General Carowinds discussion
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By PhantomCat
#37568
rctdcifreak wrote:Sometimes, it just takes time. With Paramount, Carowinds was lucky to get something new.


I worked for Paramount's Carowinds also. I agree, they were slow to add new attractions. They split up the new additions in three categories, 1 year - a new ride for the children; the next year - maintenance (repaving walkways, repairs painting); the next year - a new ride for the adults. Not necessarily in that order, but done nevertheless.

Boy I sure miss all the movie paraphernalia throughout the park: Star Trek Enterprise (water fountain), and the bench from Forrest Gump, both located at the Sky Tower; The movie award plaques in the walkways; and everything else. What a nice touch. We all knew we were in a movie park, in every area.

In the early days of White Lightning, when the workers had to wear outfits according to where they worked in the park? I must admit, while some of the costumes looked less than desirable to wear, they did help establish the themes in each area, thus, the term, "theme park." The Carolina Sternwheeler (the giant boat, now taken away to make room for NightHawk aka The Borg) ride associates had to wear those awful ruffled tuxedo shirts from the 70s, to match the colonial time theme. I've seen the pictures in a 1978 Carowinds annul, and boy are some of those outfits awful looking. I thought the pirate get-ups for the, also gone attractions, Black Widow and Flying Dutchman were pretty cool. Maybe Dani can give Jonathan some of those pics to post. Maybe Jonathan won't even want too. Geez!

Thank you Cedar Fair for not torturing us that way today, but it would be neat if The Intimidator team had special, cool pit-crew uniforms.
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By coasterbruh
#37572
I actually like parks that have real solid themes and costumes in the respected area match. It works really well at disney parks and universal parks. Heck, all dollywood employees wear costumes!
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By Jonathan
#37574
I've seen the pictures in a 1978 Carowinds annul, and boy are some of those outfits awful looking. I thought the pirate get-ups for the, also gone attractions, Black Widow and Flying Dutchman were pretty cool. Maybe Dani can give Jonathan some of those pics to post. Maybe Jonathan won't even want too. Geez!


If you've never checked it out before, you should take a look at SwampFox's Carowinds: The Early Years site: http://carowindsearlyyears.com/

Great stuff on there.
User avatar
By PhantomCat
#37585
Jonathan wrote:
I've seen the pictures in a 1978 Carowinds annul, and boy are some of those outfits awful looking. I thought the pirate get-ups for the, also gone attractions, Black Widow and Flying Dutchman were pretty cool. Maybe Dani can give Jonathan some of those pics to post. Maybe Jonathan won't even want too. Geez!


If you've never checked it out before, you should take a look at SwampFox's Carowinds: The Early Years site: http://carowindsearlyyears.com/

Great stuff on there.

Now that was an awesome look back. They picture rides I know nothing about. The Surfer looked like a lot of fun. And a petting zoo with a baby elephant? What?
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By PhantomCat
#37586
coasterbruh wrote:I actually like parks that have real solid themes and costumes in the respected area match. It works really well at disney parks and universal parks. Heck, all dollywood employees wear costumes!


I want our park to take to their themes more. I love the Congo area at King's Dominion. You know you are there and there's even jungle music to prove it. So coool!
Groovy baby! Groovy!
User avatar
By KDcoasterMAN
#37612
Congo is cool... We at KDF hate the fact it has never stuck to the congo theme. Avalanche? Anaconda? (Native to South America) Backlot Stunt Coaster? Volcano? Flight of Fear? Crypt? Maybe Intimidator 305? No. It use to theme to an african theme. Not anymore. One person stated the new theme is "Beer Patio." It got a good chuckle out of me.

Carowinds looked amazing back in the 1970s. The paddlewheeler is sweet!
User avatar
By Jarsh
#37615
I almost commented on it... lol!
By RollerBee
#37616
You rang?

The sternwheeler is one of the many losses that we suffered under the rain of Paramount and their silly idea to turn a theme park into a movie park. Paramount basically took the heart of soul out of Carowinds, and replaced it with a flying coaster that most of us skip due to long waits. Cedar Fair may be removing more of the soul of Carowinds but atleast they are replacing with something that won't have long lines year after year(Not to mention, it looks to be an exciting ride).

~Roller"Call Again"Nut
User avatar
By Jarsh
#37618
I'll give Paramount the benefit of the doubt about the Sternwheeler. I believed them when they said they wanted to park it behind Borg and planned to turn it into a restaurant. I also believe that the thing was rotten as hell and didn't survive the move as intact as they would've wanted, leaving them no choice but to remove it.
User avatar
By KDcoasterMAN
#37619
Im sorry I brought up such a delicate topic...

At the KDfansite have similar reactions to talk of the loss of trees around Grizzly or Yogi Bear being removed from Treasure Cave

LOL
User avatar
By PhantomCat
#37624
JamminJ wrote:Good grief don't bring up the Sternwheeler.. that will be sure to draw the ire of some members... :?
:wink:



Auh, come on... You know we still need some rides for the elderly. I even want the Monorail back, but let the new one actually take guest around the whole park with load & unload stations, as opposed to going all out in the parking lot and into the woods and back.

Word has it that the original plan was to add rides and attractions under the entire Monorail system. But the park expanded in the opposite direction instead. :lol: It would be neat to have a hotel with the ride passing through it, like Disney, but also with a station - for easy guest transport.

On night while trying to leave Disney World, the Monorail broke down. The line went from Disney's park entrance all the way to the station, and we ended up missing the last shuttle back to our hotel. Geez! Talk about your fear and frustration.
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By chknwing
#37712
It does appear that the Guantlet has been either primed or painted white. Also, I would expect this week to be the week for cyclones paint job, no rain forecast for the remainder of the week.
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By Davidtmp
#37714
chknwing wrote: no rain forecast for the remainder of the week.

I'm sure it'll change. At the beginning of last week they were calling for maybe a shower on Friday. We ended up with 4 inches of snow. Go figure on this stuff. I hope it stays dry for a while.
User avatar
By PhantomCat
#37722
Davidtmp wrote: I'm sure it'll change. At the beginning of last week they were calling for maybe a shower on Friday. We ended up with 4 inches of snow. Go figure on this stuff.

I don't even bother with the 7 day outlooks anymore, and not too much the 5 day reports either. The weather is forever changing. They can tell us what appears to be coming our way, but we all know, winds can change direction. I pretty much hold to the 3 day reports. Anything beyond that is anyone's call.
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