Information AboutCarowinds |
Carowinds is a 105 acre Theme Park , located adjacent to I-77 on the stateline between North and South Carolina , in Charlotte and Fort Mill , respectively. The park opened on March 31 , 1973 at a cost of $30 million, after a 4 year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a trip to Disneyland in 1956, and a dream of bringing the two aforementioned states closer together. HISTORY The Carowinds theme park itself was originally envisioned as a component of a large Resort-type Area that would have included hotels, a shopping center, a golf course, and a pro-football stadium. However, like many other theme parks across the country, Carowinds' attendance was severely affected 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 forced the company to sellout 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 combination 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 event was not returned for 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island 's Winterfest. On January 27 , 2006 , the website of the Dayton Daily News 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. {Link without Title} On June 30 , 2006 , Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. acquired Paramount Parks, including Carowinds. {Link without Title} 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 and on the website. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired will also be receiving similar changes. As of February 2007, the "Paramount" name has been dropped from all of the parks. Though it is the smallest and least well-known of Paramount's former parks, it is still a popular destination for tourists, especially considering that it is the only large theme park in the Carolinas region. RIDES Roller Coasters
A Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster. It's the only Star Trek themed roller coaster in the world. Located in the Carowinds Plaza section of the park.
Arrow Dynamics coaster featuring 2 loops and 2 corkscrews. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to feature 4 inversions.
First roller coaster ever at Carowinds, made by Arrow Dynamics. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to cross state lines.
Formerly the Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster and themed to Fairly Odd Parents . Located in Nickelodean Central section of the park.
Setpoint "Splash Party" coaster. Located in the Boomerang Bay section of the park. Closed at the end of Labor Day Weekend 2007.
A wooden out and back roller coaster formerlly themed to Wayne's World. Located in the Thrill Zone section of the park.
A Wild Mouse Coaster. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park.
Vekoma Inverted Coaster themed to Rugrats . Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.
Twin wooden roller coaster that crosses the NC/SC border. Located in the County Fair section of the park. A Bolliger and Mabillard inverted roller coaster themed to the movie Top Gun . Located in the South Gate section of the park.
A Bolliger and Mabillard stand up roller coaster. Located in the Carolina Showcase section of the park.
A kiddie coaster themed to Hey Arnold . Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park. Thrill Rides
An Intamin free fall tower. It's 160 feet high and has a 100 ft. drop. It's located in the Thrill Zone section of the park
A Schwarzkopf Enterprise ride. With a 1 and a half minute ride time. It's located in the Thrill Zone section of the park.
An Intamin Looping Starship (ride) . Located in the County Fair section of the park. Other Rides
An Intamin 320 foot tall cable tower that gives guests a view of Carowinds and Charlotte. Located in the Carowinds Plaza section of the park.
A dark ride where guests shoot targets and get a score and is themed to Scooby Doo . In the Carolina RFD section of the park.
A 4D Ride in the Paramount F-X Theatre themed to Spongebob Squarepants . Located in the County Fair section of the park. Nickelodeon Central Backyardigans Swing-A-Long
Boots' Ballon Race
Danny Phantom's Phantom Flyers
Dora the Explorer's Azul Adventure
Lazy Town Sporticopters
Little Bill's Cruisers
Nick Jr. Jets
Nick-O-Round
Rocket Power Air Time
The Flying Dutchman's Revenge
Tommy's Take Off
Water Rides
A log flume ride themed to The Wild Thornberry's . Located in the Nickelodean Central section of the park.
A white water rapids ride. Located in the Carowinds Plaza section of the park.
A small splash boat ride. Located in the Carolina RFD section of the park. BOOMERANG BAY WATER PARK NON WATERSLIDES
Lazy River
Kid Section
250000 sq ft. wave pool WATERSLIDES
RIDE AND ATTRACTION TIMELINE
NOTES
EXTERNAL LINKS
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