[Wormy]

ok we need more dirt pics, Id go take some but pretty sure you guys dont want low res blurry pics.

What’s this “we”? Some of “us” bust our humps to get pics for the armchair quarterbacks on here, chkn. Anyway, the gallery you asked for is updated at least if that will hold you for a minute.

[Jay]

Indeed some of those rides ended up being a bust, but that was not the intent when they were planned, most were ground breaking first of it's kind and Paramount sank a lot of money and effort into them. What ride did Carowinds get that represented that sort of priority?

I understand your point, and obviously I have the benefit of hindsight, but what good is having the first of something if it's down all the time (Hypersonic) or is genuinely a terrible ride (Son of Beast)?

Give me a boring old plain jane ride like Top Gun any day.

[coasterama]

Somebody needs to keep an eye on that Ohio steel factory. Track should be moving soon to Holiday World and then Carowinds should be next.

Actually, track for Thunderbird has already begun arriving at Holiday World. I'll stick with others who have said that the track for the Carowinds giga is probably rusting in an area kept from public eyes.

[MarkD]

I for one Wormy Thank You, and everyone else here for the updates. At least until I get there Friday after work.

I am not slamming Paramount at all as they did us some good, and some bad but they never lead to anything like C.F. is eluding to.

My comment about Carowinds being behind is simple, where are our flats? Where are our water park attractions? (thanks for the 2 new ones) Where are the Family attractions. It just takes more than coasters to become a great park is all I am saying.

[pproteinc]

Exactly, why couldn't carowinds get the first frisbee or giant top spin? Everybody can't travel to Kings Island or CP to ride a frisbee and some these days can't even drive to KD for a good top spin. Yes everything else that didn't come can stay where they are but rides like those two mentioned are needed and the S&S swings would be the only types in the southeast minus the swings, dollywood have it too. Back on top the entry road is coming along I tried to snap pics but the lanes have been trimmed down to one and a lot of stop and slows were going on. The curbs have been formed.

[montumax]

You almost got your wish, but it would have came at the expense of Carolina Cyclone. There were plans to put Kings Dominion's Flight of Fear in Cyclone's spot in early 2006. Cedar Fair bought the parks just in time to nix that deal. Besides, now we'll probably get a bigger launched than Flight of Fear in a few years.

Never heard the Cyclone bit before. One of my sources told me that it was going to go in the parking lot beside Thunder Road. I think that the FX theatre was going or part of the queue line for it was going to be used for the relocated FOF.

[LyonsRonnie1]

I hope they never get rid of the Cyclone, it's such a low maintenance, smooth ride and a lot of folks who won't ride the huge coasters see that ride as their 'thrill' coaster. Plus it's a really accessible coaster since you can walk under the corkscrew and everything. Also, "Carolina Cyclone" is a fantastic name and one of the only 'Carolina' things we've got left in the park. On top of that, at one time, it was once a record breaking coaster! The first to make 4 inversions (which I think it held for all of 2 weeks or something). It was once the biggest thrill in the park... I could see getting rid of it if it had always been a dud, but this is a ride that's been doing it's thing with no issues for 30 years while bigger rides came along.

I see Paramounts tenure with the park not as a bad thing, but they just kind of were the custodians for a while. They didn't do anything irreversibly bad (other than cut down a ton of trees) but didn't bring too much to the table either. Who knows how much any of that had to do with the park's revenue, sometimes i'm sure it's hard to justify spending for big rides if a park isn't bringing in the cash, it's a balance like in any business.

Anyways, Cedar Fair seems to be doing a great job of keeping visitors happy and turning a good profit. The next 10 years is going to be the greatest 10 years of the parks history.

[FamousAmos]

^^ I agree. Carowinds needs to keep Carolina Cyclone. Mainly for it's history to the park. I also love the colors. It adds a lot of brightness to that area of the park. In my opinion anyway. I also love the new paint job of Ricochet and the repainting of Afterburn, Which brings back the originality of Top Gun.

In my opinion, I think that Cedar Fair is resurrecting the Carolina theme of Carowinds.

[DarK Ei8ht]

I hope they never get rid of the Cyclone, it's such a low maintenance, smooth ride and a lot of folks who won't ride the huge coasters see that ride as their 'thrill' coaster. Plus it's a really accessible coaster since you can walk under the corkscrew and everything. Also, "Carolina Cyclone" is a fantastic name and one of the only 'Carolina' things we've got left in the park. On top of that, at one time, it was once a record breaking coaster! The first to make 4 inversions (which I think it held for all of 2 weeks or something). It was once the biggest thrill in the park... I could see getting rid of it if it had always been a dud, but this is a ride that's been doing it's thing with no issues for 30 years while bigger rides came along.

I see Paramounts tenure with the park not as a bad thing, but they just kind of were the custodians for a while. They didn't do anything irreversibly bad (other than cut down a ton of trees) but didn't bring too much to the table either. Who knows how much any of that had to do with the park's revenue, sometimes i'm sure it's hard to justify spending for big rides if a park isn't bringing in the cash, it's a balance like in any business.

Anyways, Cedar Fair seems to be doing a great job of keeping visitors happy and turning a good profit. The next 10 years is going to be the greatest 10 years of the parks history.

Okay, I agree that they should keep Cyclone, but you saying that its smooth?

[FUBAR]

Okay, I agree that they should keep Cyclone, but you saying that its smooth?

Agreed, It's hard not to get your head banged against the restraints. A lapbar only train would fix this issue so much (like flight of fear or even the vest system like carolina cobra).

[FamousAmos]

Is there a roller coaster in existence that has loops and corkscrews and only has a lap bar +/- seatbelt?

[Jay]

Any Premier ride (Flight of Fear, Jokers Jinx, Mr. Freeze)
Any Schwarzkopf ride (Mind Bender, Shockwave)
Any Mack ride (Blue Fire, Storm, Helix)
Some Maurer-Sohne rides (G-Force, Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket)
Some Gerstlauer rides (Dare Devil Dive, Iron Shark)
Some Zierer rides (Wicked at Lagoon)
Some Zamperla rides (Thunderbolt)
Any Rocky Mountain Coaster ride (Goliath, Outlaw Run, Iron Rattler)
I'm sure there are others.. this thread is getting so off topic...

http://www.rcdb.com Look em up, it's thankfully becoming more common, along with the vest designs, over the terrible hard OSTR's on Vekoma's, Arrow's, and some Intamin's and B&M's.

I wonder if the roughness of Cyclone has to do with a riders height. I personally don't find it rough, but my head clears top of the restraints by a bit.

So uhh.. Giga?

[tarheel1231]

I think the coaster is going to be really big and fast.

[mark40511]

I never thought of Carowinds as a crappy park. I never really compared it to other parks in the chain, but just other parks in general that I have been to that were not as good to me.

Frontier city
Silver Dollar city ( in the 90s)
Dollywood (in the 90s)
A park in Huntington WV (can't remember the name) it wasn't great

I personally look for coasters when I go to a park. I've probably been to Kings Island as many times in my life as I have Carowinds, and I don't remember having any LESS fun at Carowinds than I did at Kings Island. Both places were EQUALLY as hot/humid.

I rode son of beast so many times.....I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. The Drop tower at Kings Island is so much better than Carowinds though......but the line was always SO long.

I do agree Carowinds needs more flats, which I think they will get getting soon, hopefully

sorry to go off topic

[goldsteh]

Guys I was at Carowinds yesterday. Pictures would have been what we have already seen. In the fenced area near Hurler the guys were probably at lunch because no one was working. I was waiting about 30 minutes. One question. Has anyone noticed the one lone footer right next to the fence? Its not completed yet. It looks so out of place even as part of the turn. What could that be for? I'm really curious for me. Did notice that a lot of digging is going on near the security gate past the fenced area. Can't get close enough for pictures over there. Unless you name is Wormy with a big lens. LOL.

Otherwise the clearing of the trees for the new entrance looks almost complete in the front of the park. Traffic was a mess which will be a concern. Attendance was huge yesterday. Maybe one of the busiest weekdays I have ever seen. Guest parking was almost full to the south gate.

Lots of teaser banner at the entrance and around the park. Only 22 more days. I too agree with Tarheel that the coaster will be big and fast. Everyone have a great day!