[tarheel1231]

I don't think Cedar Fair wants to lose Carowinds' coaster count, so I'm thinking they will build a themed, Mack water-coaster that might be based of that 'Carowinds Mine Ride' concept Mike shared with us. Then, the area where TR's turnarounds used to will serve for a water park expansion some time after 2016. Still doesn't take away the pain that will be left by Thunder Road, but I'm somewhat excited for whatever 2016 brings.

[chknwing]

I tell ya what, carowinds facebook page is on fire with angry people. Theres no way they dont take notice especially people saying they dont want to go to the park anymore.

[RollerBee]

I vote current season pass holders stop spending money in the park this season unless the park spares Thunder Road. However the season pass holder sitting next to me has objected from that idea and she is "The Queen of the River".
If only she wore the skirts.

[coasterbruh]

Ok guys…at what cost are you willing to keep Thunder Road? Yeah the park said its retiring to make way for future expansions but I’m almost positive its more to it than that. I “hear” it has been having a lot of problems…expensive problems that the park doesn’t see fit to keep throwing money at. Now if Carowinds was a true local park with like 4-6 roller coasters and doesn’t get one every 10 years then yes, I could see them investing money into keeping the thunder rolling. But check this out…did you know Carowinds has only lost 2 coasters in its history? Compare that to some other parks that have lost more coasters than they currently have.

Personally, would I like to see Thunder Road stay? Absolutely! However, I think shouting, disrespectful comments towards the park and threatening to not go to the park is NOT helping the situation. There are arguments and valid arguments. A valid argument is that it is a historical piece of the park being it pretty much saved it. A not-so-valid argument is the fact that it’s your favorite ride. I’m not too sure how much of a say ACE has in anything but it seems as if they are trying to be politically correct and not emphasizing enough about how we are constantly losing wooden coasters. I think the way six flags is doing it is clever. While it’s true they are removing wooden coasters, they are sorta keeping part of them and making them steel causing people to forget the fact that they really just lost a wooden coaster and its no different than bulldozing the entire ride and starting new.

Do I think the current #SaveThunderRoad will work? I dunno, similar efforts have worked in the past. Is there a list of coasters that ACE feels should be preserved for all to enjoy? If there isn’t, I feel that would be a great idea to have. Kinda like a truce. After all isn’t ACE about enjoying and keeping coasters around? It kinda sucks to have only ACE as a reputable coaster club being others are mainly coaster clubs geared at just riding them and not so much the history….anyway I’m rambling now so yeah, its ways to get your point across to the park positively…choose wisely.

[chknwing]

I think for something like thunder road, which has been a part of carowinds history for 39 years, Cedar Fair should atleast be more informative as to why it needs to be removed. If it needed constant repairs and is falling apart, why not just come out and say that, why piss everyone off telling them its being removed to expand the park. Maybe release last year ride statistics for the ride if ridership has been declining. something, anything, not just because we feel like it kinda reasoning.

[BelowThePeak]

Save thunder road...Are we serious? Why?....if we're getting something bigger and better!? Why keep the park 20 years behind? Should we bring segregation back also!? This is only to make carowinds a destination park! Who shouldn't be happy about that!? Do what you do cedar fair and don't let anyone stop you from making carowinds one of the top amusement parks in the world! I'm logging off now because I'm flume...I mean fuming and I'm FLAT out dappointed! I'm going to SLIDE to the side and relocate my CARTS.....Putt putt anyone?

What is this post... I can't. Segregation?

[Tosu97]

I HATE that Thunder Road is leaving. But I'm sure I can make peace with it as long as whatever comes next is decidedly better. But I have my doubts...

[chknwing]

theres 1800 signatures on the petition but



thats alot of people wanting TR to go away

[Tosu97]

They don't know what they are saying. But I guess most of us don't either...

[BelowThePeak]

I will say that I think Thunder Road's footprint definitely has potential if they want to place another big attraction in its spot. It's not a particularly large coaster, but I believe its footprint is only smaller than Fury's and Intimidator's as far as coasters go. I'm just not sure what they could place in its spot that would be worth it, but maybe it'll be a positive surprise?

[Jay]

I think the important thing to remember, is that it may take a few (or many?) years for the land that Thunder Road sits on to be completely utilized. I can already hear the complaining about "this is what you removed Thunder Road for?!?!" after the water park expansion is announced, which I'm not expecting to be anything extraordinary (but I have been wrong before). Hopefully good things are in the works for 2017 and beyond.

[LocalYokel]

I think for something like thunder road, which has been a part of carowinds history for 39 years, Cedar Fair should atleast be more informative as to why it needs to be removed. If it needed constant repairs and is falling apart, why not just come out and say that, why piss everyone off telling them its being removed to expand the park. Maybe release last year ride statistics for the ride if ridership has been declining. something, anything, not just because we feel like it kinda reasoning.

You raise a good point. A lot of the outrage is the result of yet another Carowinds PR gaffe. If they had presented the expansion/improvement plans first and the TR news second we may have reacted differently.

[Jonathan]

theres 1800 signatures on the petition but



thats alot of people wanting TR to go away

You realize that's not what it means when you 'like' a Facebook post right?

[coasterbruh]

...after the water park expansion is announced in 2016 FOR 2017, which I'm not expecting to be anything extraordinary (but I have been wrong before). Hopefully good things are in the works for 2018 and beyond.

I fixed it for you...

[TheCoasterMan1]

I think there could be possible maintenance issues that we do not know about.I went to the park yesterday and TR silver side broke down 2 times that I know of. The first time the train stopped at the top of the lift for about 10 minutes for no reason at all (surprised that didn't make the news). The second time riders returned to the station and the restraints would not come up. The ride attendants had to use the tool to let everyone off. The mechanic came and I guess he reset the ride. I don't know if the silver side was ever up and running again.

I will also be one to agree that TR does have low ridership. On busy days you can go to TR and not have to wait 5 minutes (one of the many reasons why I love this ride). But how can you blame the coaster. The County Fair section of the park is an absolute dead zone. The park has not spent any money to try and rejuvenate and beautify the area and that is why you have a coaster with failing attendance numbers. There are no other good rides in that general area to help bring guest to that part of the park. If they would have removed yo-yo and the theatre a long time ago for a greater ride thunder road might not be in such bad shape.

Look at Hurler for example. Before Fury rejuvenating the Thrill Zone area Hurler ridership was at an all time low as well. Every time I am at the park Hurler now has a line down past the steps and you can easily say that more people ride it because more people are in that area of the park.

However, I do feel like the timing of the "last ride" of TR is interesting. I am trying to be one of the optimistic people here and say that for TR's 40th anniversary we will see a new ride experience. Considering Cedar Fair has yet to work with RMC we could be the test ground foe a RMC conversion. The only doubt with this theory is that we just got Fury so the odds of a Thunder Road conversion are not in its favor or our favor.