was the only thing I rode the most. I was too scared to ride the Vortex or the Cyclone. I remember going.. Drop Zone was brand new.. I never would ride it because it looked so scary to me!... After a few visits to some other parks I finally got the nerve to ride the extreme rides & now I am hooked on them.

[CarowindsThrills]

I was young also when I made my first trip to PC. I know my mother might have a picture of me in the Flintstones car in what is now Animation Station (the car should be located beside Taxi Jam the last time I checked). Yep, I was a coaster enthusiast in the making. I even constantly measured myself just so I could ride Thunder Road.

[LocoDriver]

Made my first trip in the late 70's at about the age of six or seven. The only coaster I rode at the time was GoldRusher. I remember my first "big" coaster was the Corkscrew at Myrtle Beach. I find it really interesting how most people seemed to be scared of the looping coasters more so than the big woodies. I was terrified of Thunderroad and GASM at SFOG. It was several years later that I finally got the nerve to ride those. I loved the Corkscrew, White Lightning and Carolina Cyclone but couldn't get the nerve to get on what I thought was the big ones at the time.