[saxrokinhomo]

Just curious as to the experience that Pokémon GO players have had in the park. With 38 pokéspots and 4 gyms I'm sure it's not bad just wondering how good. Anyone else on here an avid trainer?

[coasterbruh]

Good Music, Delicious Beer and Finger-Lickin' B-B-Q

As the place where the Carolinas comes together, Carowinds knows a thing or two about having a good time. That's why we're capping off this summer with our Bands, Brews and BBQs event! This annual festival combines three things we all love: Live Bands, Tasty Brews and Mouthwatering BBQ. You're in for a mighty fine time!

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from July 29 - August 14 we'll be doing it up right. You'll be able to sample BBQs and craft beers from all over - all while relaxing to live music at the Harmony Hall Patio Stage.

Carowinds is the place to seize the final days of summer. Come join us as we fill our midways with the sweet smell of smoked BBQ and kick back with some lively tunes! BBQ booths open at 11 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

[Top Gun68]

Just curious as to the experience that Pokémon GO players have had in the park. With 38 pokéspots and 4 gyms I'm sure it's not bad just wondering how good. Anyone else on here an avid trainer?

People put up lure modules all the time. Also a great way to get items and hatch eggs. I had no Poke balls and took 1 lap around the park and had almost 50.

[tylerSC]

I went to Carowinds yesterday for the first time this season and had a great time. No big crowds and quick lines on Fury, Intimidator, and Afterburn. A nice breeze made the hot temperature very tolerable, but did result in Windseeker and Drop Zone being closed due to the wind. But those are not my preferences, so no big issue. Hurler was also closed, but not my favorite ride either. Rode Fury 8 times front and back, and Intimidator 6 times, Afterburn 4. Park appeared nice and clean, including the restrooms. Both Fury and Afterburn seemed very fast, and the intensity of Fury from start to finish is amazing.

Saw cars in the lot from Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Ontario. So Carowinds is now becoming more of a destination park and is so great to have a nice, clean park with great coasters only 90 mins. from Greenville, SC. Overall a great day and a fun trip.

[tylerSC]

But I do not recommend leaving the park at 6pm, as the traffic on I-77 and 485 was horrendous. And I-85 was a standstill until you got through Gastonia going south. But my sister was ready to go, or I would have stayed a bit later.

[coasteraddict]

But I do not recommend leaving the park at 6pm, as the traffic on I-77 and 485 was horrendous. And I-85 was a standstill until you got through Gastonia going south. But my sister was ready to go, or I would have stayed a bit later.

While we rarely leave the park before close (unless it is just for a quick ride or two when rolling through town), thanks for the heads up! Timing is key when you want to leave. There's nothing like being tired after a great day in the park only to sit in traffic jams!

[tarheel1231]

Dropped by for a few hours today. Rode Afterburn 1x, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena 1x, Intimidator 1x, Fury 2x, Drop Tower 1x, and Carolina Cyclone 1x.

Notes:

-Afterburn is still great.

-Plants vs. Zombies was really good this time around. It still feels like a giant video game (technically it is), but the screen quality was much better and so was the 3D. Really glad we have this at our park.

-Intimidator had awesome airtime as usual this season. It's made its way back into my top 15 the way it's been running.

-I sat in the second row for my second ride on Fury, and I swear that very last hill had ejector airtime. It was a pretty violent jolt compared to what I'm used to.

-Finally rode Drop Tower without white-knuckling the OTSR's which made the ride a lot more thrilling.

-Carolina Cyclone's station seemed pretty empty. It's sad because unlike Thunder Road, it's right over the midway. So it's pretty hard to miss. It'll probably be gone soon. But I'd love to see it stay in the park in one form or another. Maybe get Chance to replace the inversions with airtime hills, making it sort of like a hybrid of Turn of the Century and Lightning Run.

-I'm no longer a fan of Chickie's and Pete's. The cheese on the cheesesteaks had the consistency and taste of stadium-grade nacho cheese. The fries were way too salty. I think it's always been like this, I've just never noticed it before. I'm sticking to Harmony Hall from now on.

[Hiveminded]

I was also at the park recently and saw these all over the place. I don't remember seeing them before, and hopefully they wont be an issue in the future. They had yellow and black stripes on their back and were mostly to be found around flowers, except for this one who was especially angry in Papa Luigi's to the point where they had to call park security. As you can see compared to the cup/hand they're pretty huge.

[pproteinc]

Yellow jackets?? From what I recall they've always been around lol

[Jarsh]

Ummm... They called park security over a yellow jacket?

[uscbandfan]

But I do not recommend leaving the park at 6pm, as the traffic on I-77 and 485 was horrendous. And I-85 was a standstill until you got through Gastonia going south. But my sister was ready to go, or I would have stayed a bit later.

I used to live in Spartanburg and know what you mean. I live in Columbia now and i-77 is a much easier drive. (What traffic?) That said, a friend of mine said that it was a fairly pleasant drive and not too much difference in time to return to Spartanburg via i-77 south to HWY 9. (Not sure how that would affect time to Greenville) Or maybe i-85 to hwy 5 to hwy 55 to hwy 49 which is the way we used to go way back in the day before Billy Graham Parkway. Either would beat that traffic mayhem between Charlotte and Gastonia. Probably a more peaceful drive as well.

[CoasterAddict11]

Interesting thing I heard. I am a ride operator at Valleyfair, today one of my co-workers told me that we might be getting a Windseeker for next year, and also said that it could be relocated from Carowinds. For now, I'm taking it with a grain of salt, but have any of you Carowinds locals heard any rumors about Windseeker leaving?

[gabed]

Ugh I hope not, I freaking love our Windseeker no matter how bad it's maintenance and reliability is. Valleyfair is dead to me if they try to touch it.

The last thing I want is to pull a roller and moan about it being gone for way too long.

[coasterbruh]

Interesting thing I heard. I am a ride operator at Valleyfair, today one of my co-workers told me that we might be getting a Windseeker for next year, and also said that it could be relocated from Carowinds. For now, I'm taking it with a grain of salt, but have any of you Carowinds locals heard any rumors about Windseeker leaving?

. . . Take it.

[RollerBee]

Ugh I hope not, I freaking love our Windseeker no matter how bad it's maintenance and reliability is. Valleyfair is dead to me if they try to touch it.

The last thing I want is to pull a roller and moan about it being gone for way too long.

I will not moan about Windseeker, I agree with Jarvis; take it! As a matter of fact if they want volunteers to help remove it, I want to be first in line. Heck, they could have an auction to help remove it and I would spend money to do it.