[RollerBee]

Yes more slides not less! Double the size of waterpark!

[Capler]

Other than the coaster, I full expect them to expound on the major infrastructure going on at the park over the next few years. I'm expecting major developments that will put Carowinds firmly in the Premiere Southeastern Park status.

I would consider carowinds to be already. In your opinion what do you think they need to add/fix?

You have to look at what other parks have done to get your answer. Nearby DollyWood and BGW have become destination parks. You have to offer something unique and distinctive. Dollywood it is all about the service, music, and down home atmosphere. BGW was about the landscaping, then later world class rides. CP has always been about record breaking coasters. It appears that is what Fair is attempting to do with Carowinds. One thing people say about Carowinds is that you are always looking at a coaster regardless of where you are in the park. All you have to do is look up. That is a unique feature if you ask me. In most other parks, coaster occupy fenced off dead zones. The coasters also interact with the guest with the walk ways and tunnels. It appears Fair is keeping that tradition with the new ride. Carowinds is truly becoming a coaster capital and I hope they begin to call it that.

[LocoDriver]

I doubt Gauntlet is coming back.

Why?

[Edwardo]

Carowinds has to contend with oG and Dollywood. Dollywood is a multi-day park. Over Georgia and the separate water park are competition. It's obvious, based in what CF has publicly stated numerous times, that they feel carowinds is under serving the market, so it isn't even where they want it.

With the major infrastructure additions added and ongoing, and not the addition of a bunch of record breakers, but smart additions including next years coaster and this years slides, the company is trying to position the park to be more of a destination.

And again, some of you take the "CP of the south" to mean huge coasters coming soon. I'm certainly not saying that they won't add more, but that isn't the comparison they're making, and the CEO said it wouldn't likely get to where they think it (the park) will go during his time.

After this three year expansion, I see them adding some flats, more slides, a hotel, perhaps another dark ride, and of course coasters. But the company isn't being run by Story and Burke. They're not the six flags of the early 2000s with a "build it and hope they come' attitude.

Case in point, Canada's Wonderland out performs Cedar Point,what, every year? Where is their Dragster? Their Maverick?

And Knotts is one of the highest attended regional parks with major competition. What did they get this year? And it looks like they're getting a dark ride soon.

I've been saying all along that outside of this 3 year expansion that is being done to set the park in the right direction going forward that all you have to do is look at what they're doing at all the other big parks, sprucing up, adding family and mild thrill rides, adding dark rides, and making the parks more diverse.

I definitely think carowinds will see more of the sprucing up and the same type,of additions that KD, CP, knotts, CW, and even Valleyfair (which basically did what Knotts and CP did, repurpose old rides in a newer section with one new mild thrill).

[coasterbruh]

I can really see carowinds getting their own hotel/water park like castaway bay...

[coasterdude]

I can really see carowinds getting their own hotel/water park like castaway bay...

I've always wanted a hotel/resort to be built over the current carowinds campground

[FamousAmos]

Well, that. But what if the parking lot next to Thunder Road were tore up and the hotel put there? Then you can enter through the South Gate...

[coasterbruh]

How well does the camp ground do period? I have never seen it

[RollerBee]

Apparently well enough to stay in business....

[arby]

It's a nice campground but I haven't been there in a few years although we'll be staying at it again soon. What it is primarily missing is a resort gate where you can walk from the campground into the park. Right now you have to wait for shuttle or drive around to the park, both of which are a pain.

[Tosu97]

If there is a new front gate under construction by SCarowinds, does anyone think the south gate will temporarily be the "main gate"?

[redrunner97]

So, I have a question. In the proposed layout that was leaked there were 2 paths under the coaster, one on the side of the entrance and another along the NC/SC stateline. So where would both these paths lead?

I would assume the one on the side would link the parking lot to the main gate (as it currently does), they'll probably re-pave, shuffle, or expand? For a more grander entrance.

But what about the one along the stateline? Will it link to a restored Season Pass parking lot? Or dare I suggest a future Resort located on the newly purchased land beyond the new Toll Booth?

I'm curious as to what you guys think about the upcoming changes to the front gate. That's something I'm very excited for, personally.

[MarkD]

But what about the one along the stateline? Will it link to a restored Season Pass parking lot? Or dare I suggest a future Resort located on the newly purchased land beyond the new Toll Booth?

To the Bus parking? According to the prints anyway.

[arby]

Correct. Assuming the leaked prints from some time ago were correct, the former season pass lot is going to be the new bus/rv parking lot. As MarkD said, that path would logically lead to that lot and also the shuttle stop for the campground assuming it's staying in the same general area.

[mark40511]

What criteria does Cedar Fair use to determine the order of their parks (or ranking, if you will)

Is it attendance, Land area, ride count, etc?

I think I remember reading where someone said Carowinds was # 4. Hopefully becoming closer to 1. But I don't know.

I was amazed to read someone posted Canada's Wonderland does better than CP. I wouldn't have guessed that.