[Capler]

I do believe what you folk are talking about are in the park's long term plans. Remember there was mention of adding a resort hotel. If that is the case, addition parking space could be added to the hotel which will also accommodate the park.

[PreferParamount]

wo, when was this talk about the resort because i missed it. unless your talking about the original plans for the carowinds resort

[Davidtmp]

The resort was either phase 2 or 3, but those plans were scrapped LONG ago. They were to build it sort of like Disney World with the monorail connecting the resort and park. I kinda wonder if that could have ever been a hit. Who knows, Carowinds could have been much bigger and popular, with multiple resorts around it. Sort of like Disney has grown....Not saying it would have ever been Disney though, Mickey sells Disney better than anyone could have tried to duplicate.

[swampfox43]

^I've got the drawings of that proposed resort showing the hotel & monorail. It came in a packet known as "The Carolina Center". I posted them on here several years ago but I will be adding them to my Early Years site this week.

[Edwardo]

I thought I read somewhere that a hotel could eventually be in the works right after CFEC purchased the park? I could be wrong.

And there is plenty of room for a hyper.

And the reason they don't 'get rid' of the current parking lots is because it would make guests very unhappy to have to park and walk (or even ride a tram) to the entrance when there is plenty of currently empty space close to the park. Expanding the park into the parking lots and then paving over the fields is the best practice, and not to expensive to do.

Believe me, if you've been to Dollywood, you know how it is to have to park and walk/ride. And they can't help it.

Can't wait till opening day next year!

[Capler]

In a interview right after Fair purchased the properties, the CEO mentioned that he would like to develop resort hotels at Dominion & Carowinds and went on to say that there was space available to do it. This was a local interview in a Cindy paper. He also said that the parks are known for having excellent wood coasters and great kiddie areas but lacked quality steel. And despite what others have been saying about Carowinds in other blogs, the company like Carowinds and see great growth potential. Unlike with Paramount, Carowinds may be considered more important than Dominion, -in terms of potential growth. Wonderland by far is the park they are going to focus most attention on because the potential is enormous.

[Davidtmp]

I think if CF does get a hotel built close to the park, it only helps. You have to wonder though, it Great Wolf can charge $200+ and include a water park, why couldn't a lodge at Carowinds work when you throw in the entire park? The only difference is it is outside and only available for 8-9 months of the year. You figure that a lot of parks have hotels close by, Carowinds has what, 1? CF could build a couple and run shuttles to the front gate, even discount tix to hotel guests. Carowinds has a lot on their side, there isn't another park around for 3 or 4 hour drives. We'll see how well they turn it on at Carowinds after they build the hyper.

"Build it, and they will come"

[charlotteguy02]

^Carowinds has four hotels right outside the front entrance that I can think of.

[evaninmatthews]

Carowinds may be considered more important than Dominion, -in terms of potential growth.

I would have to say that Kings Dominion is more important to CF because of the market. Kings Dominion is close to the D.C. metro area, and two of the richest counties in the country are within the D.C. area. Carowinds has more growth room, but I see Dominion getting more.

[Jonathan]

I'm not sure you would find that that many people from the DC area go to Kings Dominion. It's probably either Six Flags America or Busch Gardens.

Many Cedar Fair employees at Carowinds, other parks, and corporate have said that Carowinds has a huge future ahead of it and that the market is a high potential one.

[Davidtmp]

^Carowinds has four hotels right outside the front entrance that I can think of.

LOL, I don't look around much on my way into the park I guess!

[Capler]

I'm not sure how much growth potential Dominion has. It is basically in a market with 3 parks. SFA is the local urban DC park, and Busch is the family destination park. People are always going to go to Busch regardless. Dominion and Carowinds are a different story. In the past, because of it's ride mix, Dominion was a more desirable destination than Carowinds was. Many Carolina folk made the trip up, but few Virginia people made a trip down for Carowinds. There was little reason to come south. The only special ride Carowinds had/has is Top Gun, where KD has Volcano, FOF, tallest Drop Zone, Hypersonic). In spite of this, Carowinds has kept it's numbers up with the local Carolina crowd. In terms of growth potential, Carowinds could be positioned as a regional draw and pull folk from Virginia, and Georgia. All it needs is a unique identity that will distinguish it from KD & SFOG. Six Flags tried this with SFOG, not sure if that was successful. The problem with Six flags is the teen and urban stigma their parks carry. Like Busch, Carowinds don't have this. Carowinds could take a cue from Dollywood. Dollywood is a country family vacation haven. It is all about Dolly Parton and country music. What could work for Carowinds is NASCAR. Make it into a heavily themed NASCAR park. Racing fans would plan vacations around that. They could work out some special arrangements with drive teams, such as the Dale Earnhardt Drive Experience. It could be something akin to Spiderman at IOA. I'm not a NASCAR fan but I do believe in using the tools you have available. Charlotte is NASCAR!

[deaconnor]

And Chazz Michael Michaels is figure skating! BOOM!
But seriously, I agree with you. They really need to work with what they have around them. Maybe people who were from the area but never really had a reason to go would go because their favorite NASCAR driver or team is going to be a part of it.

[bgwfreak]

All I've been thinking the past few days after riding Diamondback is, if we are getting a similar coaster Max and I will both be getting tons of rides on media day next year!

And I'll come to the park opening day to laugh at the 2 hour lines for Intimidator, or whatever they are going to call it.

ACE has also called out the park and said they are getting a hyper in 2010 in their February newsletter.

[coasterdave]

Well it sure seems someone is counting their chickens before they hatch? Already plannong a media day for something that is not even been built now are we? Would be bad if you did not get an invite to that Media Day that you are refering to.

And then you go on to insult the people that do not have a chance to go to Media Day by showing up and laughing at them? I mean is that really what Thrillnetwork wants to represent them at a Media Day for any new ride. I can tell you that a park owned or managed by Merlin or Universal Media would not forward an invite for a comment like that.

It is great that you had a great time on a really good coaster at KI and you are really excited over what the park is or might be getting in 2010 but comments like that tend to give the incorrect impression on yourself and any media related site that are lucky enough to score an invite to any Media Day anywhere that you have ties to. Come on Wes and think about it will you!