[PhantomCat]

Jonathan,
I've got to give it to you for creating such an interesting website. I've had more fun here than I've had in most chat rooms.
I'm truly addicted. Thanks for all the great memories and fun so far.

1. What made you decide to create Carowinds Connection?
2. How did you get the word out?

I found out by word of mouth - coworkers told me.

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the kind words.

I officially opened the site on August 1, 2003. Over that summer it started becoming clear that a new coaster was coming to the Smurf Island area for 2004 (and eventually it was discovered that it would be Stealth moving from Great America). There wasn't a real comprehensive fan site for the park out there, and I thought that was a shame with a new coaster coming, so I decided to create one. I told some people I knew and posted it on some other forums, and it snowballed from there. Originally the site was more of a guide to the park with more information than the current one, but ultimately I didn't care enough about it to keep up with all that stuff. The forum was always the point of the site for me.

Archive.org has all the previous versions of the site: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://car ... ection.com

Version 1: http://web.archive.org/web/200310130422 ... ction.com/
Version 2: http://web.archive.org/web/200506290151 ... ction.com/ Unfortunately, Archive didn't download this one right, so it doesn't work
Version 3: http://web.archive.org/web/200702191047 ... community/
Version 4: You're looking at it.

Currently active users who have been here since the beginning in 2003:

coasterdave
JamminJ
LocoDriver
MarkD
KenB
coasterbruh
montumax
mxpro
wdwspider
coasterbrian

[Jay]

lol remember that one time when we had the old forum software and it didn't even last what like 2 or 3 months?

Good times.

[Jonathan]

Actually I didn't remember that. That explains a lot. I was trying to figure out how the site launched on August 1st but no one registered here until October 26.

[RollerBee]

Umm...I have been here from the start, and am still active...

[Jonathan]

Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:40 pm

[RollerBee]

CarowindsZone
Joined: 27 Oct 2003 08:15 pm

[chargercrazy]

My site is older than your site. Just kidding. I think I've been on here since 2005?

[PhantomCat]

I'm really enjoying it!
I once joined an old TV show forum (Gimmie a Break) where we wrote replies by emails, and then they were posted. It was fun for a while. But opening your email to 50 messages or more gets really old after a while.
I love the way you have this one set up.

[PhantomCat]

Jonathan,
Didn't I talk to you at Carowinds opening weekend? I haven't seen you in so long I forgot how you looked. I only met you once and that was from a distance when you were in line for Flyers last year. Please forgive me for not recognizing you. I think I did talk to you while you were in line for The Intimidator but I'm not sure.

[PhantomCat]

One year later and I still haven't found another site that comes close to comparing with this one.

Awesome site, Jonathan!

Carowinds Connection.com...America's #1 Internet Site!
I'm still lovin' it!

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

I am glad to see those archives of the original site, I forgot what it looked like lol. I joined in 2004 I believe, as borgassimilator. I had tried to make a fan site many times before, but never spent anytime working on it/making it worth something. Then I found this site and joined. Mainly for a lonnnggg time I would just read posts and see what was happening, wasnt to addicted, but in the last couple of years its really picked up and became more addicting and fun to talk about carowinds, and other parks and just coasters in general. Its not often you find people that LOVE roller coasters, everyone I know dont understand why I am such a coaster freak, but its just something that happend I guess. Most people dont care about the coasters being built blah blah blah, me, when Borg was built I was out in the field taking pictures of the track lol. Oh well, great site Jonathan. I gave up on making a fan site since we have a good one right here and its kinda pointless cause there isnt too much more to add other than what is on here. I have considered making a site more for pictures etc. but just have not persued it. Oh well, maybe in the future...

[PhantomCat]

Jonathan
I have questions for you , sir.

1. Did you have theme park workers on your site when you first started it?

2. Even I have had a thread deleted because of the content, and received a kind PM from you explaining why, but do you like the idea of theme park workers being on your site? You've got to admit, we do bring an entire new element to the threads and postings.

[Jonathan]

There have been a number of park employees here since the beginning, and are quite a few today. The last 3 PR reps have all lurked and/or posted on here at some point. I think it's great that employees post on here, as long as they are careful not to post anything that could get them in trouble at work.

[PhantomCat]

Thank you , sir.
It's nice to be here.
Thank you again for the site.