[Edwardo]

[RollerBee]

Planter have been started near the new bridge, and treslies are up on both sides of the ticket booths.

[uscbandfan]

If those two circles are planters, then why the widened bridge? The distance between the planters looks as if its gonna be about the same width as the old bridge was. We were already going to have to funnel in between the buildings on the other side until they finally get redone in the future. Now, it looks like we're gonna have to funnel down on the ticket gate side of the bridge too. Not sure why they widened the bridge if they're not going to utilize it to it's fullest capacity and not make us walk around planters.

[Littlegiles]

If those two circles are planters, then why the widened bridge? The distance between the planters looks as if its gonna be about the same width as the old bridge was. We were already going to have to funnel in between the buildings on the other side until they finally get redone in the future. Now, it looks like we're gonna have to funnel down on the ticket gate side of the bridge too. Not sure why they widened the bridge if they're not going to utilize it to it's fullest capacity and not make us walk around planters.

I would guess that the planters are meant to funnel you down. People will tend to walk down the middle of the bridge and that means that everyone won't be trying to squeeze in together at the end in a horrible bottleneck.. Why utilize the fullest capacity if you have to shrink it down at the end? Perhaps Carowinds designers should have worked with the designers of 485.

I believe Mike has already said they wanted to do some work on the plaza on the park side of the bridge but it wasn't in the budget so perhaps in the future the planters will come out and there will be full access.

Oh, and I think the planters will look nice too. Remember, not everyone comes to the park to ride rides, they have to provide things for non-riders to enjoy as well. Flowers are pretty. HAHA

[RollerBee]

According to the blueprints, we will be able to walk completely around the planters. My thought is maybe this is where the Magnolia trees will go.

[Jarsh]

That would be nice as those would add a touch of Southern charm to the front gate.

[arby]

If those two circles are planters, then why the widened bridge? The distance between the planters looks as if its gonna be about the same width as the old bridge was. We were already going to have to funnel in between the buildings on the other side until they finally get redone in the future. Now, it looks like we're gonna have to funnel down on the ticket gate side of the bridge too. Not sure why they widened the bridge if they're not going to utilize it to it's fullest capacity and not make us walk around planters.

I thought the same thing. Making those new permanent rings seems to completely defeat the purpose of having a wider bridge. All this is going to do is cause people to turn to miss those structures without looking and run into us.

[Littlegiles]

That would be nice as those would add a touch of Southern charm to the front gate.

Not sure those would be big enough for a magnolia, but that would be awesome. Looks like they are really going to try and "green" up the entrance plaza so it isn't just a big plaza of concrete and bricks. Exciting to see come together.

Hoping they don't decide to fill everything with Bradford Pears. Ugh! Crepe Myrtles would be really pretty when they bloom or maybe even some Dogwoods.

[pproteinc]

^^^ Yea I agree I'm more geared to trees that have some time of bloom and color during the spring. especially in an entrance area.

Is it me or am I the only one who feels the T-Rex will be standing in the center of the entry plaza? Where else would he go? I know CP's Rex is right up front.

[RollerBee]

Hopefully he goes extinct and is not part of the new plaza. It was out of place enough in the old plaza.

[Jonathan]

And again I agree wholeheartedly with RollerBee.

[arby]

I will welcome any tree in the front plaza although I agree that Magnolia trees would be great.

[FamousAmos]

sorry Mike, but I hate that Rex with a passion. Honestly, when I was at the park last year, the T-Rex stood out and completely ruined the overall theme. This may sound like an exaggeration, but I'm sure that some of you will agree that it ruins the theme. If it is at all present in the new entrance, at least place it where it's not in the main thoroughfare. In that way, it won't look like such a large eyesore.

[arby]

Looking closer at the rings they are putting in near the bridge, I think the top of them may end up being at grade level which wouldn't be nearly as bad. I originally thought they would be be sticking out above grade.

[Jarsh]

And even if they aren't as ground level, they appear to be big enough that maybe the park is going to use them as benches as well.