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Carowinds

Slogan	The Thrill Capital of the Southeast Thrills Connect
Location	Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates	35°06′16″N 80°56′23″W / 35.104339°N 80.93968°W / 35.104339; -80.93968Coordinates: 35°06′16″N 80°56′23″W / 35.104339°N 80.93968°W / 35.104339; -80.93968
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
General Manager	Bart Kinzel
Opened	March 31, 1973
Previous names	Paramount's Carowinds (1993 - 2006)
Operating season	March - October
Rides
Total	64
Roller coasters	13
Water rides	8 (including Boomerang Bay)
Website	www.carowinds.com

Carowinds is a 398-acre (161 ha) amusement park, located adjacent to Interstate 77 on the state line between North and South Carolina, in Charlotte and Fort Mill, respectively. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $70 million. This was the result of a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall, who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland and a dream of bringing the two states closer together. It is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.

Boomerang Bay is a 20 acre (81,000 m2) water park located within Carowinds 398 acres and is included in regular park admission.

History[link]

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 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.

Sale to Cedar Fair[link]

On January 27, 2006, 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.

On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company acquired Paramount Parks, including Carowinds.^[1]

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, the park website, and in the park. In January 2007, a brand new logo, featuring the Cedar Fair icon, but lacking the "Paramount" name, was revealed on the park website. The new logo featured the trademark Cedar Fair flags, flying on the letter "I" on the Carowinds name. The other four Paramount-branded parks that Cedar Fair acquired all received similar changes. The "Paramount" name was dropped from all of the parks after the 2006 season.

Current areas and attractions[link]

The rides at Carowinds are based loosely around eight themed areas.

Carowinds Plaza[link]

Carolina RFD[link]

Carolina Boardwalk[link]

Sign for Carolina Boardwalk

Opened as Carolina Crossroads

Carolina Showplace[link]

County Fair[link]

Added to the park in 1979

Thrill Zone[link]

Opened in 1994 as Wayne's World

Planet Snoopy[link]

Planet Snoopy is an area designed for children. It replaced Nickelodeon Central.

Boomerang Bay[link]

Boomerang Bay is Carowinds water park. It has an Australian theme and opened in 1989. It is included with the price of admission to Carowinds.

Fast Lane[link]

Fast Lane is Carowinds virtual queue system. For $50, visitors get a wrist band that enables them to get to the front of the line on 10 of the most popular attractions without queueing.

Scarowinds[link]

In 2000, the park introduced Scarowinds; an annual Halloween attraction. Scarowinds is presented on select nights in September and October when the facility is transformed into a haunted theme park. The experience includes numerous haunted attractions and incorporates most of the existing park rides into a nightmarish experience.

Mazes[link]

• Defex
• Camp Killauee
• Corn Stalkers
• Dead Inn
• Last Laff 3-D
• Silver Scream Sinema
• FURY (a never before seen maze at any Cedar Fair park)
• The Asylum

Scare Zones[link]

• Feeding Frenzy
• The Cemetery
• The Playground

Live Shows[link]

• Eternal Jamnation
• Creatures of the Night

Carowinds Festival of Music[link]

The annual Carowinds Festival of Music allows music students to play and receive comments and ratings from nationally-recognized adjudicators. Bands, choirs, show choirs, and orchestras can all play for ratings. Plaques and ribbons are awarded for ratings of superior and excellent.^[2]

Timeline[link]

Southern Star, originally added in 1986

Hurler, added in 1994

• 2012: WindSeeker, a 301-foot-tall (92 m) thrill ride, Fast Lane
• 2011: Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular, a million-dollar nighttime walk-through light and sound experience featuring the Peanuts characters.Snoopy's starlight spectacular utilizes light,sound,and motion to create a full sensory experience. Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular runs from May 28 to September 4 in the County Fair and the Planet Snoopy sections of the park. Carowinds will stay open till 10pm every night June 27 to August 7. "Nights of Fire", nightly fireworks show will play July 1 to September 4 at Carowinds Plaza at 10:00 pm. Vortex receives a new red track and grey support paint scheme. Ricochet receives a touch up paint job. Work continues on Thunder Road and Hurler's rehab and work continues on replacing pavement with brick pavers to help reduce heat flow from walkways. Carowinds also expanded the park by 61 acres (250,000 m²).^[3]
• 2010: Intimidator: A 232-foot-tall (71 m), 5,316-foot-long (1,620 m) Bolliger and Mabillard hyper coaster. Nickelodeon Central becomes Planet Snoopy. Carolina Cyclone is repainted blue, yellow and orange.Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion becomes Boo Blasters On Boo Hill, with new special effects; all connections to Scooby Doo have been removed. Carowinds rebuilds more sections of Thunder Road. Carowinds starts replacing pavement with brick pavers to help reduce heat flow from walkways.
• 2009: Carolina Cobra, a Boomerang roller coaster featuring new trains from Vekoma, opens in the former location of the Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator. Carowinds rebuilds more sections of Thunder Road. Nighthawk was repainted with yellow track and navy blue supports. Hurler receives some re-tracking. Scarowinds returns for its tenth year. Wild Thornberrys log flume removed for a new attraction. Dora the Explorer Azul's Adventure's track is also modified.
• 2008: A second wave pool named Bondi Beach added along with cabanas in Boomerang Bay. This added 20 acres (81,000 m²) to the park making it 112 acres (0.45 km²). Geauga Lake's Yo Yo swing ride was also added in the County Fair section. Flying Super Saturator only operates on the Boomerang Bay operating calendar. Thunder Road now runs both sides going forwards again. The Flying Super Saturator is removed from the park in August.
• 2007: Frenzoid was put back in as Southern Star in County Fair section. The price for a single day ticket dropped for the first time ever. Carolina Skytower was repainted to look like an American flag.
• 2006: Frenzoid was removed. WaterWorks was rethemed and renamed to Boomerang Bay and converting the old Frenzoid lake into a heated lagoon. Thunder Raceway Go-Carts was built in the Thrill Zone. Paramount Parks is sold to the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company for 1.24 billion dollars. This puts Carowinds under the Cedar Fair family of parks.
• 2005: Nickelodeon Central expands into Animation Station, featuring Phantom Flyers (relocated from Kings Island as Flying Eagles), Flying Dutchman's Revenge, Little Bill's Cruisers, Dora the Explorer Azul's Adventure (Formerly Yogi's Jellystone Tour) and Frenzoid removal begins in September.
• 2004: BORG Assimilator (later renamed Nighthawk) Flying coaster added.
• 2003: Nickelodeon Central, featuring Rugrats Runaway Reptar (New Vekoma Jr. SLC), Wild Thornberrys River Adventure (Formerly Powder Keg Flume), and Rocket Power Air Time (Formerly Gauntlet); Carolina Sternwheeler (Original Ride) riverboat removed.
• 2002: Ricochet and rethemeing of Carolina Crossroads area to Carolina Boardwalk.
• 2001: SCOOBY-DOO's Haunted Mansion; WaterWorks expansion; Whirling Dervish (swing ride) removed
• 2000: Scarowinds (Later renamed Scarowinds' Halloween Haunt) Halloween Event; Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator (steel coaster)
• 1999: Top Gun: The Jet Coaster (Later renamed Afterburn) was added in the County Fair section of Carowinds.
• 1998: Taxi Jam (Later renamed Lucy's Crabbie Cabbie), TV Road Trip, and Chopper Chase (Later renamed Lazy Town Sport-o-Copters).
• 1997: WaterWorks water park
• 1996: Drop Zone: Stunt Tower (later renamed Drop Tower: Scream Zone) was added in the Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section of Carowinds.
• 1995: Xtreme Skyflyer was added in the Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section of Carowinds.
• 1994: Wayne's World (later renamed Thrill Zone) section with Hurler and Carowinds Monorail removed.
• 1993: Action Theater was added in the County Fair section of Carowinds. Paramount Communications buys Carowinds, King's Dominion, King's Island, Great America, and Canada's Wonderland
• 1992: Vortex was added in the Carolina Showplace section of Carowinds.
• 1991: Expansion of Paladium; Speedway Cars removed.
• 1990: Gauntlet (shooting star, later renamed Rocket Power Air Time).
• 1989: Riptide Reef water park; Expansion of Paladium.
• 1988: WhiteWater Falls; White Lightnin' coaster removed; Black Widow (thrill ride) removed.
• 1987: Expansion of Hanna-Barbera Land with three new rides; Old Jalopies antique car ride removed; Oaken Bucket removed.
• 1986: Frenzoid, a looping Viking ship was added.
• 1985: Blackbeard's Revenge (mystery house).
• 1984: Smurf Island (themed area).
• 1983: Cable Skyway removed.
• 1982: Rip Roarin' Rapids; Ocean Island (water park).
• 1980: Carolina Cyclone was added in Frontier Outpost.
• 1979: County Fair area added. Meteorite (enterprise); PT Bumpem's Auto Stunt & Thrill Show (bumper cars); Whirling Dervish (wave swinger); Wild Bull (Bayern Kurve); Carousel.
• 1977: White Lightnin' (Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster) in Pirate Island (entrance in Country Crossroads); Whirling Well renamed Oaken Bucket and moved to east midway.
• 1976: Thunder Road; Carowinds and Carolina Railroad removed.
• 1975: Paladium Amphitheatre; Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera (themed area) featuring Scooby Doo coaster; Surfer (Tagada); Wagon Wheel (Chance Trabant); Waltzer (Schwarzkopf spinning ride).
• 1974: Country Kitchen is added; Whirling Well (Chance Rotor); 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; the Monorail is still under construction and opens later. Original theme areas: Plantantion Square, Contemporary Carolina, Frontier Outpost, Pirate Island, Indian Thicket, Country Crossroads and Queens Colony.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Carowinds

• Official website
• Festival of Music Official Site

Kerry Dale Earnhardt
Born	(1969-12-08) December 8, 1969 (age 42) Kannapolis, North Carolina
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career
Best finish	61st - 2004, 2005
First race	2000 Pepsi 400 Presented by Meijer (Michigan)
NASCAR Nationwide Series career
Best finish	22nd - 2002
First race	1998 Myrtle Beach 250 (Myrtle Beach)
Wins Top tens Poles 6
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
Best finish	22nd - 2006
First race	2005 Florida Dodge Dealers 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 1

Kerry Dale Earnhardt (born December 8, 1969)^[1] is a former NASCAR driver and the eldest son of seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr.. He is the half-brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup star Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He is also the older half-brother of Kelly Earnhardt and Taylor Nicole Earnhardt. He is also the oldest stepson of Teresa Earnhardt. He is employed by Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a consultant, specializing in driver development. His youngest son, Jeffrey Earnhardt, began racing for DEI in 2007. Kerry is known for his physical similarity to his father.

Kerry's mother, Latane Brown, was Dale Earnhardt's first wife; the couple divorced when Kerry was only one year of age. Brown eventually married Jack Key, who adopted Kerry. Until he was 16, Kerry saw little of his biological father. [1]

Racing career[link]

Kerry had driven race cars in the early 1990s, he entered the racing world as a competitor in 1992 racing street stocks. That same season Kerry raced in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series Kerry raced various tracks in 1993 including the East Carolina Motor Speedway near Robersonville, North Carolina and Langley Speedway in Hampton, VA. He has scored 2 top 5s and 8 top 10s in 11 races, also was the 1992 Rookie of the Year.

He won a pole and recorded 8 top 5s and 40 top 10s as well as 1994 Rookie of the Year Honors at his local track, Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series.

Kerry's First NASCAR start came in the Busch Series at Myrtle Beach in 1998.

After select Busch Racing in 1998 and 1999. Kerry Raced in The ARCA series in 2000, and 2001. During this stint he won 4 of his 11 starts, with 7 top 5s and 8 top 10s. In 2001, the same year his father was killed at Daytona, Earnhardt was involved in a crash in an ARCA race at Charlotte which killed his good friend Blaise Alexander.

In 2000 Kerry made his Winston Cup debut at Michigan, racing against his father Dale Earnhardt, and half-brother Dale Earnhardt, Jr. It was the first of his seven Cup series starts.

His 2002 run for FitzBradshaw Racing in the Busch Series was one of only two full season in any of NASCAR's Big 3 series (Cup, Busch/Nationwide, and Truck), and he finished 22nd in the points. He scored 3 top 5s and 6 top 10s. In the 2003 Winston Cup season, Kerry Earnhardt drove the #83 Hot Tamales Chevrolet for FitzBradshaw, but failed to qualify for every race he attempted.

2004 Kerry made 8 starts in the West Series, scoring 2 Top-5's, and 5 Top-10's.

In 2004 and 2005, he raced in six NEXTEL Cup races, for Richard Childress Racing in the #33 car. All six starts were restrictor plate races (Daytona and Talladega). His highest finish was a 17th place run at Talladega in the 2005 Aaron's 499.

In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he won the pole for the Florida Dodge Dealers 250 in 2005, but he lost his ride after 2 races was released due to lack of sponsorship. For the 2006 season, Earnhardt signed with ThorSport Racing and drove the #13 Chevrolet the full season with occasional sponsorship from the National Pork Board. His best finish of the season was an 11th at Nashville and Las Vegas. At the conclusion of the season, Kerry and ThorSport Racing went their separate ways.

In December 2007, he announced, in a year-end letter to his fans on his website, kerryearnhardtonline.com, that he had retired as a competitive driver. He is still an active test driver for DEI, and occasionally drives in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS).

His last appearance in a national touring series was the NASCAR Nationwide Series|Nationwide Series' Subway Jalapeño 250 on July 3, 2009 at Daytona International Speedway driving, the #31 car for Rick Ware Racing.

In 2010, Richard Childress announced that Kerry Earnhardt will drive the #3 car originally driven by his father when he won the Brickyard 400 at a festival.

Family life[link]

He and wife René married in 1999, and have a daughter, Kayla.

From their previous marriages, Kerry has two sons, Bobby and Jeffrey, and René has a daughter, Blade.

Jeffrey Earnhardt currently races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and marks a fourth generation of Earnhardts in professional motor sports. Jeffrey also made several starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

He drove one of his dad's old race cars, a 95 Chevy Monte Carlo, at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Fan website
• Official website
• Career Info