Paramount's Carowinds
Encyclopedia
Carowinds is a 398 acres (1.6 km²) amusement park
, located adjacent to Interstate 77
on the state line between North
and South
Carolina
, in Charlotte
and Fort Mill, respectively. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $70 million, after a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland and a dream of bringing the two states closer together. It is owned by the partnership of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.
that would have included hotels, a shopping center, a golf course, and a pro football
stadium. However, as was true for many other theme parks across the country, attendance at Carowinds was severely diminished by the 1973 oil crisis
, and the plans for the resort that would have surrounded the park were abandoned. Hall and the other stockholders of the Carowinds Corporation continued to operate the theme park through 1974, though sagging attendance and mounting debt forced the company to sell out to Taft Broadcasting
in early 1975.
The park was purchased by Paramount Communications in 1993 and joined the Paramount Parks
family, after ownership bounced from Taft Broadcast Company
to Family Leisure Centers (a joint between Taft and Top Value Enterprises), to Kings Entertainment Company, which was the last owner prior to the acquisition by Paramount. The park was renamed Paramount's Carowinds in 1993. Viacom then purchased Paramount in 1994.
The name "Carowinds" was derived from the park's original theme. Since the park was built around the history and culture of the Carolinas, the name is a portmanteau of "Carolina" and "winds", representing the winds that have blown across the two states. As the park changed ownership over the years, most of the Carolina themes and cultural attractions were dropped in favor of more generic television and movie themes.
Carowinds opens in late March each year and closes in early November, after the park's Halloween
event, "Scarowinds". In 2005, a portion of the park reopened during December for the Winterfest Christmas
festival. However, the park did not repeat the event in 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island
's Winterfest.
reported that CBS Corporation
(which split from Viacom
at the end of 2005) would be selling Paramount's Carowinds and other parks in its Paramount Parks division.
On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company acquired Paramount Parks, including Carowinds.
Although Cedar Fair continued to use the Paramount's Carowinds name through the remainder of the 2006 season, it began to phase out the Paramount name in press releases, the park website, and in the park. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The new logo featured the trademark Cedar Fair flags, flying on the letter "I" on the Carowinds name. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired all received similar changes. The "Paramount" name was dropped from all of the parks after the 2006 season.
It will be the future home to:
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Themed around a county fair.
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Thrill Zone is a place for thrill-seekers.
n theme.
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
, located adjacent to Interstate 77
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the old U.S...
on the state line between North
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and South
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Carolina
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
, in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
and Fort Mill, respectively. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $70 million, after a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland and a dream of bringing the two states closer together. It is owned by the partnership of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.
History
The Carowinds theme park was originally envisioned as a component of a large resort-type areaResort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
that would have included hotels, a shopping center, a golf course, and a pro football
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
stadium. However, as was true for many other theme parks across the country, attendance at Carowinds was severely diminished by the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
, and the plans for the resort that would have surrounded the park were abandoned. Hall and the other stockholders of the Carowinds Corporation continued to operate the theme park through 1974, though sagging attendance and mounting debt forced the company to sell out to Taft Broadcasting
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
in early 1975.
The park was purchased by Paramount Communications in 1993 and joined the Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
family, after ownership bounced from Taft Broadcast Company
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
to Family Leisure Centers (a joint between Taft and Top Value Enterprises), to Kings Entertainment Company, which was the last owner prior to the acquisition by Paramount. The park was renamed Paramount's Carowinds in 1993. Viacom then purchased Paramount in 1994.
Carowinds opens in late March each year and closes in early November, after the park's Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
event, "Scarowinds". In 2005, a portion of the park reopened during December for the Winterfest Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
festival. However, the park did not repeat the event in 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
's Winterfest.
Scarowinds
In 2000, the park introduced Scarowinds; an annual Halloween attraction. Scarowinds is presented on select nights in September and October when the facility is transformed into a haunted theme park. The experience includes numerous haunted attractions and incorporates most of the existing park rides into a nightmarish experience.Mazes
- Defex
- Camp Killauee
- Corn Stalkers
- Dead Inn
- Last Laff 3-D
- Silver Scream Sinema
- FURY (a never before seen maze at any Cedar Fair park)
- The Asylum
Sale to Cedar Fair
On January 27, 2006, the Dayton Daily NewsDayton Daily News
The Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...
reported that CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
(which split from Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
at the end of 2005) would be selling Paramount's Carowinds and other parks in its Paramount Parks division.
On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company acquired Paramount Parks, including Carowinds.
Although Cedar Fair continued to use the Paramount's Carowinds name through the remainder of the 2006 season, it began to phase out the Paramount name in press releases, the park website, and in the park. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The new logo featured the trademark Cedar Fair flags, flying on the letter "I" on the Carowinds name. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired all received similar changes. The "Paramount" name was dropped from all of the parks after the 2006 season.
Carowinds Plaza
The main area of Carowinds.- Carolina Skytower: An Intamin 262 feet (79.9 m) tall cabin tower that gives guests a view of Carowinds and Charlotte. It was originally sponsored by and branded as the Eastern Airlines Skytower.
- Rip Roarin' Rapids: A white water rapids ride.
- Nighthawk: A Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster. This ride operated as STEALTH at California's Great America before being installed at Carowinds. It was initially known as Borg Assimilator and was themed after the Borg character from the television show Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
. The theming was removed when Cedar Fair acquired the park, and the ride was re-named Nighthawk. - IntimidatorIntimidator (roller coaster)Intimidator is a steel roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, Intimidator is the thirteenth roller coaster installed at Carowinds and is located at the entrance of the theme park. The Intimidator is the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the...
: A Bolliger and Mabillard roller coaster that opened on March 27, 2010 at Carowinds. Inspired by the famous stock car racingStock car racingStock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
driver Dale EarnhardtDale EarnhardtRalph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
, Intimidator is the Southeast's longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster. It is 232 feet (70.7 m) tall and goes up to 80 mi/h.
Planet Snoopy
- Flying Ace Aerial Chase: A Vekoma family suspended roller coaster. Formerly Rugrats Runaway Reptar.
- Woodstock Express: A family wooden roller coasterWooden roller coasterA wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
. Formerly Fairly Odd Coaster and before that formerly Scooby Doo's "Ghost Coaster" - Lucy's Crabbie CabbieLucy's Crabbie CabbieLucy's Crabbie Cabbie is a steel roller coaster at Carowinds.- Design :Lucy's Crabbie Cabbie, next to the Intimidator, has a blue track with yellow cars. With one train of 6 cars with 2 people per car, the Lucy's Crabbie Cabbie seats 12 people per run...
: A big city chase through Lucy's neighborhood ensues on this miniature, 15 feet (4.6 m) roller coaster with cars resembling taxi cabs. Formerly Hey Arnold's Taxi Chase. - Charlie Brown's Wind Up: A miniature swing ride.
- Flying Ace Balloon Race: A flying balloon ride featuring Snoopy from PeanutsPeanutsPeanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
. - Woodstock Gliders: A Flying ScootersFlying ScootersFlying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post....
ride themed to Woodstock. First resided at Cincinnati's Coney Island Park in 1935. In 1972, debuted as Flying Eagles at sister park Kings IslandKings IslandKings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
with the park's opening. Moved to Carowinds in 2005. - Snoopy's Junction: A miniature train ride.
- Woodstock Whirly Birds: A monorail with helicopter cars themed to Woodstock.
- Snoopy's Yacht Club: A mini speed boat ride relocated from sister park Canada's Wonderland where it was once known as Bedrock Dock.
- Snoopy's Space Race: A small flying jet ride.
- Character Carousel: An antique carousel. The only attraction in this section of the park that does not have a Peanuts tie-in.
- GR8 SK8: A swinging ride that falls at 33 feet per second (10.1 m/s) themed to SnoopySnoopySnoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
. - Peanuts Pirates: A rotating pirate ship ride themed to The Peanuts relocated from sister park Canada's Wonderland where it was once known as The Great Whale of China.
- Snoopy vs. Red Baron: A small plane ride themed to SnoopySnoopySnoopy is an fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. He is Charlie Brown's pet beagle. Snoopy began his life in the strip as a fairly conventional dog, but eventually evolved into perhaps the strip's most dynamic character—and among the most recognizable...
. - Joe Cool's Driving School: Kids cruise in electric ' 50s' style CadillacCadillacCadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
s and CorvetteCorvetteA corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s on a 1200 feet (365.8 m) track.
Carolina RFD
Carolina RFD is home to:- WhiteWater Falls: A splash boat ride.
- Carolina CobraCarolina CobraCarolina Cobra is a steel Vekoma boomerang roller coaster located at Carowinds. Standing and reaching , , it is the third tallest coaster in the park. It is the first roller coaster addition to Carowinds since the park's purchase by Cedar Fair from Paramount Parks.-History:Originally named Head...
: A VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
125 feet (38.1 m) tall "BoomerangBoomerang (roller coaster)Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians...
" coaster, relocated from Geauga Lake in which riders are pulled up the lift hill backwards and then released down the hill forwards and go through a cobra roll and a vertical loop before then go up another hill, repeating the ride in reverse. - Boo Blasters on Boo Hill: An interactive dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
where guests shoot targets. Originally, the building was a theater and variety shows were shown inside.
It will be the future home to:
- WindSeekerWindSeekerWindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
: A giant Mondial swing ride.
County Fair
- AfterburnAfterburn (Carowinds)Afterburn is a steel inverted roller coaster at Carowinds. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster stands in height and reaches speeds of . When Afterburn opened in 1999, it was named Top Gun: The Jet Coaster.-History:...
: A Bolliger and Mabillard inverted roller coasterInverted roller coasterAn inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the...
. Formerly named Top Gun. - Thunder RoadThunder Road (roller coaster)Thunder Road is a wooden roller coaster located at the Carowinds theme park in Charlotte, North Carolina. It opened to much media attention in 1976.Thunder Road is a racing roller coaster, featuring two individual tracks that parallel each other...
: Twin wooden roller coaster that crosses the NC/SC border with trains racing each other. - Southern Star: An Intamin Looping StarshipLooping StarshipThe Looping Starship is an amusement ride manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland. The ride is a swinging ship that can spin a complete 360-degree revolution, which can be very scary at times...
thrill ride. Formerly known as the Frenzoid. - Action Theater: A 3-D attraction that originally featured Days Of ThunderDays of ThunderDays of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances...
. As of today, it still features SpongeBob SquarePants 3-DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-DSpongeBob SquarePants 4-D is an 4-D film based upon the popular television series SpongeBob SquarePants. It can be found at many aquariums and theme parks across the world. The ride consists of a pre-show which then leads into a stadium seated auditorium...
. - Yo Yo: A Chance yo-yo swing ride, currently occupies the spot where Whirling Dervish, the park's original Wave Swinger, was located. (Relocated from Geauga Lake in Ohio)
- Dodg'em: Bumper cars.
Carolina Boardwalk
- Carolina CycloneCarolina CycloneThe Carolina Cyclone is a roller coaster located at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina and Fort Mill, South Carolina. The Carolina Cyclone, built in 1980 by world renowned coaster builders Arrow Dynamics, was the first ride featuring 4 inversions, two loops and two corkscrews.The Carolina...
: An Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
coaster featuring two vertical loops and two corkscrews. It was the first roller coaster to feature four inversions. - Carolina GoldrusherCarolina GoldrusherThe Goldrusher is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of Mountain View, California United States. The coaster is located in Carolina RFD area of Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the park's first roller coaster and one of only 3 original rides that still operate in the park...
: First roller coaster at Carowinds, designed and built by Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
. First roller coaster to cross state lines. - RicochetRicochet (Carowinds)The Ricochet is a Wild Mouse roller coaster located at Carowinds. It is located in The Carolina Boardwalk, and was built in 2002 when the boardwalk had just transformed from the Blue Ridge Junction...
: A wild mouse roller coasterWild Mouse roller coasterA Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
.
Carolina Showplace
- VortexVortex (Carowinds)Vortex is a steel stand-up roller coaster at Carowinds that was built during the last year before Paramount bought the park in the year 1992. This ride, which was unusual at its time, officially opened on March 14, 1992, on the former site of the Carolina Speedway miniature car ride...
: A Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) "stand up" coaster. - Scrambler: whirling gondolas that spin in a circular motion. Formerly Kaleidoscope.
Thrill Zone
- Hurler: A wooden out and back roller coaster formerly themed to Wayne's WorldWayne's WorldWayne's World was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series Saturday Night Live. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" on the CBC Television series It's Only Rock & Roll, as the main character first appeared in that show...
. - Drop Tower: Scream Zone (Formerly "Drop Zone: Stunt Tower"): An Intamin free-fall tower. It is 160 feet (48.8 m) high and has a 100 ft (30.5 m) drop. It also features an 17.6 meter magnetic brake system.
- Scream Weaver: A Schwarzkopf EnterpriseEnterprise (ride)The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in 1972. The ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was...
ride. - Xtreme Skyflyer: An up-charge SkycoasterSkycoasterSkycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc....
. - Grand Prix Raceway: Up-charge go-karts.
Boomerang Bay
Boomerang Bay is a water park with an AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n theme.
- Jackaroo Landing: A water play area.
- Great Barrier Reef: A wave pool.
- Bondi Beach: A second wave pool.
- Kangaroo Lagoon: A water play area.
- Wallaby Wharf: A water play area.
- Crocodile Run: A lazy river.
- Sydney Sidewinder: Two twisting water slides.
- Down Under Thunder: A mammoth water slide.
- Awesome Aussie Twisters: Two dark water slides.
- Pipeline Peak - Body Slides (Ripsnort Ridge & Screamin' Wombat): Two dark body slides.
- Pipeline Peak - Tube Slides (Bondi Pipeline & Tasmanian Typhoon): Two dark tube slides.
- Kookaburra Bay: A pool.
- Platypus Plunge: Two kiddie water slides.
Carowinds Festival of Music
The annual Carowinds Festival of Music allows music students to play and receive comments and ratings from nationally-recognized adjudicators. Bands, choirs, show choirs, and orchestras can all play for ratings. Plaques and ribbons are awarded for ratings of superior and excellent.Timeline
- 2012: WindSeekerWindSeekerWindSeeker is a thrill ride at several Cedar Fair parks. The Mondial rides were opened for the 2011 season at Ontario's Canada's Wonderland, Ohio's Cedar Point and Kings Island, and California's Knott's Berry Farm. Charlotte's Carowinds and Doswell's Kings Dominion will open their models in 2012...
, a 301 foot thrill ride will be the park's latest addition and the tallest ride in the park. The ride has also been added to other Cedar Fair parks for 2011. Also, Carowinds could possibly be painting the AfterburnAfterburn (Carowinds)Afterburn is a steel inverted roller coaster at Carowinds. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster stands in height and reaches speeds of . When Afterburn opened in 1999, it was named Top Gun: The Jet Coaster.-History:...
red, white, and blue. The color scheme is similar to the PatriotPatriot (Worlds of Fun)Patriot is an inverted steel roller coaster at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. It opened on April 8, 2006; making it the second newest roller coaster at Worlds of Fun, after Prowler.-Details:...
at Worlds of FunWorlds of FunWorlds of Fun is an amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The park opened in 1973 and was originally built by Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman . In 1995 Hunt-Midwest sold Worlds of Fun to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which currently owns the park...
which is also part of Cedar Fair. The coasters are also both Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
coasters.
- 2011: Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular, a million-dollar nighttime walk-through light and sound experience featuring the Peanuts characters.Snoopy's starlight spectacular utilizes light,sound,and motion to create a full sensory experience. Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular runs from May 28 to September 4 in the County Fair and the Planet Snoopy sections of the park. Carowinds will stay open till 10pm every night June 27 to August 7. "Nights of Fire", nightly fireworks show will play July 1 to September 4 at Carowinds Plaza at 10:00 pm. Vortex, the stand up roller coaster, receives a new red track and grey support paint scheme. Ricochet receives a touch up paint job. Work continues on Thunder Road and Hurler's rehab and work continues on replacing pavement with brick pavers to help reduce heat flow from walkways. Carowinds also expanded the park by 61 acres (246,858.5 m²).
- 2010: IntimidatorIntimidator (roller coaster)Intimidator is a steel roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, Intimidator is the thirteenth roller coaster installed at Carowinds and is located at the entrance of the theme park. The Intimidator is the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the...
: A 232 feet (70.7 m), 5316 feet (1,620.3 m) Bolliger and Mabillard hyper coaster. It features a 74-degree, 211 feet (64.3 m) first drop putting the train in excess of 80 mi/h. A reported 23 million dollars was to be invested in the ride. Nickelodeon Central becomes Planet Snoopy. Carolina Cyclone is repainted blue, yellow and orange.Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion becomes Boo Blasters On Boo Hill, with new special effects; all connections to Scooby Doo have been removed. Carowinds rebuilds more sections of Thunder Road. Carowinds starts replacing pavement with brick pavers to help reduce heat flow from walkways. - 2009: Carolina Cobra, a BoomerangBoomerang (roller coaster)Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians...
roller coaster featuring new trains from Vekoma, opens in the former location of the Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator. Carowinds rebuilds more sections of Thunder Road. In 2008, the majority of the work was spent rebuilding the two large turn-arounds at back end of the ride and a portion of the return track half way back. Now they have completely removed the old track in between 2008’s rebuilt sections. Nighthawk was repainted with yellow track and navy blue supports. Hurler receives some re-tracking. Scarowinds returns for its tenth year. Wild Thornberrys log flume removed for a new attraction. Dora the Explorer Azul's Adventure's track is also modified. - 2008: A second wave pool named Bondi Beach was added along with cabanas in Boomerang Bay. This added 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) to the park making it 112 acre (0.45324832 km²). Geauga Lake's Yo Yo swing ride was also added in the County Fair section. Flying Super SaturatorFlying Super SaturatorFlying Super Saturator was a water ride and suspended roller coaster at Carowinds amusement park, which lies on the border of North and South Carolina. Flying Super Saturator was the first roller coaster of its kind, allowing riders to dump 4-gallon payloads of water on those Carowinds patrons who...
only operates on the Boomerang Bay operating calendar. Thunder Road now runs both sides going forwards again. The Flying Super Saturator is removed from the park in August. The log flume has its last year. It is to be removed during the 2008-2009 off-season. - 2007: Frenzoid was put back in as Southern Star in County Fair section. The price for a single day ticket dropped for the first time ever. Carolina Skytower was repainted to look like an American flag.
- 2006: Frenzoid was removed. WaterWorks was rethemed and renamed to Boomerang Bay and converting the old Frenzoid lake into a heated lagoon. Thunder Raceway Go-Carts was built in the Thrill Zone. Paramount Parks is sold to the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company for 1.24 billion dollars. This puts Carowinds under the Cedar Fair family of parks.
- 2005: Nickelodeon Central expands into Animation Station, featuring Phantom Flyers (relocated from Kings Island as Flying Eagles), Flying Dutchman's Revenge, Little Bill's Cruisers, Dora the Explorer Azul's Adventure (Formerly Yogi's Jellystone Tour) and Frenzoid removal begins in September.
- 2004: BORG Assimilator (later renamed Nighthawk) Flying coaster added.
- 2003: Nickelodeon Central, featuring Rugrats Runaway Reptar (New Vekoma Jr. SLC), Wild Thornberrys River Adventure (Formerly Powder Keg Flume), and Rocket Power Air Time (Formerly Gauntlet); Carolina Sternwheeler (Original Ride) riverboat removed.
- 2002: Ricochet and rethemeing of Carolina Crossroads area to Carolina Boardwalk.
- 2001: SCOOBY-DOO's Haunted Mansion; WaterWorks expansion; Whirling Dervish (swing ride) removed
- 2000: Scarowinds (Later renamed Scarowinds' Halloween Haunt) Halloween Event; Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator (steel coaster)
- 1999: Top Gun: The Jet Coaster (Later renamed Afterburn) was added in the County Fair section of Carowinds.
- 1998: Taxi Jam (Later renamed Hey Arnold's Taxi Chase), TV Road Trip, and Chopper Chase (Later renamed Lazy Town Sport-o-Copters).
- 1997: WaterWorks water park
- 1996: Drop Zone: Stunt Tower (later renamed Drop Tower: Scream Zone) was added in the Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section of Carowinds.
- 1995: Xtreme Skyflyer was added in the Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section of Carowinds.
- 1994: Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section with Hurler and Carowinds MonorailCarowinds MonorailThe Carowinds Monorail was a monorail at the Carowinds amusement park in both Charlotte, North Carolina and Fort Mill, South Carolina. Opening on June 2, 1973, it existed solely for entertainment, not transportation, as it had only one station...
removed. - 1993: Action Theater was added in the County Fair section of Carowinds.Paramount Communications Buys Carowinds,King's Dominion,King's Island,Great America, and Canada's Wonderland
- 1992: Vortex was added in the Carolina Showplace section of Carowinds.
- 1991: Expansion of Paladium; Speedway Cars removed.
- 1990: Gauntlet (shooting star, later renamed Rocket Power Air Time).
- 1989: Riptide Reef water park; Expansion of Paladium.
- 1988: WhiteWater Falls; White Lightnin' coaster removed; Black Widow (thrill ride) removed.
- 1987: Expansion of Hanna-Barbera Land with three new rides; Old Jalopies antique car ride removed; Oaken Bucket removed.
- 1986: Frenzoid, a looping Viking ship was added.
- 1985: Blackbeard's Revenge (mystery house).
- 1984: Smurf Island (themed area).
- 1983: Cable Skyway removed.
- 1982: Rip Roarin' Rapids; Ocean Island (water park).
- 1980: Carolina Cyclone was added in Frontier Outpost.
- 1979: County Fair area added. Meteorite (enterprise); PT Bumpem's Auto Stunt & Thrill Show (bumper cars); Whirling Dervish (wave swinger); Wild Bull (Bayern KurveBayern KurveThe Bayern Kurve is an amusement park and carnival ride made in both a portable and park model that debuted in 1965 and was invented by Anton Schwarzkopf, a legendary German engineer of amusement rides. During the ride, riders sit in one of the sixteen bobsled-themed cars that travel at a...
); Carousel. - 1977: White Lightnin' (Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster) in Pirate Island (entrance in Country Crossroads); Whirling Well renamed Oaken Bucket and moved to east midway.
- 1976: Thunder Road; Carowinds and Carolina Railroad removed.
- 1975: Paladium Amphitheatre; Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera (themed area) featuring Scooby Doo coaster; Surfer (Tagada); Wagon Wheel (Chance Trabant); Waltzer (Schwarzkopf spinning ride).
- 1974: Country Kitchen is added; Whirling Well (Chance Rotor); picnic areas open. The Double-Decker Carousel is removed from the park at the end of the season and placed in storage.
- 1973: Carowinds opens on March 31; the Monorail is still under construction and opens later. Original theme areas: Plantantion Square, Contemporary Carolina, Frontier Outpost, Pirate Island, Indian Thicket, Country Crossroads and Queens Colony.