OK, It's June so I guess we can let the speculation begin for 2008.

These are my arguments that the park will probably get something new next year.

1. Cedar Fair only installed a used ride (Southern Star) that was actually sitting in the bone yard for 2007 (probably for various reasons, not least of them the fact that they only started operating the park 1/2 way through 2006).
2. Hard Rock Park is only 3 hours from Carowinds. It will be competition for the park now, how much remains to be seen.
3. Carowinds usually gets a coaster about every 4 years. Borg was installed in 2004. But I'm not saying it will be a coaster, just might.

Thoughts?

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

I think it's time for them to get a new coaster. From what RCDB shows, they have a great variety and collection of coasters. I think they could possibly get a MACK spinner, or a launched intamin. Whether it's an impulse, or just a launch one kinda like Desert Race.

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I hope they get something because I want to hit it when I go to HRP next year. If they don't get something, I'm gonna skip it because they have nothing right now that appeals to me. I've ridden a million inverts like Top Gun and Borg is the same as X-Flight(Firehawk). I went to PKD last year and was kinda bored. Carowinds looks like almost the same thing as PKD until they get a nice intamin or GCI woodie.

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Hmmm, I don't think 2008 will bring a new roller coaster for Carowinds just because Hard Rock Park is opening I think if we do get a roller coaster it will be more like 2009 or 10. There are many reasons for this mainly CF just aquired the park, Borg was installed in 2004 thats only a 4 year break between two roller coasters, and Hard Rock Park and Carowinds probably will not compete as much as you think because they are totally different parks. I mean I am sure there will be a little competition but not enough to throw up a roller coaster just because one is opening. If HRP really does make Carowinds loose some guests then 2009 or 2010 will be the year for another roller coaster.

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Top Gun:The Jet Coaster at Paramount's Carowinds is the best invert yet!

Shouldn't Carowinds have a large amount of capital built up? Borg couldn't have cost very much since it was already used (I read somewhere that it cost 750K to ship X-Flight, if it cost that much for Borg then Carowinds should have a ton of money available). I would imagine something large is within the near future.

Also, by looking at RCDB they have more then enough kiddie and intermediate coasters, so I couldn't imagine them building yet another kiddie type coaster (spinner, etc). They also have an extensive kiddie section. If it's not a coaster, I would say it would be, at least, a large flat (S&S Screamin Swing, Giant Frisbee, etc).

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^ I agree. A Giant Frisbee would be great to see at Carowinds, it probably wouldn't be as maXair at Cedar Point but it would still be a great addition to the park.

Well, I hope by now they are far into plans for next year...and of course I would love to see a new thrill ride. It is time for one.

I hope NO Screamin' Swing comes to Carowinds. Skyhawk was really over rated and not enjoyable because the cycle was so short. I would be thrilled if Carowinds got a HUSS Frisbee. maXair was amazing!

I could also see Carowinds getting a "Classic Flat invasion." Maybe seven older flat classics. Such as the Round-Up, Tilt-A-Whirl, Spider/octopus, ect. But that would be more family and Carowinds has plenty of that.

I'm still promoting the hyper that goes under the bridge! Haha, but that will never happen so lets think "real." haha.

I could see a Round-Up, Tilt-A-Whirl, Spider/octopus or even a Ferris Wheel.

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

Is there a way for S&S to install larger air tanks on Screamin' Swings so their cycles can last longer? If they could do that, they would be awesome rides. Though, a giant frisbee would be better either way.

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Well we have to look at what CF parks got coasters this year & so we can rule those out.

That leaves all the former paramount parks,minus KI,MIA,GL,WOF & Dorney in the running for possible coasters in 08.Now we know that since WOF got patriot in 06 they probably won't get another coaster for a long time & MIA unfortunately doesn't get anything big while GL is busy taking out coasters.

As of now Dorney is rumored to recieve GL's steel venom & Canada's Wonderland is rumored to recieve a B&M hyper but as for the rest of the parks it's still anybody's guess,although I hear KD might be getting something big in the future.

Kings Dominion doesn't need anything more big. They have three launch coasters, one of the largest drop towers, and many coasters. Carowinds hasn't gotten anything big since Borg. Even that was a hand-me-down, but a good expansion. I would love to see Carowinds get a launch coaster of some sort. Too bad Carowinds isn't recieving Steel Venom.

I hope Carowinds doesn't have two years of no ride additions! Yes, Southern Star returned, but that had already belonged to the park. But, if we go through that, I expect something HUGE in 2009!

I agree. Skyhawk was a very short cycle and while I didn't get to ride the one at Kennywood, it appeared very short as well.

If that's the standard cycle, I'll pass. The small ones though get tons of airtime at the top!

I expect to buy a Carowinds-only pass for 2008, but I'm sure it will help sell passes if they build something big.

There's already rumors that we ACErs might be given some clues in September at C3.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Stupid Acers.

Haha.

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I think there's enough money for both parks to be getting something big. KD's last big coaster was Hypersonic and with that ride possibly getting sold or torn down, I think 2008 and beyond will be bright for both parks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Carowinds get a hyper or rocket coaster next year or possibly in 2009. I think Kinzel has big plans for Carowinds.

^ What...Italian Job wasn't big?

From what Cedar Fair and Kinzel were talking when they bought the parks he thought a lot of it. (And I think I spotted him and his direct reports walking around the park on opening day this year).

I know it's my home park, but Carowinds really does have a lot of potential.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

I completely agree. When I first went to it a couple years ago, I really hadnt heard much about it, and wasnt expecting much. But I really enjoyed it. Anywho, Carowinds > Kings Dominion

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Kings Dominion just doesn't need something big. I forgot, didn't they get a huge water park slide expansion (At least, a couple of sweet slides).

In 2006, Carowinds also didn't get anything. The slides were painted and renamed/rethemed a little bit. Besides Kookaburra Bay, which is a foot deep pool. So, technically Carowinds hasn't gotten anything much for two years.

I think you'll see something big next year for Carowinds and something big for KD in 2009.

Just thought i would throw this in since i have not heard a rumor since moving to Florida. I am in town for a few days now and i heard something about a water park expansion to use up more employee parking and 4 new coasters.

I heard that from a few people i use to work with in Attractions.

Is it true, Maybe but it won't happen in one year. Maybe 2.

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2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

4 new coasters eh?

That sounds plausible. . .

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4 new coasters?

What are we Six Flags Ohio?

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

That'd be Geauga Lake, but that's okay. No, unfortunately, they only got 4 coasters in two years. Haha. Still.

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I agree. If they got a couple new, good, rides they could have great attendance. They already have an expansive kiddie section (which many parks lack), so if they could get some big thrill rides in the coming years, they could potentially attract all ages to the park.

Wow... I wonder if they meant they looked at 4 different coaster designs?

Does anyone else think (though it won't happen) they should just tear Boomerang Bay down and expand the park into that section? If anything they could buy more land (outside of the park) and open an independent water park. If they had an off-site waterpark it could function solely as a waterpark and probably bring in more people than it does now, like Emerald Pointe does.

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^ I know what you're saying, but I think that would actually hurt the park. The water park used to be a seperate ticket and it didn't do that well (I never visited it back then either). I though it was stupid to have to pay seperate for it.

Families want to buy a season pass where they can do both, not have to buy seperate passes.

It works for Dollywood and Dolly's Splash Country because frankly it's Dolly and it's in Pigeon Forge, a huge tourist draw.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

If the four new coaster rumor is real, then I hope it doesn't end up to be one decent coaster and three kiddy coasters. That would be a slap in the face.

I'm not entirely sure about the water park. Obviously, it is not an "amazing" water park, but it would decrease attendance to the park. I'm leaning more to the side of keeping the water park, but I would be fine if it was removed.

Just an idea: What if they changed the "Vortex" trains to floorless trains. Is that possible to entirely change the train design? I'd think the ride would gain much more attendance (and comfort) if it was changed to a Floorless train design from a Stand-Up design. Is that possible?

^I think it is possible, and would be easy to do since B&Ms (other than dive machines) seem to have the same sized track. The problem, though, would be the station isn't big enough for the retractable floor and possibly the heartline would differ. I think they would rather build a brand new, bigger, floorless coaster rather than change Vortex. I do agree it would probably be a better coaster, but I don't think thats the way Carowinds would want to go.

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The station would have to be changed and I think the corkscrew would have to be removed, because I don't think your body has the g forces in the same spot when sitting as you are standing. It might be too much for the body.

Plus, I'd rather just put in a whole new floorless, not put floorless trains on a 2 inversion coaster. That would be kinda pointless to me unless they added about 3 inversions to it.

Another note, Carowinds seems to like to keep their coasters. They've only removed one in their history. It doesn't seem like they'd go for that.

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Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Does he mean 4 parks are getting a coaster.

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

I'm glad Kinzel sees potential in Carowinds...let us not forget the original plans for it...