[arby]

I agree with you. I don't think they'll be completed with the front entrance by opening day. They will be done enough for it to be functional, though, so I don't see that delaying anything. They are at the finishing stages on a lot of things, though, so it may come together a lot quicker than we imagine.

[wrbcltnc]

Looking at the live stream it appears that the new bridge will dead end into one of the existing buildings on the right side. Someone may have a clear picture taken from ACE event that would verify that end of the bridge. If that is the case then it would appear that a major rework of the "Paramount Plaza" will be needed in the future. I hope that is the case and the area is reworked to open it up, add more shops and dining options. Something similar to SFOG would be fine. Or at least add a nice water feature back.

[pproteinc]

Counties. I don't know why but late last night it just came into my head that the names of the counties of South Carolina and North Carolina were on the fountain. (They may also have been in the pavers but, right now I can't picture them there.) There are 46 counties in South Carolina and 100 in North Carolina. They may have just done the ones in proximity of the park and done the same amount for each state.

When I was a kid, EVERY TIME I went to Carowinds, as soon as I got through the Plantation House I remember running over to the fountain and finding "Spartanburg" which is where I grew up. Something tells me they're not going to have a place for that in this new design. I'll miss it.

What would've been cool to keep that aspect is if they would've engraved the different county names on the pavers once you enter the gate.

[uscbandfan]

Looking at the live stream it appears that the new bridge will dead end into one of the existing buildings on the right side. Someone may have a clear picture taken from ACE event that would verify that end of the bridge. If that is the case then it would appear that a major rework of the "Paramount Plaza" will be needed in the future. I hope that is the case and the area is reworked to open it up, add more shops and dining options. Something similar to SFOG would be fine. Or at least add a nice water feature back.

I think it was said awhile back that the plan was to rework the plaza on the park side of the bridge but that had to be postponed because of one reason or another. (Time constraints maybe?) My guess is that will be one of the first things worked on after this season.

(Who knows. After the Spring Breaks are over, they'll only be open on weekends so they may try to get it done as a weekday project to get it done by summer.)

[tarheel1231]

This is an article about Cabela's: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/b ... 14017.html

[kirkgun]

You guys don't think it'll be ready (the whole entrance project, not just Fury)?

I was just looking at the cams, and I was thinking that things were looking good to be ready on time.

I expect that there will be some work that'll be ongoing throughout the early season and even into the summer. The type of work that I see exceeding opening day is just planting grass/flowers/landscaping for cosmetic reasons. Those are things that are really ongoing, even in parts of the park that aren't under construction. But besides that, the structures are all up. The structures that have electricity and plumbing have been up for a while, so they've had time to work on the interiors. I'm sure there will be folks scurrying around, till the last minute, trying to attend to every little detail. But I really think things are looking good!

They'd be working 7 days a week, and bringing in lighting to work after dark, if they were worried about things not being done. I mean, it's the "biggest" opening day of Carowinds, since the actual opening day of Carowinds since 1973.

[carowindsman6654]

This has probably been mentioned already but it looks like the new parking lot area is going to have landscaped islands which is very nice to see. I'm hoping this feature will be added to the rest of the parking area sometime in the near future.

[Axel]

Slingshot's seats...

[MarkD]

^ Yep, I think those seats will fit me well.

[tarheel1231]

What's all that stuff in the parking lot? Is that sand?

[FamousAmos]

Looks like sand is on the ground so that the asphalt can have something to adhere to. I'm not sure how they lay down asphalt so this is just my guess.

[hikernut79]

Some notable things being done this morning it looks like. They have filled the area with dirt and gravel from the path up flush with the concrete on the bridge. Also, it looks like they have poured a good amount of concrete in the plaza area as well.

Keep it up boys!

[arby]

I don't know much about paving, either, but I'm pretty sure that is a gravel that can be compacted to give a base for the asphalt. Similar to the 'crush and run' that I have bought for my driveways in the past.

[uscbandfan]

I certainly hope they're planning some trees SOMEWHERE in that big circle area. (Maybe some gigantic pots with trees or something.) Can you imagine how hot that area is gonna be with all that concrete during August afternoons?

[chargercrazy]

Concrete is still cooler than asphalt . . .