Carrowinds Charlotte, NC

The Carowinds theme park 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, as was true for many other theme parks across the country, attendance at Carowinds was severely diminished 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 and mounting debt forced the company to sell out 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 original Carowinds logo, used from 1973 - 1992.
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 portmanteau 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 park did not repeat the event in 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island's Winterfest.

Coasters at this Park

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Carolina Cyclone

A steel coaster that spins guests through four consecutive 360 degree loops and a 450 degree uphill helix. This 125-foot tall towering twisting serpent will send riders speeding through three inversions, including a cobra roll and a 360-degree loop - both forward and then again backwards.

Carolina Cobra is adorned with newly designed trains exclusive only to its tracks. No other parks in the United States have yet to utilize these spacious trains, designed specifically for a heightened rider-experience.

The sleek semi-open 28-passenger trains will create an aerodynamic experience unlike any other on a coaster as riders undergo the sensations of wind and speed at an amplified level, for a smooth enjoyable ride.

Intimidator

The tallest, fastest, and longest coaster in the Southeast!

Windseeker

Coming in the spring of 2012! At three hundred one feet tall the newest ride towers above the earth, tearing through clouds and anyone who claims they aren’t afraid of heights. Somewhere between the stratosphere and having a blast, you’ll realize this is no tall tale, it’s WindSeeker.

 

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