[LocoDriver]

He was well known everywhere because he was feared all up and down the coast.

However, he lived in NC, wrecked his ship off the coast of NC and at one time was in the History Books for NC education. The state kind of adopted him. Charleston was just one of many harbours he pirated.

[chargercrazy]

Good ole Ed Thatch.

[2012jarrett]

I'm crunched for time so since all comments seem to pertain to the same thing, I'll address it.

My family goes to Charleston for vacation a lot over the summer and we take a lot of historical tours around the city, and most of the ones can't mention pirates without Blackbeard being brought up. He was a huge part of piracy on the Carolina Coast from what I understand, and Carowinds here is kind of taking that and running with it.

-x-

Coast Carolina Forums > Carowinds > Vortex Gets Flushed September 24

Posted by Carrie on 3 September 2015

It's announcement day and all four of us Coast Carolina admins are here for it! Carowinds has been great to us, we walked to the park past their LED scrolling sign as it read, "Ahoy, media and coaster club members!"


After all the media had checked in, we were all walked to Skytower for an hour of photo ERT. I got this nice picture of Vortex from the sky. Looking down on it, it seems so helpless and powerless, especially since it's already a tiny coaster.


In the days leading up to this big day, they've been putting props out to tease us. And this is literally the mix we've gotten.


We have a pirate sword, a pirate flag, and two broken Roman columns that don't line up with the theme of this campaign so far. Could this whole thing have been a red herring all along? Was the chest just there to lead us astray?


This is a huge day for this coaster...


However, while it is a part of Carowinds's past, it was once a part of the future, no different from what we're about to find out.


Each media team was given an inflatable pool ring and a press kit locked in a small wooden box on the way into Carowinds Theater. I write this from my phone but I'm about to put it away since they seem to be getting ready to start. I'm here with Blitz, Pete, and Juan, and here in the coaster club section, you could cut the tension with a knife. Will Vortex be reopened? Rougaroued? Relocated? Wrecked? I'll post as soon as they let us out!

TO BE CONTINUED....

[tarheel1231]

I can't wait! Nice cliffhanger at the end, but we all know Blackbeard's Revenge is for the dark ride behind Carolina Cyclone.

[Koallinbear]

Way to make me depressed

[2012jarrett]

Coast Carolina Forums > Carowinds > Lusca Announced for 2017!

Posted by Blitz on 3 September 2015

Lusca Comes from the Deep in 2017!

After a good 24-year run, Vortex will give its last rides in September of 2016 before closing to undergo a transformation into Lusca, the first floorless roller coaster in the Carolinas. Named for the feared beast feared by the pirates of the Carolinas capable of entangling even the mightiest ship in its powerful tentacles and pulling it into the dark depths of the ocean, Lusca will send riders through 2,000 feet of tangled track reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour with nothing but the speeding, churning track beneath their feet.

Lusca will drop the floor out from under riders before they will be hoisted up to heights of 80 feet before being thrown down a drop and into a loop. From there, the octopus maroon, coral pink, and aqua blue trains are sent into a wave-like overbank, tossing them around as if they were a toy, and droping them into a whirlpool-like helix. From there, Lusca's grip on riders only tightens as they're subjected to numerous intense turns and a crushing corkscrew. As the Lusca's crushing pull only grows stronger, riders are pulled into the water as the Lusca splashes them and lets them to safety, allowing them to get their feet onto solid land...for now.

Lusca is going to be a floorless coaster, a ride type parent Cedar Fair has had great success with in the past at parks such as Kings Dominion, Dorney Park, Cedar Point, and most recently, California's Great America. On a floorless coaster, riders sit down in a seat on a pedestal as the floor drops out from beneath their feet, leaving them dangling over the track with nothing on which to find solid ground. Vortex is one of now three coasters Cedar Fair has taken it upon themselves to convert from standup to floorless, taking the existing standing cars off, adding floorless ones, updating the ride hardware, and rebranding the ride.

The Carolina Showplace area in which Vortex currently resides will also be renovated into the Lowcountry Gardens for 2017, including a facelift for Carowinds Theater's exterior, renovations and a new lightning package for Scrambler, and added themed visuals around Lusca herself. In continuing efforts to have Carowinds better represent the spirit and culture of the south, Lowcountry Gardens is set to resemble the antebellum courtyard gardens found in cities such as Charleston, with this will be the return of the fountain and updated landscaping.

Carowinds is very excited to be updating Vortex just in time for the ride's 25th year of operation, an update that should guarantee possibly another quarter of a century of life for this piece of Carowinds history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DHlA9ARnlI

However, before we say hello to Lusca, we must first say goodbye to Vortex. Vortex will give its last stand to media, coaster club members, and passholders on the evening of September 24 from 4 pm to close. It will be a chance to be part of Carowinds history but spots are limited, so sign up on the Carowinds website or app today!

[Koallinbear]

What can im I say. This could work very well and is marketable, but I don't want vortex to go

[BelowThePeak]

Interesting idea. I'm not really sure we need another blue coaster, though (although I do love the color blue). A purple coaster, on the other hand, would definitely be a welcome addition to the park.

Also, it says the riders are "splashed" before exiting. Does that mean there'd be a splashdown near the end of the ride? Because I know there's a straight section of track before the brake run that may be possible to convert into a splashdown.

[RollerBee]

-

[FamousAmos]

I'll just put this here...

12.jpg (355.34KiB)Viewed 5391 times

[shane235]

I'm not sure if this is even possible, but if they convert/remodel Vortex, I really hope they will extend the pond to underneath it and maybe parts of Goldrush. That would make the park a lot prettier, and it would even contribute to the theme if it is going to be Lusca or water animal themed.

[Sean978]

They could always name it Leviathan 90 if they want a water monster.

[2012jarrett]

What can im I say. This could work very well and is marketable, but I don't want vortex to go

It's happening at CGA (though we have no idea beyond the conversion itself) so we'll see how that works. However, you do have to admit it that this probably should have happened before Thunder Road's removal.

Interesting idea. I'm not really sure we need another blue coaster, though (although I do love the color blue). A purple coaster, on the other hand, would definitely be a welcome addition to the park.

Also, it says the riders are "splashed" before exiting. Does that mean there'd be a splashdown near the end of the ride? Because I know there's a straight section of track before the brake run that may be possible to convert into a splashdown.

On your statement regarding color, I know that there's plenty of blue around the park such as Afterburn, Nighthawk, and Fury, but remember, Banshee's fuschia track depicted in renderings ended up looking way better. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how Lusca turns out. As for the splash, it isn't a splashdown but it is a water effect.

-

Random hyphen? Okay...

I'll just put this here...

12.jpg

As awesome as that looks, I intend it to look a bit different. You'll see in future updates.

I'm not sure if this is even possible, but if they convert/remodel Vortex, I really hope they will extend the pond to underneath it and maybe parts of Goldrush. That would make the park a lot prettier, and it would even contribute to the theme if it is going to be Lusca or water animal themed.

I doubt that's possible with the footers already anchored like they are. It would be nice though!

They could always name it Leviathan 90 if they want a water monster.

Or Kracken, because there hasn't been a floorless named Kracken before.

-x-

Coast Carolina Forums > Carowinds > Lusca Announced for 2017!

Posted by Juan [SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTAIN] on 10 September 2017

Went to Carowinds today to get a few final shots of Vortex after catching word they were going to start painting it this week. I also filmed a POV!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehz4E5IXxoU
The last POV that will ever be taken of Vortex as just Vortex. Come back next weekend, you'll see some Lusca paint on it.


This won't look the same way ever again after this weekend.


I will love how it won't look exactly like Thunder Road does anymore.


And I most certainly will not be missing that bike saddle!


During the Q&A session at the Lusca announcement, an ACE Southeast member asked in which order they were going to paint the coaster. First, they admitted that the orange paint was there to test a primer they had considered using that they since wiped off since it didn't work and was already starting to crack and that the orange was for visibility. However, they then mentioned that they were going to try and do as many supports as possible first so that it looked black and red for the Last Stand, ending its life with the same paint scheme it had when it opened. They did however say that we would be seeing indigo on the track by then.


The countdown to the last stand is on!

[2012jarrett]

Posted by MarkTheRideTech on 16 September 2016.

Vorsca (as we now call it) was down for a delay today so I took some pictures with my Google Glass on the job today going to fix it.


They're starting to paint Vortex. While it's still around and Lusca won't be around until 2017, the transformation started before it was even announced. Between testing that new type of primer and surveying the land with that B&M rep, I'm actually surprised this didn't happen sooner.


Cedar Fair seems to have pulled a Banshee again. While the renderings made this look like a royal blue, it actually looks more indigo. Not complaining since I like it more and the supports are the same shade of black, and it isn't as bad as Banshee's pale blue and pink becoming burgandy and royal. I feel like Lusca will look very sinister when it's done.


Palmetto Paint & Exterior Design is there and they've been doing this during the week when the park isn't open. Working on inspection during the week, I talked to them and they said they painted the bottom of the drop just to see how it will look and have since moved on to supports, planning to get them all black by The Last Stand next weekend. They don't think they'll get it all but they want to get most of it.


After I fixed the top gear and tightened it back into place, I turned around and got this! I love how all 2000 feet of twisted steel that make up Vortex start off tight and twisty and only tighten and get more intense as the ride continues. This should be awesome in floorless trains not getting the blood sucked to your feet!


I was told they would be making an announcement tomorrow on social media about their upcoming (and probably very emotional) Vortex: The Last Stand enthusiast event next Sunday.

[mark40511]

I brought this up about Vortex a LONG time ago.. I hate stand up coasters... I know this would improve Vortex, but the ride is too short. Is converting a steel coasters from one train to another and painting it all they do, or would it be possible that they add track to make it longer/higher, etc. I'm doubting that big time. It's a shame Vortex is such a short coaster unlike Chang, Mantis, and Riddler's Revenge. If they could somehow make it higher, longer that would be so much better, but is that even possible with an existing steel coaster?