[coasterbruh]

So the general opinion around here is there needs to be something to the parks entrance STAT. So...if given the chance, how would you reprofile it? Keep the southern charm? Do something a la cedar point with a coaster? Lets see what you have in your brain!

[Merthecat]

I like it how it is, actually. Maybe just put a nice B+M under the bridge doing a dive loop or something.

[Capler]

Something big, open and expansive. In most parks once you walk in you are greeted by a big open space. Carowinds is rather congested once you walk in. I usually make a beeline for the bathroom once I walk in, but I almost have to trip over folk, having their pictures taken, organizing their kids, looking at a map trying to decide where to go... Well come to think of it, Carowinds is rather congested all over the park on any semi-busy day.

[MarkD]

I agree. My beef isn't the "Entrance" but the space between it and the Tower.

How about doubling the width of the bridge, Move the fountain down behind the Carowinds sign.

[Jonathan]

They could fill in that trench completely and get rid of the bridge altogether. The only reason it existed to begin with was because of the train. They only use it as a maintenance road now and I'm sure they could do without it because no other park has one going through the entrance area like that.

[RollerBee]

I would say move the Antique Carousel to the plaza behind the sign, closed the shop on the North side and expand the restroom into that space. Move the stroller/locker rental to Upgrade Services area. Remodel this space to be more open. Move Cinabon to the defunct food stall. Add indoor tables to the ice cream shop. Remodel the Premiers gift shop to be more open.
Turn the Carowinds Cafe into restraut like Midway Market at Cedar Point. Remove Plaza Snacks, three shot challenge and put a games booth in. Give Skytower a new shade structure and remove the fountain. Add center planters along main pathways and place ornamental trees in them among flowers. Remove the stage and replace with Small ampitheater in different part of park.

Give Rapids an update includint moving quarter super blasters to a more known location. Overall, open up the area and maintain a Southern Railroad Town feel of specific time period and add a new narrow gauge train ride that encircles the Whole park with three stations. Consolidate the gift shops into Premiers and Thrillseekers. Add train station in front of Rapids (where Hello Kitty store is, name escapes me)and turn the bridge into a tunnel (wider bridge). Keep access road going through the tunnel and have dividing wall between road and railroad.

Maybe I should be a Disney Imagineer.

[Wormy]

Currently, give or take a month or year or two.

[LemondsHead]

we need more eyecandy for the part after you enter but it did say something about the entrance on the blog about it

[formeryogi]

Whatever they do-- just don't tear down the Plantation House. Use it in some way... just don't tear it down.
I remember going upstairs when it was open to the public a few times in the early years. Later, when i worked there, we had a few meetings there where EVERYONE got a kick out of sitting in the "antique" chairs. I bet it doesn't meet code now (?) because of the stair situation. Too bad it can't be open or "displayed" at times.

Ah, but I'm not sure the current guest demos appreciate it. It was built for a different time -- when Carowinds was a "theme" park and there were multi-generation families coming together.

[Capler]

The Plantation House use to be part of the overall theme when the park opened, most of the park was in keeping with the Old South era. Much of that has been lost over the years so if the Plantation House disappeared, it would not be much of a loss, considering it not much more than a shell. I personally think it would be in the way if they wanted to open and extend the front entrance plaza.

[swampfox43]

I'm using Wormy's photo for my reimagined front gate area. Of course, this is a quick job. Maybe a fountain and some planters would be added.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Yea^ I could see that, I see a long fountain like KD and KID right in the center of that and the carowinds sign moved to the front of it...

[Matt929]

I like what CP did with Gatekeeper going right over the front gate

[RollerBee]

I like what CP did with Gatekeeper going right over the front gate

Just the thought of runing such a beautiful site with tacky keyholes makes me think twice about renewing season passes. A wing coaster using the bridge would look better. Instead of saying the Cedar Point of the South, it should be the Carowinds of the North. Tehehe, and all the CP fanboys will now want my head on a stick.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

^Hmmmmm what is so "tacky" about it? Were you able to go to Cedar Point this year? I think it looks great! I dont really think we need the same thing here, but I think it worked great for Cedar Point compared to what it was before....