[KenB]

This is one reason I hate that the parks wait to announce coming attractions until later in the year. Even the parks that "retired" woodies that got RMC conversions waited several weeks before announcing that, even though most enthusiasts knew what was going on.

If we knew what was going in place before seeing the vacant plot sitting there it might ease the sting a bit, and might tame the Facebook mobs some as well.

[coasterbruh]

We don't know???

[Edwardo]

I know. They're tearing the ride down and in 2016 the park is getting an expanded water park. There's really no mystery other than what all they're adding to the water park.

[tarheel1231]

I know. They're tearing the ride down and in 2016 the park is getting an expanded water park. There's really no mystery other than what all they're adding to the water park.

And nothing else?

[KenB]

Ok wise guys, tell us exactly what we're getting beyond the general category of water park expansion.

[coasterbruh]

I know. They're tearing the ride down and in 2016 the park is getting an expanded water park. There's really no mystery other than what all they're adding to the water park.

And nothing else?

Oh you just wait...

Ok wise guys, tell us exactly what we're getting beyond the general category of water park expansion.

Ok ok...its going to be...AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[roxxxtar]

I hope this is ok to post this in this thread. Over at my mom and dads house, still hanging on the inside of my old closet door, is this promo glossy. I think I resized it correctly to fit the forum rules.

[uscbandfan]

^ ahhh. Back when there was actual water in the park (NOT water park). Maybe we can hope for some more water within the main park as park of the "Big Splash". or not. WE CAN HOPE!!! More trees would be nice too.

[RacerAlex]

I wanted to chime in and say "thanks" to everyone who posted pic's from closing day. Its been great viewing and I've really enjoyed the stories about Thunder Road.

I was eleven the summer they built Thunder Road. And I remember vividly the coaster when she opened. For those too young to have been there, I tell you she was simply awe-inspiring on a clear summer day. Bright white with that massive green highway sign atop the lift: "DO NOT STAND UP!"

Those original trains from Jetstream made her a class act. Tucked and rolled leather padding was super comfy. Small kids could fit three across as there was no divider between riders. The lap bars back then was a single bar that came down the width of the seat and stopped about 6"-8" over my legs. I remember feeling like you really could fly out of that train. If you timed it just right at the turnaround, you could go flying from one side of the car to the other. Sucked to be on the outside, LOL! The 55 Chevy and 57 Ford fronts were one-of-a-kind with working headlights. With the headlights showing the way, you really felt like you were driving down a country road on those night rides back then. Those trains alone made Thunder Road a clear cut above her sister coasters in Doswell and Cincinnati.

And who will forget the thunder as the trains ran the tunnels on approach to the brake run. How many of you remember being next in line, starring into those dark tunnels waiting for the headlights to appear?

As I grew older and more knowledgable, the other thing that made Thunder Road unique was it was Curtis Summer's first big coaster. Summers had apprenticed under John Allen (who designed Racer and Rebel Yell), and with Allen set for retirement after Screaming Eagle, Summers worked off of Allen's original Rebel Yell plans and oversaw the project. He managed to make it 5 feet taller and 400 feet longer then either of her sister coasters. Summers went on to draft the Texas Giant, Mean Streak and KD's Grizzly.

Not to be misunderstood, as Thunder Road is now history, but it's story is a sad one. Carowinds had a great coaster, easily the best of the racing coasters. But slowly over time, management peeled away all the things that made her great. Replacing the trains with vanilla PTC flyers was a big blow. Allowing the massive white paint to fade away another. The tunnels to open up yet another. Even as the park grew, the section Thunder Road anchored became an offshoot of the main circuit and with tree growth, the coaster was hardly visible anymore. It certainly wasn't lost on me as I looked over the group walk around photos, that had the park expanded into that parking lot to allow guest that perspective around a huge white racer with vintage car facias, we might not be in the boat we're in.

As it is, Thunder Road was a shadow of its former greatness. I know for park goers from my generation, you remember how grand she really was. But if you never saw that, its easy to understand how she'd become just another decaying woodie, hidden in a hard-to-find section of the park. That said, I think its sad that Carolina Cyclone stands while Thunder Road stands silent. Thats just wrong in my book. I don't hold it against Cedar Fair, they just wrote the last chapter in a long book that never quite understood what made Thunder Road so special back in her day. It made me happy to see so many of you turn out Sunday and show that you saw her for what she was. Especially those of you that knew her in her prime.

[tarheel1231]

I really want to like your post but Carolina Cyclone is still a fine coaster, and IMO the second best classic coaster in the park (though it's the first now that Thunder Road is gone). Still, I would love to have seen Thunder Road in its prime as the signature coaster of Carowinds.

[psychoticbiotic]

Yeah, I feel the decline in ridership isn't entirely the ride's fault. Yes it's old news, but it's also in a very slow corner practically hidden from the rest of the park. I feel like the park itself throughout the years has neglected to keep that area alive. Almost any ride (save one of the very big ones) would die there.

[TheCoasterMan1]

Yeah, I feel the decline in ridership isn't entirely the ride's fault. Yes it's old news, but it's also in a very slow corner practically hidden from the rest of the park. I feel like the park itself throughout the years has neglected to keep that area alive. Almost any ride (save one of the very big ones) would die there.

Hurler was also considered to be in a slow corner of the park until this year. I can vouch that Hurler actually has a line for once, even on the weekends. Before Hurler didn't have a line no matter what day it was. I feel like if Action Theater was removed and a water park entrance was added along with a new roller coaster in the south parking lot (not a parking lot coaster) the County Fair section could have been rejuvenated just like Thrill Zone and Thunder Road could have been saved. I feel like Cedar Fair waited to late to try and revitalize this area of the park and Thunder Road just became a huge money pit.

[mark40511]

I wanted to chime in and say "thanks" to everyone who posted pic's from closing day. Its been great viewing and I've really enjoyed the stories about Thunder Road.

I was eleven the summer they built Thunder Road. And I remember vividly the coaster when she opened. For those too young to have been there, I tell you she was simply awe-inspiring on a clear summer day. Bright white with that massive green highway sign atop the lift: "DO NOT STAND UP!"

Those original trains from Jetstream made her a class act. Tucked and rolled leather padding was super comfy. Small kids could fit three across as there was no divider between riders. The lap bars back then was a single bar that came down the width of the seat and stopped about 6"-8" over my legs. I remember feeling like you really could fly out of that train. If you timed it just right at the turnaround, you could go flying from one side of the car to the other. Sucked to be on the outside, LOL! The 55 Chevy and 57 Ford fronts were one-of-a-kind with working headlights. With the headlights showing the way, you really felt like you were driving down a country road on those night rides back then. Those trains alone made Thunder Road a clear cut above her sister coasters in Doswell and Cincinnati.

And who will forget the thunder as the trains ran the tunnels on approach to the brake run. How many of you remember being next in line, starring into those dark tunnels waiting for the headlights to appear?

As I grew older and more knowledgable, the other thing that made Thunder Road unique was it was Curtis Summer's first big coaster. Summers had apprenticed under John Allen (who designed Racer and Rebel Yell), and with Allen set for retirement after Screaming Eagle, Summers worked off of Allen's original Rebel Yell plans and oversaw the project. He managed to make it 5 feet taller and 400 feet longer then either of her sister coasters. Summers went on to draft the Texas Giant, Mean Streak and KD's Grizzly.

Not to be misunderstood, as Thunder Road is now history, but it's story is a sad one. Carowinds had a great coaster, easily the best of the racing coasters. But slowly over time, management peeled away all the things that made her great. Replacing the trains with vanilla PTC flyers was a big blow. Allowing the massive white paint to fade away another. The tunnels to open up yet another. Even as the park grew, the section Thunder Road anchored became an offshoot of the main circuit and with tree growth, the coaster was hardly visible anymore. It certainly wasn't lost on me as I looked over the group walk around photos, that had the park expanded into that parking lot to allow guest that perspective around a huge white racer with vintage car facias, we might not be in the boat we're in.

As it is, Thunder Road was a shadow of its former greatness. I know for park goers from my generation, you remember how grand she really was. But if you never saw that, its easy to understand how she'd become just another decaying woodie, hidden in a hard-to-find section of the park. That said, I think its sad that Carolina Cyclone stands while Thunder Road stands silent. Thats just wrong in my book. I don't hold it against Cedar Fair, they just wrote the last chapter in a long book that never quite understood what made Thunder Road so special back in her day. It made me happy to see so many of you turn out Sunday and show that you saw her for what she was. Especially those of you that knew her in her prime.

Yes! Thunder Road looked so much bigger when it was white. When I was watching the TR compilation and saw the picture of Thunder Road in the distance along with a hot air balloon. It looked so big that I had to pause to video to realize that was indeed TR; It looked like another coaster at first!

[barrynyu]

Thanks Racer, well said. Not much left of Carowinds' historical soul, and TR was a huge part of that. I watched them build Cyclone, but I won't cry (much) when it leaves. I didn't care much about losing the log flume. A ride like TR is so unique and majestic and not just another coaster, and nobody is building anything quite like it anymore. I like parks to find a unique identity. Fury is part of that for sure, but most water park stuff is off-the-shelf same-old. TR could have been a featured iconic part of a revitalization of a neglected dead end of the park. Having said this, I really like Matt Ouimet and what he's doing overall with the chain, so don't think I'm just an old stick in the mud. I'm just a sentimental guy and hate to lose such a great part of the park's history.

I wish I could have met all of you last weekend; the photos are wonderful. At least I got my last ride this summer. Does anybody know if the park will be selling more merch like wood or whatever? It'd be nice to have some memento, although I found in my collection an original park postcard with a beautiful photo of TR the year it opened.

[Sfgacaro91]

Driving down Carowinds blvd today I saw demolition is well underway. They were cutting pieces away from the turnaround.