[LocalYokel]

^ This is one of the few explanations that makes sense.

[tarheel1231]

I've said it several times before - TR's track isn't the issue. It's station is. Why else would you tear out two decent coasters that you've spent enormous amounts of money and time repairing? If the future expansion was occuring only in the parking lot on the other side of TR then they would've added pathways and been done. The only reason I can see for removing it is that the area around the station is what will be part of next year's waterpark expansion and there would be no way to connect the theme park to TR once they build the waterpark in that area.

Why would they close down Thunder Road so early if it is for a water park expansion? If that was the case, it seems like they could run Thunder Road for the rest of the season.

[Jarsh]

You do realize that Carowinds isnt run like RCT, right? You can't just click on a coaster and select "Delete" and it all disappear at once. It will take some time to remove all of Thunder Road so the sooner they can get started, the better chance they have of getting it's replacement built and finished before opening day 2016.

If they do take all of County Fair over for this, I wouldn't be surprised to see the pathway by Afterburn's Immelman closed as well as the County Fair arch entrance in the park shortly after TR closes.

[CarowindsCentral]

Awww... I thought they would use explosives to take down the ride!

[uscbandfan]

I am finding the similarities between Conan's Tonight Show and Thunder Road to be strikingly similar. Quite the online uproar when both were announced but had these same people actually watched the show (rode Thunder Rode), Conan would still be the host (Thunder Road would still be standing).

To each his own. Can't stand Conan. But I digress... back to TR....

[uscbandfan]

^^ The County Fair section always has been kind of out-of-the-way for me. Afterburn is the same way now (unless you parked at the South Gate). Things were made WAY better with that path you speak of near Afterburn's immelman. If you come in the front gate and walk around the park, Afterburn seems set to the side and not a part of anything. If they revamp County Fair, I'm hoping they find a way to help include that area in the general flow of things.

[chargercrazy]

I've said it several times before - TR's track isn't the issue. It's station is. Why else would you tear out two decent coasters that you've spent enormous amounts of money and time repairing? If the future expansion was occuring only in the parking lot on the other side of TR then they would've added pathways and been done. The only reason I can see for removing it is that the area around the station is what will be part of next year's waterpark expansion and there would be no way to connect the theme park to TR once they build the waterpark in that area.

TR could be totally surrounded by waterpark and connected to the theme park with a narrow path with fences on each side for separation from the waterpark. Hey, it could be done

[Jarsh]

^^ The County Fair section always has been kind of out-of-the-way for me. Afterburn is the same way now (unless you parked at the South Gate). Things were made WAY better with that path you speak of near Afterburn's immelman. If you come in the front gate and walk around the park, Afterburn seems set to the side and not a part of anything. If they revamp County Fair, I'm hoping they find a way to help include that area in the general flow of things.

If they removed all of County Fair, they could remove Dinos and revamp that area into a new County Fair with the relocated flats and create a new entrance for Afterburn in this area.

[Jonathan]

If they do take all of County Fair over for this, I wouldn't be surprised to see the pathway by Afterburn's Immelman closed as well as the County Fair arch entrance in the park shortly after TR closes.

My guess would be that pathway becomes the new second entrance to the water park. I would like to think they would retain the existing South Gate and the walk up over the Top Gun bridge. It would be a shame if they didn't. But I guess they could build an entirely new entrance in a different location, maybe on the western edge of the parking lot.

[Jarsh]

Good point as well. Heck, they could even leave the paths as they are and at the split (under the jet) have the left side go down into the waterpark and have the right side still be a second, back entrance into the amusement park that went around and dumped into the Dino's area.

Mike posted on Twitter the other day that they still use teh second entrance when the parking lot fills up beyond a certain point so keeping an entrance into the park back there might be the best option, especially since the crowds are only going to get bigger.

[RollerBee]

With all the empty space, why not build around it.( rhetorical). I am actually starting to lean towards "Iron Thunder Road", which would be better than Thunder Road coming down completely but still not the same or better to me. Or they could do topper track with a new layout and new trains. Based on what I responded to with the phrase "Hmm", this makes me think Thunder Road may be converted.

[tarheel1231]

With all the empty space, why not build around it.( rhetorical). I am actually starting to lean towards "Iron Thunder Road", which would be better than Thunder Road coming down completely but still not the same or better to me. Or they could do topper track with a new layout and new trains. Based on what I responded to with the phrase "Hmm", this makes me think Thunder Road may be converted.

The only reason I can see for removing it is that the area around the station is what will be part of next year's waterpark expansion and there would be no way to connect the theme park to TR once they build the waterpark in that area.

RMC is booked for 2016, Cedar Fair hasn't been talking with RMC, Thunder Road will not be converted.

[uscbandfan]

I like the "left path" entrance to the water park and "right path" entrance to the ride park once you enter the South Gate. This, however would further put Afterburn into a "far corner" of the park if you're a front-gate person. It's too far back to put the queue line starting at the Goose pond (or whatever we're calling that water feature.) If snoopy takes over dino-land, that pushes Afterburn even further into a land of it's own. I'm not sure what the solution will be there. (Move Afterburn?)

[Chris]

I am finding the similarities between Conan's Tonight Show and Thunder Road to be strikingly similar. Quite the online uproar when both were announced but had these same people actually watched the show (rode Thunder Rode), Conan would still be the host (Thunder Road would still be standing).

To each his own. Can't stand Conan. But I digress... back to TR....

I never said I wish he was still the host. I am just comparing the two uproars.

[cwgator]

(1) RMC is booked for 2016,
(2) Cedar Fair hasn't been talking with RMC,
(3)Thunder Road will not be converted.

1: How would you know this?
2: See #1
3: Don't see that either, but never say never. There is always a 50% chance of anything happening, especially since none of us know either about the 2 previous points you made.