[charlotteguy02]

Well, it looks like Screamscape beat me to the punch, but either way here is some tantilizing news...

A buddy of mine that attended the Ace Coaster Christmas about a week ago at Silver Dollar City passed along some info the Worlds of Fun PR guy had to say about coming attractions. From what he told me the PR guy said that some of the Paramount parks were due for major new rides and apparently mentioned Carowinds specifically. I didn't know how much of this to believe or if my friend was pulling my leg, then I read the little quip on the Midwest Info Guide website about the event. And I quote:

"He also stated that while at corporate he learned that several old "Paramount" parks are getting very big rides in the near future -- like Carowinds -- and that those announcements would be very early this coming season.

Now, the speculation about what "very early this coming season" may be...

[Jonathan]

Yeah, he kinda let it slip at that event.

The only thing I will say is for everyone not to get their hopes up too much yet, because the economy can throw a twist into anything right now and over the next couple of years.

[Thriller]

speaking of the economy. i was watching the news today and some guy (an expert they said) explained how the economy would hit rock bottom, then explode towards spring and take and upward journey that we have never seen in the past. This made no sense, but he said our economy is still solid, but the consumer is expected to continue normal trends after the beginning of the year> Idk, sounds a lil' crazy to me, but this is a waiting game for sure!

[coasterbruh]

speaking of the economy. i was watching the news today and some guy (an expert they said) explained how the economy would hit rock bottom, then explode towards spring and take and upward journey that we have never seen in the past. This made no sense, but he said our economy is still solid, but the consumer is expected to continue normal trends after the beginning of the year> Idk, sounds a lil' crazy to me, but this is a waiting game for sure!

That john mccain is at it again!

[bgwfreak]

This is interesting...
http://midwestinfoguide.com/events/coas ... ndex3.html

He also stated that while at corporate he learned that several old "Paramount" parks are getting very big rides in the near future and that those announcements would be very early this coming season.

NEVERMIND... I see it's already been posted above.

[chargercrazy]

Reading is fundamental

[bgwfreak]

Reading is fundamental

I think you need to join Jarvis in the Pitt of Despair!

[coasterbruh]

Just take the punch wes... no one can hear you over the crowd roaring lol.

[BoRgAsSiMiLaToR]

Anyone know if they have started ripping the log flume down yet?

[alwaysboatng]

ok. so i am new to this website and like in lake norman,,, anyway enough of that ....I got a buddy that is working for the construction company on the cobra... and the other day he was tellin me that he over heard some big wigs talking about the log flume and it has to come out .. to make way for "White Lightning" 2010 as you all may now we used to have a coaster in the 80's called white lightnin however.... the new coaster is Led Zepplin from HRP... get it its already white... no need to paint it and is a B&M and is only 1 yr old ... also is 155 ft tall so they dont have to worry about heigh restrictions due to the airport..... this is just rumors but that is what he overheard.... hope this helps but its not a hyper but its better than nothing......

[Jonathan]

Seeing as how Led Zeppelin hasn't been sold to anyone yet, I'd say that is definitely just a rumor.

[RollerBee]

The White Lightning rumor is something a former ride operator make up.
From CoasterChris aka Carowinds 73-03
"The White Lightning thing was fake. More like a really late April fools joke. The train pictures came from Europa's Silver Star. Not alot of people picked up on that "
Source: http://www.thrillnetwork.com/boards/par ... post775441

While the hyper coaster and log flume rumors appear to be holding true, I doubt Carowinds would reuse the White Lightnin' name unless it was like "White Lightnin' 2 - Lightning does strike twice!"

[Thriller]

... and the other day he was tellin me that he over heard some big wigs talking...

He must had heard the janitors talking because the "big wigs" already know what is taking the Flumes spot. A park usually has plans made for atleast 2 years ahead of time. LZ is still part of HRP and will be until the park is ruled by the court as Bankrupt with no rescue!

Carowinds has plans in place because otherwise, the flume would not be coming out! In many cases, rides are planned and designed for the future 5 years in advance. Coasters don't come easy and there big investments for a park, so a good decision and layout on a coaster is a major must!!!

[alwaysboatng]

I could be very wrong and this is just rumors... however i was just relaying a message that i was told by a buddy of mine that is currently inside the park.. maybe its not LZ maybe they have first dibbs to buy it ?..?.. that hasn't been leaked.... and they have started removing the logflume...... i want a hyper more than anyone I am sick of getting everyones used rides... but I just dont think we will get one becuase of the height restrictions.... that's why we have the shortest of all the drop zones........ if we can't get a hyper a nice long floorless would be nice....

[Capler]

Now I have heard everything, 'shortest Drop Zone?' Carowinds has a short Giant Drop because it is a first generation model, they got taller with each generation. The height restriction has been discussed many times on this board. The general consensus is that with the 300ft+ Sky Tower on site, you likely would not restrict anything shorter than it. The FAA can't even restrict the height of a building in Uptown Charlotte. There was some discussion about that before the 60 story BofA building was erected but that did not stop them. Flight paths take planes around Carowinds and Uptown. Everything Thriller said is correct about planning. BTW, if Fair had wanted Carowinds to have a floorless, we would have Dominator, and something else would be planned for Dominion. My thinking is that Fair had to make a decision between Carowinds and Dominion as to where to place Dominator. Dominion got it because it makes logical sense being that there is not another one in that VA/DC market. If Carowinds is in fact getting a hyper, we probably got it by default.