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*A ] at Carowinds was cited as a possible causitive factor in the 1974 fatal crash of a jet airplane at the nearby Douglas Municipal Airport, which is now ]. ''(See: ])''
*A ] at Carowinds was cited as a possible causitive factor in the 1974 fatal crash of a jet airplane at the nearby Douglas Municipal Airport, which is now ]. ''(See: ])''
*Carowinds is home to a family of white squirrels that were brought in and released when the park opened to bring good luck
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Revision as of 02:04, 6 June 2007
Carowinds
Previously known as Carowinds (1973-1993) Paramount's Carowinds (1993-2007)
Carowinds is a 105 acre theme park, located on the borderline between North and SouthCarolina, in Charlotte and Fort Mill, respectively. It opened on March 31, 1973 at a cost of $30 million, after a 4 year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a trip to Disneyland in 1956, and a dream of bringing the two aforementioned states closer together.
History
The Carowinds theme park itself 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, like many other theme parks across the country, Carowinds' attendance was severely affected 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 forced the company to sellout to Taft Broadcasting in early 1975.
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 combination 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 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 event was not returned for 2006, citing poor attendance. A similar decision was made regarding Kings Island's Winterfest.
On January 27, 2006, the website of the Dayton Daily News reported that CBS Corporation (which split from Viacom at the end of 2005) would be selling Paramount's Carowinds and other parks in its Paramount Parks division.
Although Cedar Fair continued to use the Paramount's Carowinds name through the remainder of the 2006 season, it began to phase out the Paramount name in press releases and on the website. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired will also be receiving similar changes. As of February2007, the "Paramount" name has been dropped from all of the parks.
2007: Frenzoid was put back in as Southern Star in County Fair. A new ice show premiered entitled Carowinds: Endless Summers on Ice. The price for a single day ticket dropped for the first time ever. Skytower was repainted to look like an American flag.
2006: The Frenzoid was removed. The WaterWorks Water Park was rethemed to Boomerang Bay waterpark by adding a used slide from Kings Dominion and converting the old Frenzoid lake into a heated lagoon. Winterfest does not return for a second year.
2005: Nickelodeon Central expansion, featuring Phantom Flyers, Flying Dutchman's Revenge, Little Bill's Cruisers, Yogi's Jellystone Garden (Original Ride) is rethemed to Dora the Explorer's Azul Adventure; Frenzoid removal begins in September; Winterfest:Home for the Holidays returns to Carowinds. Stan Miketa's in Thrill Zone changed to Happy Days Dinner.File:Carowinds.PNGThe Paramount's Carowinds logo, used from 2003 until 2007.
1998: Expansion of Animation Station with Zoom Zone featuring Taxi Jam, Road Rally, and Chopper Chase; James Bond 007 A License to Thrill in Paramount Action F/X Theater (replacement for Days of Thunder).
1997: WaterWorks (expansion/rename of water park).
1976: Thunder Road (coaster); Carowinds and Carolina Railroad removed.
1975: Paladium Amphitheatre; Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera (themed area) featuring Scooby-Doo roller coaster; Wagon Wheel; Waltzer.
1974: Stagecoach(now Country Kitchen) is added, picnic areas open. The Double-Decker Carousel is removed from the park at the end of the season and placed in storage.
1973: Carowinds opens on March 31, 1973; the Monorail is still under construction and opens later.
