[uscbandfan]

Thunder Road is already being replaced next year .
Just know that the park wouldn't get rid of a beloved coaster for something mediocre. (I'm not saying that what you're ^saying is mediocre. That's an awesome idea). I'm just saying that the park knows that they're losing a coaster...

I just can't wait until we see what TR is going to be replaced WITH. The released plans are not what's replacing TR because they only show what's being constructed outside the TR track area. (save a food building) I know they'll do something great....just eagerly anticipating...

[Jonathan]

Thunder Road is already being replaced next year .
Just know that the park wouldn't get rid of a beloved coaster for something mediocre. (I'm not saying that what you're ^saying is mediocre. That's an awesome idea). I'm just saying that the park knows that they're losing a coaster...

I just can't wait until we see what TR is going to be replaced WITH. The released plans are not what's replacing TR because they only show what's being constructed outside the TR track area. (save a food building) I know they'll do something great....just eagerly anticipating...

Why does everyone keep saying this? The only parts of the Thunder Road site not touched by the waterpark expansion are the station area and turnarounds. The rest is completely encompassed by the new wave pool, slide complex, and pathways.

[coasterbruh]

I hereby request a mandate that you cannot suggest a ride/coaster unless you have experience said ride/coaster. Aa lot of rides "look" cool and amazing but when you experience it, blah!

Jonathan, stop killing peoples dreams lol. You're turning into a debbie downer and that's Eric's job.

[tylerSC]

Thunder Road is already being replaced next year .
Just know that the park wouldn't get rid of a beloved coaster for something mediocre. (I'm not saying that what you're ^saying is mediocre. That's an awesome idea). I'm just saying that the park knows that they're losing a coaster...

I just can't wait until we see what TR is going to be replaced WITH. The released plans are not what's replacing TR because they only show what's being constructed outside the TR track area. (save a food building) I know they'll do something great....just eagerly anticipating...

Why does everyone keep saying this? The only parts of the Thunder Road site not touched by the waterpark expansion are the station area and turnarounds. The rest is completely encompassed by the new wave pool, slide complex, and pathways.

Ok well that settles that issue. Just what I originally thought. Thunder Road will indeed be removed to help make room for a waterpark expansion. But I hope in a few years Carowinds will replace it with another coaster somewhere.

[uscbandfan]

^^ There is NOTHING new on the actual footprint of TR with the exception of the "Memory Lane". All of the new slides and pools are not directly on TR's footprint.

[Jarsh]

You must not be including the structure in the footprint then. The new slide complex is all up in the lift hill structure.

From Famous:

waterpark expansion.JPG (124.61KiB)Viewed 3632 times

[uscbandfan]

As is stands, sure. Sure, now that TR is gone, you can put it wherever. But, it doesn't WARRANT the removal of TR if you simply cut into the parking lot about 30 feet. It could go almost exactly where the plans show if you simply move it a few feet.

[chknwing]

^as awesome as that is, I cant support dumping 2 coasters that are fairly spread out away from each other for one coaster. something like this would have looked awesome up front along carowinds blvd but the water park expansion has made that land an island now.

lol welp looks his post is gone. this can be deleted

[Jarsh]

Here's the way I see it.

Thunder Road did NOT have to be removed this season for this presumed 2016 water park expansion - BUT - look at all of the open areas that have been created for future expansion of the water park. It wouldn't make any sense to build around Thunder Road now and then have it in the way for a 2017/2018 expansion and have to remove it meticulously then. By removing Thunder Road now when nothing is in the way, they've made it easier to drop in expansions in the future without the added cost/headache of removing a coaster running down the middle.

Yes, it sucks, and yes, they probably could've moved the addition over some, but that would've only worked for 2016. They wouldn't be able to utilize the open space that has been created if they left Thunder Road there.

[uscbandfan]

^ Which is why I said... "I just can't wait until we see what TR is going to be replaced WITH"

[tarheel1231]

I'd love for part of the RFD, the part bordering the water park, to be reverted back to its original Pirate Island theme. Instead of relocating Dodgems to minigolf, they should relocate Southern Star to minigolf with water surrounding the queue. Whitewater Falls could be easily rethemed and Carolina Cobra gives off a tropical vibe anyway. They could turn wings into a pirate themed pub. Maybe a new Blackbeard themed dark ride could be built over by where Dockside Fries is. And Cedar Fair wants to add more spontaneous entertainment, right? ADD BLACKBEARD!!!!! Give him a pirate crew, just go all out with pirates! There are so many things right with this idea! I cannot stress enough how awesome having Pirates would be! It would probably be absolute hell for the guy playing him in humid 100 degree+ weather, but it would add some much needed character to the park.

[redrunner97]

^ I love that Idea.

Makes me wish they'd really play up the whole "Carolina Boardwalk" theme, after all it is gonna be right next to Carolina Harbor... Talk about synergy! It'd be amazing and uniquely Carolinian.

- Extend the Carolina Boardwalk to Wings and Whitewater Falls (the latter already loosely themed to NC's tallest waterfall).
- Triotech dark ride called Blackbeard's Revenge in the bathroom area across from Carolina Cobra.
- Southern Star relocated to where the mini-golf is now, with a small pond around it.
- Wings decked out with Wright Brothers theme inside and out (while preserving the existing signage, of course). Make this a full service restaurant with southern-style sea food and more, like calabash shrimp, fish and chips, etc.
- More of those giant postcards with their respective rides. I like those, and they feel very "beach/vacation" to me.
- Coastal gem mining store for the kids, near Goldrusher. I think Knott's has something similar, but I might be wrong.
- Some pirate characters would be cool, so would some more coastal imagery in the faux boardwalk section.
- New sign for Carolina Cyclone that's more invoking of the beach/hurricanes ... the current one is hands-down the creepiest thing I have ever seen at an amusement park. maybe re-purpose it elsewhere in the station or something?
- New paint job for Cyclone. I'm a little sick of the weird color scheme. Maybe if it was all orange and blue, idk...

Just some more thoughts from me.

[RW_Fury325]

^ I would personally love a Orange and Gray color scheme on Carolina Cyclone

[tarheel1231]

-My next terrible idea is to retheme Carolina Showplace to Blue Ridge Junction. Vortex would receive a new name along with a floorless conversion. It's new name would be The Cougar or some other mountain lion related theme. I tried to search for something more unique but that's the only name I could think of. I thought 'Carolina Cougar' would work but anymore carolina names would he pretty redundant. I also considered 'Panther' but I don't think the park wants to buy another license for their one of their rides. The mountain lion theme works considering how much Vortex roars. The track colors would be the same as Griffon, two shades of blue.

-Goldrusher's entrance/exit would be relocated where the showplace games by Vortex's drop are.

-Scrambler would be relocated to the County Fair as part of the County Fair revitalization. In its place would go two ride entrances: Rip Roarin' Rapids, and the return of the Hillbilly Jalopies traveling over RRR. Carowinds Theater would get a facade upgrade to match the rest of the Thrill Zone (which will have been rethemed to the 50s like Jukebox Junction at DW).

[gabed]

I love the idea of moving Scrambler over to County Fair! It would look a lot more like it belongs rather than forgotten like it does now in the Showplace. If County Fair gets some of those classic rides then it would look even better! Count me in on the train of people hoping for a Gemini Midway treatment for County Fair. Now that Thrill Zone finally has it's long-needed addition, County Fair is without a doubt next up on the list in my opinion.