[chknwing]

I'd start with park as it is now... and do a few minor revisions

1. Remove water park entirely
2. Replace Nighthawk and Vortex with a modern steel coaster, say something like a wing coaster that the park does not currently have. Make it a launch too. Kill two birds with one stone. Track length about the same as Nighthawk and Vortex combined.
3. Rebuild Thunder Road for the Carowinds nostalgia crowd. Build it to last this time.
4. Build a new massive wooden coaster, of the fairly traditional looking type, but with modern engineering. Basically build the woodie that finally puts El Toro into the #2 ranking of woodie coasters. THis will go into the water park area.
5. Take out Hurler, and build a new extremely low-lying terrain woodie. Something like Boulder Dash out among the trees, over and behind the service road (will obviously need some some artificial terrain built for this to happen) . I'm not sure that is Carowind's property or not. I don't care. I'm redoing it my way. And if I need to buy that property and build some artificial hills to do it, so be it. This new expansion area will called the Carolina Smokies area.
6. And finish the expansion of 3 new woodies with a brand new RMC. They can have complete creative control on that one. They know what they are doing. This will also go into the Carolina Smokes area.
7. Add all the coolest flat rides. All of them.
8. One more high-capacity splashy water ride to keep the lines on the other water rides from getting out of hand on hot days.
9. Fill in the rest with plenty of cool shady tree-lined walkways and benches with plenty of flower gardens scattered throughout.
10. Move all the tacky eyesores (games, gift shops, carts, etc) towards a single "arcade" area near Planet Snoopy (Dinosaurs alive area, which will be removed).
11. Remove the campground for the replacement of Dinosaurs alive. Which will in fact have real live Dinosaurs just like Jurassic World. Artificial landscaping will be done here too, completely recreating the Napali coastline of Kauai.

"minor"

[super7]

This is a nice fantasy post.

Go back to 1980 Carowinds. The park was near-perfect at the time. It's main flaws were:
Removal of the C & C Railroad
Not enough berm between Pirate Island and admin buildings
No trees on outer edge of Frontier Outpost and no berm between service buildings
Transition from Carolina Midway to Frontier Outpost is not smooth (time periods do not match).

At that time, it was an amazing theme park. 8 themed sections with a central overall theme. Lots of magic special touches. A nice coaster lineup for the time, and plenty of things for everyone to do including gentle rides and show venues. It was a beautiful scenic park with water all throughout the park.

Rides at the time

Plantation Square
Skytower
Sternwheeler

Carolina Midway
Monorail
Speedway
Kaleidoscope

Frontier Outpost
Carolina Cyclone
Carolina Goldrusher
Cable Skyway

Pirate Island
White Lightnin'
Black Widow
Flying Dutchman

Country Crossroads
Hillbilly Jalopies
Wagon Wheel

County Fair
Thunder Road
Demoltion Derby
Whirling Dervish
Wild Bull
Meteorite

Queens Colony
Powder Keg Flume
Oaken Bucket
Cable Skyway

Hanna Barbera Land
Scooby Doo Coaster
Carrousel
Short Line Railroad
Jr Skytower
Jr Enterprise
Dino's Derby
F-80s
Dastardly & Muttley's Flying Machines

Harmony Hall featured an animated Bear Show at the time



Improvements from that starting point.

1. Return of the C & C Railroad
2. B & M hyper-twister coaster in Carolina Midway appx where Rip Roaring Rapids is
3. Removal of Carolina Cyclone as it becomes outdated. Dark similar to Knott's Calico Mine behind skyway building. B & M floorless built farther out on edge of park in that area.
4. Rapids ride built through woods, located behind Midway Music Hall
5. Dark ride themed to circus in County Fair "Big Top"
6. Hanna-Barbera themed boat dark ride in Hanna Barbera land
7. Removal of Oaken Bucket, replaced with KMG afterburner "Revolution"
8. Removal of Black Widow, replaced by Huss Pirate built over water
9. Addition of Huss Magic in County Fair (same ride motion as Black Widow with much better loading)
10. Removal of Wagon Wheel, replaced by Himalaya "Ridge Runner"
11. Intamin Star Wheel (zodiac) in center of Carolina Midway to replace Sound Circus
12. Water park added off Plantation Square entrance beside Paladium.
13. Mountain theme area where Afterburn sits now with Bobsled coaster and Blauer Enzian coaster in a mountain
14. Duelling Intamin wooden coaster (el toro type track) to replace employee parking lot (current waterpark area) behind berm of White Lightnin'. "Savage" as part of Pirate Island.
15. Removal of jr skytower, jr enterprise and dino's derby replaced by boulder bumpers and other current kiddie rides
16. Helicopter monorail in Hanna Barbera Land
17. Launched coaster in Country Crossroads (cheetah hunt type). Station in center of Hillbilly Jalopies with coaster crossing over Thunder Road, Jalopies and White Lightnin'
18. Inverted looping coaster in Queens Colony built partially over Powder Keg Flume
19. At least 5 shows in theatre venues including animated bear show. Midway Music Hall, Troubador's Roost, Harmony Hall, Heritage Theatre and new amphitheater in Hanna Barbera Land
20. no tacky upcharge attractions.

This would have maintained a world-class theme park, with excellent theming, thrill rides and family attractions.

[mightyray23]

^ I love you

[tarheel1231]

I didn't feel like "double posting" in the wishlist thread, and this post will probably seem a little repetitive, so here are all my ideas compiled into one post. Basically, my idea is this:

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New Areas:

Orange: My first move would be to combine part of the plaza (the part with Intimidator, Nighthawk, Ripcord and Harmony Hall) and the western half of the RFD into one section called "Piedmont Plains." It combines the rural feel of the areas in this region with the modern aspects of Carolina life. So think the love child of Contemporary Carolinas and Country Crossroads.

Blue: My second move would be to retheme Carolina Showplace to Blue Ridge Pass. This would include the relocation of Scrambler to the County Fair and the relocation of RRR's entrance to Scrambler's vacant spot. Vortex would be converted to a floorless coaster and be renamed 'Puma'. I know the name sounds cheesy but I wanted a mountain lion theme because Vortex has the loudest roar in the park. The other name I thought of was 'cougar' but people won't think you're talking about a cat if you name something that. Puma just sounds fast and sleek, and a bit more intimidating than something like Cougar or Panther. Just like Fury gave a nod to the Hornets, Puma would give a nod to the Panthers. The other ride I would include is the Hillbilly Jalopies that would travel over RRR at some points of the ride. I wanted to include Goldrusher in this section but the entrance wouldn't work out with Slingshot in the way.

Purple: Everything in the RFD to the east of and including Whitewater Falls would be rethemed to Pirate Island. Whitewater Falls would be rethemed to Pirate's Plunge. Wings would be converted to a full service restaurant themed to a pirate tavern. Carolina Cobra would remain the same. Southern Star would be placed where Minigolf is with water surrounding it and be rethemed to Queen Anne's Revenge. A new amusement dark would open up near or in place of Dockside Fries called "Curse of Blackbeard."

Yellow: I was thinking a Planet Snoopy Expansion, but I feel like Camp Snoopy would fit the atmosphere of Carowinds better. I don't expect them to retheme Planet Snoopy within a decade of the last retheming to what would essentially be the same thing. If they do though, I'd love for them to put a Snoopy tipping canoe on top of the rock fountain across from the gliders.

Other ideas: Carolina Boardwalk is one area I'd really like to change, but it's also a really useful theme that could be great if done right. If they could put in some water features, it would look great. Either way though, Goldrusher looks out of place. And it's not Goldrusher's fault, it's Paramount's. I'd love to see the Boardwalk return to its original 'Frontier Outpost' theme, but I think the park is planning on keeping it as it is. Chickie's and Pete's, Sweet Frog, and Ricochet's recent paint job make me think that the park is committed to this theme.

I'd love to see Thrill Zone turn into some type of 50's themed section like Jukebox Junction at Dollywood. The architecture of Jukebox Diner and Coca Cola marketplace kind of give off a 50's vibe. Carowinds Theater needs a facade upgrade. It looks nice in the inside but the outside looks like several white boxes piled on top of each other. Hurler's station would get an upgrade to look like a car garage. It's trains would be painted red with orange flames. Drop Tower would get a new sign and paint.

[EDIT] I forgot about the Plaza! While the park is slowly phasing out the art deco trash, I'd love to see them add a new gift shop where the stage is as a throwback to the emporium. A fountain wouldn't hurt either.

I doubt any of these things would happen but it'd be nice to see Carowinds return to the theme park with distinct sections it once was.

[RollerBee]

Carowinds AMUSEMENT Park, Cedar Fair has murdered what was left of Carowinds' heart and soul. Trying to revive the Carolinas theme at this point is pointless, it would be like putting a new transmission in a 1999 Ford Taurus.....
Rename the park "Cedar Fair 2" and be done with it, Cedar Point can be "Cedar Fair 1".

[MarkD]

:roll:
Carowinds AMUSEMENT Park, Cedar Fair has murdered what was left of Carowinds' heart and soul. Trying to revive the Carolinas theme at this point is pointless, it would be like putting a new transmission in a 1999 Ford Taurus.....
Rename the park "Cedar Fair 2" and be done with it, Cedar Point can be "Cedar Fair 1".

I don't think it was C.F. that did the damage sir. Reviving the Carolina's theme is exactly what the GP, and myself to a certain degree, get excited about. To us who have been going to the park for a while we know it will never be the same Carolina's theme as before but, to the newer generations they know no different. To them it will be our 1973 park. They will make new memories and 40 years from now they too will get upset that the park isn't what they grew up with.

As I see it, it looks as if C.F. is doing improvements in a counterclockwise motion. IT all started with Intimidator, now the front gate and Fury 325 and on to the water park. I would like to see them keep going in that direction and then fill in the gaps.

[coasterbruh]

:roll:
Carowinds AMUSEMENT Park, Cedar Fair has murdered what was left of Carowinds' heart and soul. Trying to revive the Carolinas theme at this point is pointless, it would be like putting a new transmission in a 1999 Ford Taurus.....
Rename the park "Cedar Fair 2" and be done with it, Cedar Point can be "Cedar Fair 1".

What??????

Other than removing the plantation house and thunder road, what other items to you have to back your claim?

[gabed]

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Thanks to Cedar Fair, you'd never even think we're located in the Carolinas! Why couldn't we have just been an independent park and not changed a bit since 2006??? Man I hate Cedar Fair! Ouimet is just the worst isn't he?

[RollerBee]

Carolina Goldrusher
Carolina Cyclone
Carolina Cobra
Carolina Boardwalk
I don't remember a mine train being part of Reed Gold Mine, we don't call them Cyclones in the Carolinas and we don't have blue colored Cobra or any native Cobras in the Carolinas. Charleston is the only Harbor I know of the Carolinas and it isn't even mentioned in Carolina Harbor.

[coasterbruh]

Carolina Goldrusher
Carolina Cyclone
Carolina Cobra
Carolina Boardwalk
I don't remember a mine train being part of Reed Gold Mine, we don't call them Cyclones in the Carolinas and we don't have blue colored Cobra or any native Cobras in the Carolinas. Charleston is the only Harbor I know of the Carolinas and it isn't even mentioned in Carolina Harbor.

Again. . . what???

I asked you for EXAMPLES of cedar fair murdering the carolina aspect of carowinds.

[gabed]

Carolina Boardwalk

Paramount

Carolina Goldrusher - I don't remember a mine train being part of Reed Gold Mine.

Didn't know it was themed to Reed's Goldmine. Also, this was done by the people who built Carowinds, aka: the only ones who know how to put heart and soul into the park.

Carolina Cyclone - We don't call them Cyclones in the Carolinas

Dude, you are looking way to deep into the coaster's name. They don't call them cyclones in New York or Boston either, who cares?

Charleston is the only Harbor I know of the Carolinas.

Here are a few from North Carolina...

Oriental Harbor - Neuse River
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Wanchese Harbor - Roanoke Island

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Edenton Town Harbor - Edenton, NC

And one more from our neighbors to the south...

Windmill Harbor - Hilton Head Island, SC
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and we don't have blue colored Cobra or any native Cobras in the Carolinas.

Good point, they should have named it Carolina Boomerang.

[coasterbruh]

And you were saying roller . . .

[RollerBee]

Hmm, I never knew Carowinds Connection could be educational.

[tarheel1231]

Carolina Goldrusher
Carolina Cyclone
Carolina Cobra
Carolina Boardwalk
I don't remember a mine train being part of Reed Gold Mine, we don't call them Cyclones in the Carolinas and we don't have blue colored Cobra or any native Cobras in the Carolinas. Charleston is the only Harbor I know of the Carolinas and it isn't even mentioned in Carolina Harbor.

The only thing on that list Cedar Fair is responsible for is Carolina Cobra.

[Atombomb]

Damn you Cedar Fair for giving us Fury, Intimadator, Carolina Harbor, awesome new front gate and Harmony Hall!