[Jetp]

To wash down your Crabfries®.

Still disappointed with the beer selection. Big Boss is the only "local" and they are from Raleigh. Are there other craft beers around the park? Maybe some NoDa? I'll admit, I am a beer snob.

[Jonathan]

Quite frankly I was surprised to even see Big Boss. Victory is a craft brewery and a pretty good one at that, though obviously not local. I haven't had the beer they make for Chickie's and Pete's, but supposedly it is really good.

[Merthecat]

I might renew my pass in the next few weeks, depending on if I think I'll get a chance to go enough. If I do, I'll try to snap some pictures.

[Jarsh]

Gah... The more I look at the webcam the more I think that the location for Harmony Hall is just awful. Something that big and ginormous should've been put where the dino's are. It would be better hidden amongst the trees and not make Intimidator look so... crammed in there.

[RollerBee]

Well, I hate to say it but all of Carowinds looks crammed together truthfully. Especially compared to a park like SFOG. In my opinion even Cedar Point looks more spread out.

[Jarsh]

Eh... I can handle crammed together if trees or themeing or something breaks it up a little. It looks like you could jump from Intimidators exit platform onto the roof of HH it's so close, lol. Hopefully they go through and plant older, taller, more mature trees between HH and Intimidator to break it up some. Maybe add a water feature or something in the empty lot next to it. Something shady with benches would work wonders.

[Jonathan]

It was inevitable that this was going to be an ugly building, and how it looks from above (ie: webcam view) doesn't necessarily matter. I haven't been to the park this year so I will acknowledge that I have no first hand perspective.

However, the real problem is that all four sides of the building are in such a high visibility location. Take a look at two comparable projects.

Kings Island:


Busch Gardens Williamsburg:


Both hideous buildings. However, in both cases, the only part of the building that is really visible within the park is the front facade, which is highly ornamented.





That really does not look like it will be the case at Carowinds.

[RollerBee]

Of course not, rumor has it that the park's GM doesnt like trees. Maybe they will plant some trees around the building when they are done. I aint holding my breath however.

[Wormy]

Ok, I just watched the last couple of weeks of time-lapse capture of Harmony Hall I’m still getting, and even sped WAY up it’s like watching paint dry. It’s not worth boring anyone with until they start putting on the finishing touches - probably seen all we’ve can from an aerial view for now.

I agree that it looks unsightly from above (pale mustard and charcoal?), but on ground level I can’t help but be impressed with its size at least, and it doesn’t really take anything away from Intimidator, yet. Strategically it’s in a good spot - being one of the first things you see strolling into the park clockwise as most do, it advertises itself clearly rather than being buried in an outer corner somewhere, and it’s just left of Planet Snoopy for those with strollers. Too early to call but with access to the rear and kitchen rear still open to construction only, the only aesthetic angle may ultimately only be the entrance. Hope they don’t mess that up.

[Jarsh]

Fingers crossed that you're right...

[pproteinc]

Of course not, rumor has it that the park's GM doesnt like trees. Maybe they will plant some trees around the building when they are done. I aint holding my breath however.

Well you will be if the keep taking out the source of oxygen. I mean who does not like trees and water. Carowinds is just a big parking lot full of rides. They couldn't dig a trench for a river or lake if they wanted to everything is built up close together and the only area heavily wooded is the rapids. I wouldn't be surprised if they took all those trees out.

[CarowindsFan]

Unfortunately, trees are a liability to a park. If there is a storm you have to worry about them falling and ruining millions of dollars worth of rides. If they are too close to a ride then you have to worry about if they grow are they going to hit riders. The leaves create a problem in the fall, etc. To the park I'm sure that is what they see when they see trees.

[Jonathan]

I guess the lawyers at Busch Gardens, Six Flags Over Georgia, Hersheypark, Knoebels, Dollywood, Kennywood, Lake Compounce, etc. failed to consider that. It will be sad when the rides in those parks are destroyed soon.



Boulder Dash is SCREWED.



RIP Voyage, Raven, and Legend. You were much too young.

[Edwardo]

Dani Swords, former marketing exec for the park, confirmed that Bart gets rid of big trees to open up the midways because he feels it looks more impressive to see the rides.

Not because they're a liability.

Sounds like something he learned from his dad. And it's stupid.

[CarowindsFan]

I guess the lawyers at Busch Gardens, Six Flags Over Georgia, Hersheypark, Knoebels, Dollywood, Kennywood, Lake Compounce, etc. failed to consider that. It will be sad when the rides in those parks are destroyed soon.
.

The trees are still a liability. Those parks just feel it is worth it. I didn't say I was anti-tree, just trying to find some rationale as to why the trees keep disappearing. I love trees and absolutely hate that they keep getting removed from Carowinds. I miss the way the park looked when I was younger and the park had lots of trees and water (and character). I've been going to Carowinds since the late 70's. Unfortunately over the years Carowinds has turned from a theme park into an amusement park and it is obvious by the managements choices that theme is not a top priority.