and i know they are going through ownership transition and everything but man was it in a sad state. There is absolutely zero "fun fare" going on. No costumed mascots or sidewalk entertainment, the coaster that used to be The Borg was in and out of operation all day..the line still stretched out of the queue but the ride itself was only moving about once every 10-15 minutes, the landscaping was decent but everything else seemed to be in a state of dilapidation. The waterpark was booming which was good but the rest of the park was just depressing.


I really hope Cedar Fairs has something in store for this place. I have heard rumors of maybe getting an additional coaster in the next few years.

all in all the rides are still the same. the hurler seems to hurt more than ever.

anyone else been recently?

7/21/2008 9:06:30 AM

i know where i will not be going anytime soon

7/21/2008 9:07:25 AM

i haven't been in 8 or 9 years...

7/21/2008 9:10:04 AM

man that's sad to hear. growing up in charlotte we would get season's passes and go to carowinds everyday during the summer

7/21/2008 9:10:30 AM

kings dominion was fun when we went a few weeks ago. went on a tuesday so lines were super short.

7/21/2008 9:10:32 AM

i've never been...

come to think of it...the only time i've ever been anywhere like that was when i was in chorus in high school and we went different places while on competition trips...

i went to disney world two times, mgm, canada's wonderland, and wet and wild water park in orlando...


my parents would never take me anywhere else....we went on 4 family vacations when i was growing up...

- atlantic beach for the weekend when my brother graduated high school in '84 (i was 5)
- Florida to visit my brother when he was in the Navy in '86 (i was 7)
- Mississippi to visit my brother and his ex-wife when he was in the Navy in '88 (i was 9)
- Washington, D.C. in '90 (i was 11)

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 9:17 AM. Reason : anything else i did was through school or after i was on my own]

7/21/2008 9:16:28 AM

do they still have that cool rock store down by Stan Mikita's? man, that was the place before Hot Topic

7/21/2008 9:16:41 AM

all your games like the ring toss, milk jug toss, quarter toss, basketball shoot, etc etc are still operationalbut besides that, nothing. I know paramount is gone which takes the hannah barbara aspect out of it but there should still be panda suits and generic mascots walking around and bringing a little fun to the walkways. But man, there was nothing. That walk down from Carolina Blvd to what is known by most of us as "waynes world" was like a ghost town. the diner was open but empty, the hurler had a line of about 10 people in it before the 7 of us walked up.


^yeah its still there, didn't go in but i took a look in and saw it was pretty much the same.

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 9:19 AM. Reason : add]

7/21/2008 9:18:30 AM

busch gardens williamsburg FTW

7/21/2008 9:18:42 AM

^I completely agree.


most of my friends in this group were discussing how they don't really enjoy coasters anymore which made me sad. So i dont think i'll be getting this group to BG anytime soon.

7/21/2008 9:20:49 AM

^^for the old farts maybe. definitely not for the roller coasters (all 4 of them )

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 9:21 AM. Reason : carat]

7/21/2008 9:21:30 AM

^5 technically

7/21/2008 9:26:19 AM

Quote :

"i haven't been in 8 or 9 years"

7/21/2008 9:26:27 AM

I went in June, I didn't notice it being sad. Everything was still up and running. They also still have their Nickelodeon license which helps a lot with the atmosphere.

The only thing I really miss is Wayne's World, but it was being phased out even before Paramount left.

RIP Stan Mikita's

Quote :

"for the old farts maybe. definitely not for the roller coasters (all 4 of them)"

Alpingeist is twice the coaster of anything at Carowinds.

I have loved Busch Gardens since I was a kid. I have also loved anything to do with Medieval Europe also though, so that might be influencing it.

7/21/2008 9:45:49 AM

i have a love-hate with rollercoasters.

i'm ecstatic entering the queue line, then about halfway through my nerves build and i get anxious until i get into the gates, then its back to "fuck yes lets do this".



^and yeah, the rides at BG really blow away the carowinds rides. Carolina Cyclone has a place in my heart because it was the first coaster i ever rode. And its so smooth, if it were just a little longer it would be perfect. TopGun i have never liked. It always makes me feel sick so i always save it for last. It must be the layout because similar "legs free" rides don't do it to me. Its only top gun.

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 9:51 AM. Reason : add]

7/21/2008 9:49:00 AM

After doing the swing thing and bungie jumping i have a Love relationship with roller coasters.

7/21/2008 9:53:50 AM

I went the year they opened "The Borg" and it was great. I wanted to go and check it out again sometime soon, but I guess that's not happening now

I have tons of discount coupons to King's Dominion & Carowinds because they sent them to me for the office and no one took them.

7/21/2008 9:57:49 AM

^^^^kings dominion, man

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 9:58 AM. Reason : i'm always short a carat]

7/21/2008 9:58:17 AM

I used to go for free every summer whenever I had perfect attendance in elementary school (the school system would give out passes). Haven't been back in a loooonnggg time

7/21/2008 10:00:13 AM

this makes me ..im going on thursday

7/21/2008 10:14:03 AM

^the lines wont be bad. That will more than make up for anything else.


there is nothing like thunder road 3 times in a row

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 10:19 AM. Reason : add]

7/21/2008 10:19:02 AM

busch inbev gardens FTW

7/21/2008 10:31:03 AM

hahaha

7/21/2008 10:31:48 AM

i also read that carowinds may be getting a "new" coaster in 2009. The boomerang from Geauga Lake park. Rumored to be losing the Super Saturator for it

7/21/2008 10:53:01 AM

Quote :

"the diner was open but empty, the hurler had a line of about 10 people in it before the 7 of us walked up."

man, that sounds awesome, what are you upset about?!

and busch gardens in williamsburg is superior, both in coaster and in park.

Quote :

"Apollo's Chariot is known for a freak accident that occurred during the coaster's opening day on March 27, 1999. The coaster's opening ceremony was attended by fashion model Fabio, who also rode the first car of the coaster's train for the maiden ride. During the rapid descent on the ride's first 210 foot drop, a goose struck Fabio in the face, leaving his nose covered with blood however, he only received a one inch cut on his nose."

LOL

[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM. Reason : that's hilarious]

7/21/2008 10:54:12 AM

Quote :

"busch gardens williamsburg FTW"

yes! went last year and it was a lot of fun...haven't been to carowinds in years (i think the year they opened the borg)


when i went to BGW they had just opened the griffon (which was awesome) - 205 feet straight down - i think the shirts for the ride said "the only way down is face down" or something, lol.



[Edited on July 21, 2008 at 11:03 AM. Reason : b]

7/21/2008 11:00:04 AM

^^hahaha the line thing didn't bother me at all. I just felt bad for the park itself.

7/21/2008 11:02:32 AM

i havent been to carowinds since 5th grade field trip...been to busch gardens 3 times...once while it was raining(which is the BEST time to go)...got front row on alpengyst like 9 times in a row...me and a friend would haul ass to get back in time to catch it everytime

7/21/2008 11:04:31 AM

(lol at the people behind us)



haha, i have a griffon pic, too, but it's terrible. 3 of us look mortified

7/21/2008 11:11:16 AM

I want to go back to Busch Gardens so bad. I haven't been in over a year .

I do believe it is my favorite place on earth. Awesome rides, and the atmosphere is incredible.

7/21/2008 11:11:24 AM