- July 6th, 2014, 11:07 pm
#56978
Since we are 99.9999% sure that we are getting a giga next year, we probably won't get a big new coaster for another 4-5 years. Still, Cedar Fair has shown that they want to make Carowinds a destination park, so I think getting 2 big coasters in the next 9-10 years is pretty likely. First, the park obviously needs a GOOD launch coaster. I could see Carowinds getting something similar to Xcelerator or Stealth, but I'd prefer something unique, but along the lines of Blue Fire or Maverick. I am pretty confident that one of our next big coasters will be launch, but the other big coaster could be anything. Floorless, Wingrider, Dive Machine, or a woodie. I would love to see either a GCI or Intamin woodie added to the park and replace Hurler. Look at Magic Mountain. They took out Psyclone and replaced it with Apocalypse, a much better GCI woodie. Hurler is not very popular, but a woodie like El Toro or Goldstriker would be great for the park. Think about how amazing our lineup would be with those two coasters: 1. Fury 325/Giga 2. Launch Coaster 3. Intimidator 4. Good Woodie 5. Afterburn. That lineup would easily beat every other park in the Southeast, regardless of what all the other parks put in. And most importantly, I hope that in between the coasters we get a good flat or dark ride each year and water park expansions. I would love a top spin, giant frisbee, screamin swing, better drop tower, dark ride, and a good water slide tower with an Aqua Loop or something. A water ride wouldn't hurt either. That's my best-case scenario for the park. Worst-case, Cedar Fair thinks that adding a giga is enough for a while, and we don't get anything big for another decade.
Anyway, I've noticed that a lot of you have been suggesting that the park should remove coasters. Personally, the only coasters I think should be changed or removed are Hurler and Vortex. I really hope we keep TR, I personally think it's a really fun and iconic ride. The park wouldn't be the same without it. However, I'd be fine if Hurler was removed and replaced with flats or a good woodie.
Now, on to Vortex. And please bear with me here, I know my ideas are a little out there. I could definitely see Vortex being shipped off to a smaller park. It would much more valuable at a smaller Cedar Fair park like MiA or WOF. However, I think Cedar Fair would be better off "changing" Vortex. You could change the trains, as I think floorless or plain sit down trains would be much better. Or they could change the ride altogether. I know this is a little crazy and I will be ridiculed for even suggesting this, but what if they changed Vortex to a Dive Coaster? You could take out the current drop, and have the ride make a 180 degree turn into the holding brake, into a 100 ft or so 90 degree drop. You could even keep the stand-up trains. It could be the first Stand-up Dive Coaster lol. I had this crazy idea a couple days ago and I thought this would be the best thread to share it in. I'd love to hear what you all think of this idea, or if it would even be possible.
Overall, as long as we get a new ride every year or two, I'll be happy. All this giga talk is making me really wonder what Carowinds will look like ten years down the road.
