General Carowinds discussion
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By tarheel1231
#85035
I was going to wait until next week to do this but the season's practically over. This season had to be one of, if not the most, crazy years in Carowinds history. 2015 marked the beginning of a new era for the park and sadly ended another. Here's a list of some of the most significant events that happened this year:

-March 25th: Fury325 opens to the public (media) to rave reviews, Slingshot opens.
-March 27th: 29th: Fury325 officially opens to the general public.
-April 18th: Debut of Taste of the Carolinas food festival.
-May 23rd: Carowinds announces closure of Thunder Road.
-July 26th: Thunder Road races one last time.
-July 31st: Debut of Bands, Brew and BBQ food festival.
-August 27th: Carowinds announces Carolina Harbor water park.
-October 8th: Carowinds announces Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena

The park lost some of its defining attractions but also received (and will be receiving) some world class additions. What I want to know is if the good outweighed the bad or if the loss of Thunder Road and the Plantation House left a sour taste in your mouth.
Last edited by tarheel1231 on October 25th, 2015, 2:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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By FamousAmos
#85037
I couldn't be happier to see what the park will be turning into within the next 5 years. This was only the beginning for Carowinds. I'm happy to be a part of it :D
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By coasterbruh
#85039
You forgot the bands brew and bbq. I think that was also significant . . .
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By Chris
#85042
RollerBee wrote:I will resist the urge to restate my opinion. The only thing world class I see is Fury 325.

I am so glad the park doesn't aim to please you.
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By shane235
#85043
Overall, I think it was a definite success of a year. Although we lost Thunder Road and the Plantation House, both decisions were for the better. Carowinds has started their journey into becoming a very large, successful park.
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By Wormy
#85044
For once, tarheel started a poignant thread :thumbup:

I’ll have some stuff to add later, but the season isn’t over yet - hope to see ya on 2015’s last day, Nov 1st 8)
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By gabed
#85045
2015 has definitely been an awesome season. I kind of see it as the final half of Carowinds' transformation from a regional park to a destination park with last year being the first half. 2016 will only be the icing on the cake! 8)

So glad I've gotten to be a part of the transformation of my home park!
User avatar
By tarheel1231
#85046
gabed wrote:2015 has definitely been an awesome season. I kind of see it as the final half of Carowinds' transformation from a regional park to a destination park with last year being the first half. 2016 will only be the icing on the cake! 8)

So glad I've gotten to be a part of the transformation of my home park!

I don't know if I'd call it the final half of the transformation. If anything, it's actually the first part. I think 2014 was more of an infrastructure year to get the park large enough/up to date to handle the new crowds. From here on out, Carowinds will be receiving major attractions that appeal to everyone to get attendance into the 2.5-3 million range. If Fury did it's job right (as if it didn't), attendance should be close to 2.3 million. You won't stop seeing major investments for at least the next 5 years.
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By FamousAmos
#85055
gabed wrote:I kind of see it as the final half of Carowinds' transformation


You sure bout' that??
It's fair to say that this is the base of that cake. If you ask me, the city of Charlotte and the surrounding counties have a lot in store over the next few years...
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By gabed
#85057
I meant transformation from a smaller regional park to a destination park. A park that is known worldwide by other enthusiasts. What I didn't say was the transformation from a regional park to the Cedar Point of the south. We've still got a ways to grow before we get there and I can't wait to see that transformation unfold.
By RollerBee
#85069
Chris wrote:
RollerBee wrote:I will resist the urge to restate my opinion. The only thing world class I see is Fury 325.

I am so glad the park doesn't aim to please you.

But the park can please by doing the following:
Replace Yoyo with a Zierer Wave Swinger
Add a new RMC topper track woodie(GCI would do too)
Replace Dinos with Planet Snoopy expansion.
Bring back Winterfest
Expand the County Fair with a collection of classic flat rides and modern flat rides.

I don't think my ideas are too far out of line.
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By tarheel1231
#85128
With the season officially over, I decided it was time to bump this thread and share my thoughts. 2015 in my opinion was probably the best season I've ever had at Carowinds. It was really hard seeing Thunder Road go but Fury, the new front gate, and all the other events that happened this year pretty much made up for it. I was really happy to see my home park under the spotlight of the entire industry.