- January 13th, 2015, 10:29 am
#68146
The upcoming ACE Winter Warm-up event has caused me to reflect on the upcoming 2015 season for Carowinds
park. I will be excited to see the presentations by visiting parks and hang out with many of my coaster geek
friends once again as we celebrate what is to come.
With opening day in March, 2015, Carowinds is about to enter a new Era in its existence. The recent
investment of capital by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company will be bringing us a new coaster, a new sling-shot
ride and a much needed update to the entrance plaza of the park. Other changes include improved food
offerings, overall infrastructure improvements as well as new parking and entrance facilities. One could
argue that Carowinds is about to enter a new "Golden Age", to use a cliche, in it's long history. Founder
Pat Hall's original vision of a park to celebrate the Carolinas may be diluted to a great degree but I feel
he would be proud of the modern vision now taking shape.
Carowinds opened at a cost of $70 million dollars in March of 1973. Inflation aside, when you consider the
cost of the new coaster at $30 million dollars alone, the contrast between the park's founding and this new
vision for the park is quite ostentatious and is clearly meant to be. The ride's path finds it way across
the new entrance area two times during its outbound and return trips. As if that weren't enough to impress,
the ride dives below the entrance walkway after its amazing looking turn around. It's almost surreal to
imagine that this new monster will provide the "dive under the bridge" that has been the mainstay of so many
jokes and discussions over the years albeit not the bridge that most know from just inside the entrance.
This ride intends to introduce guests to the park and self-proclaims that things are changing in a big way.
The interaction with the ride will occur before you even enter the park. For most, even before they buy a
ticket for the day. That combined with the new, modernized entrance plaza, expanded road entrance and parking
will create a wholly new feel that will present the park in a more grandiose way. It will make a bold
statement that: "Carowinds is now the vacation destination of the Carolinas". This new vision for the park
sets the stage for future changes and expansions that promise bigger things still.
Some have lamented the loss of the classic, Carolina styled entrance building, the "Plantation House". Its
interior complements, especially its upstairs ballroom, and exterior styling were presented in a loose
facimile on opening day. For those of us lucky enough to tour its interior way back at the very first and
also last years C3 events, The "Plantation House" presented a unique historical aspect to the park and no
shortage of comparisons to similar buildings at Disney parks. In a new time when politcal correctness runs
rampant, it could have been seen as disstasteful symbol at the front of the park for some. The new entrance
area is about modernizing both space and access. It adds to the new thinking being infused into the park as
a major vacation destination while being far more practical in function than its predecessor. I will personally miss the
old entrance but that is merely nostalgia talking. One look at that new coaster roaring overhead will quell
any longing I might have felt for the old entrance and its park's ambitions. This all coming from an avid theme park history geek.
Food is an integral part of a great theme park experience and frankly, it's been seriously lacking at
Carowinds over the years. Cedar Fair is aware that this has been an issue and has already shown it is
serious about changing this perception. The recently constructed "Harmony Hall" food court and entertainment
building is a major step in that direction. The food offerings presented here are superior to anything the
park has offered in the past. Carolina styled foods are the focus of the new cuisine being served. This
is a clever move on Cedar Fair's part as it creates a regional appeal for returning guests while showcasing
great new options for new guests traveling from outside the Carolinas. Additional locations around the park
have had updates to their structure and food offerings as well. I'm sure this will be a constant tweaking
process that will be carried forward and I'm excited for what is yet to come.
Will you be there on opening day in March of 2015? I know I will. I think it will be one of the most
exciting visits I have ever had at the park. Many dramatic changes are being made that will present the park
as a new, fresh and modern feeling place for guests. I will certainly be excited to ride Fury 325. My
expectations will be high for the ride but I will also be excited to be present at the beginning of a new
time, a new Era for Carowinds. As I approach that beautiful new entrance, I will think back on those first
visits I made with my family as a child in the late 1970s and later in my 20's during the early 1990's. I
will recall those unforgettible first rides on "White Lightening", the repeated rides on the still existing
"scrambler" ride (my love of laterals was born here?), my first roller coaster ever "Thunder Road" and my
second roller coaster ever "Carolina Cyclone". I will think back on how I use to believe, "Wow! it can't get
any better than this!" then I will look up as that new coaster roars overhead, smile and think, "Oh... yes,
yes it can!"
park. I will be excited to see the presentations by visiting parks and hang out with many of my coaster geek
friends once again as we celebrate what is to come.
With opening day in March, 2015, Carowinds is about to enter a new Era in its existence. The recent
investment of capital by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company will be bringing us a new coaster, a new sling-shot
ride and a much needed update to the entrance plaza of the park. Other changes include improved food
offerings, overall infrastructure improvements as well as new parking and entrance facilities. One could
argue that Carowinds is about to enter a new "Golden Age", to use a cliche, in it's long history. Founder
Pat Hall's original vision of a park to celebrate the Carolinas may be diluted to a great degree but I feel
he would be proud of the modern vision now taking shape.
Carowinds opened at a cost of $70 million dollars in March of 1973. Inflation aside, when you consider the
cost of the new coaster at $30 million dollars alone, the contrast between the park's founding and this new
vision for the park is quite ostentatious and is clearly meant to be. The ride's path finds it way across
the new entrance area two times during its outbound and return trips. As if that weren't enough to impress,
the ride dives below the entrance walkway after its amazing looking turn around. It's almost surreal to
imagine that this new monster will provide the "dive under the bridge" that has been the mainstay of so many
jokes and discussions over the years albeit not the bridge that most know from just inside the entrance.
This ride intends to introduce guests to the park and self-proclaims that things are changing in a big way.
The interaction with the ride will occur before you even enter the park. For most, even before they buy a
ticket for the day. That combined with the new, modernized entrance plaza, expanded road entrance and parking
will create a wholly new feel that will present the park in a more grandiose way. It will make a bold
statement that: "Carowinds is now the vacation destination of the Carolinas". This new vision for the park
sets the stage for future changes and expansions that promise bigger things still.
Some have lamented the loss of the classic, Carolina styled entrance building, the "Plantation House". Its
interior complements, especially its upstairs ballroom, and exterior styling were presented in a loose
facimile on opening day. For those of us lucky enough to tour its interior way back at the very first and
also last years C3 events, The "Plantation House" presented a unique historical aspect to the park and no
shortage of comparisons to similar buildings at Disney parks. In a new time when politcal correctness runs
rampant, it could have been seen as disstasteful symbol at the front of the park for some. The new entrance
area is about modernizing both space and access. It adds to the new thinking being infused into the park as
a major vacation destination while being far more practical in function than its predecessor. I will personally miss the
old entrance but that is merely nostalgia talking. One look at that new coaster roaring overhead will quell
any longing I might have felt for the old entrance and its park's ambitions. This all coming from an avid theme park history geek.
Food is an integral part of a great theme park experience and frankly, it's been seriously lacking at
Carowinds over the years. Cedar Fair is aware that this has been an issue and has already shown it is
serious about changing this perception. The recently constructed "Harmony Hall" food court and entertainment
building is a major step in that direction. The food offerings presented here are superior to anything the
park has offered in the past. Carolina styled foods are the focus of the new cuisine being served. This
is a clever move on Cedar Fair's part as it creates a regional appeal for returning guests while showcasing
great new options for new guests traveling from outside the Carolinas. Additional locations around the park
have had updates to their structure and food offerings as well. I'm sure this will be a constant tweaking
process that will be carried forward and I'm excited for what is yet to come.
Will you be there on opening day in March of 2015? I know I will. I think it will be one of the most
exciting visits I have ever had at the park. Many dramatic changes are being made that will present the park
as a new, fresh and modern feeling place for guests. I will certainly be excited to ride Fury 325. My
expectations will be high for the ride but I will also be excited to be present at the beginning of a new
time, a new Era for Carowinds. As I approach that beautiful new entrance, I will think back on those first
visits I made with my family as a child in the late 1970s and later in my 20's during the early 1990's. I
will recall those unforgettible first rides on "White Lightening", the repeated rides on the still existing
"scrambler" ride (my love of laterals was born here?), my first roller coaster ever "Thunder Road" and my
second roller coaster ever "Carolina Cyclone". I will think back on how I use to believe, "Wow! it can't get
any better than this!" then I will look up as that new coaster roars overhead, smile and think, "Oh... yes,
yes it can!"
