Carowinds Amusement Park

Saturday, we went to Carowinds Amusement Park. Now for those of you who haven't read the last post, we are right across the North Carolina border and staying in a RV park right next door to the amusement park. They have a shuttle bus that takes you back and forth to the park, but the park is only open on Friday - Sunday until later in the year. The amusement park also has a water park in it, but that isn't opened until Memorial weekend. Carowinds is owned by Cedar Fairs, same people who own Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH and Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA among many others. Carowinds is a lot like Knott's with a few more roller coasters and no log ride. Instead of Camp Snoopy, they have Planet Snoopy. The amusement park is actually in both North and South Carolina, with even a roller coaster that takes you through both states. I believe that to be the best part about it. It is what makes it unique from all the other parks.

They have a three wooden roller coasters; the Hurler, Carolina Goldrush and Thunder Road which is a twin racer. They send both sides off at the same time and see who wins. This is the one that goes through both states. The other roller coasters they have are the Afterburn, Carolina Cyclone, Carolina Cobra, Ricochet, Vortex, and Night Hawk. Night Hawk is interesting because you get on it and then it lays you down and you right the coaster head first laying down. Vortex is a standing roller coaster. The most spectacular one though is called the Intimidator, after Dale Earnhardt. Instead of showing you the several pictures that it takes to get it all, I took a picture of the layout that you can see below.

Carowinds also has a couple of water rides; Rip Roarin' Rapids and White Water Falls, which I can guarantee you will get wet on if not soaked. The also have a dragon swing type ride that goes upside down called the Southern Star, the Scrambler, Yo Yo (swings), Dodgem (bumper cars), Scream Weaver (like the old loop trainer at Knotts) and Boo Blasters, a ride that you sit down and it takes you through it and you try to shoot the ghosts. There are also a few tower riders; the Carolina Skytower, Windseeker, and Drop Tower. Windseeker is basically a swing at the top of the tower and Drop Tower is just that... it takes you to the top and drops you.

Like many other Cedar Fair parks, Snoopy is the mascot. This one has a Planet Snoopy. Just like Camp Snoopy at Knotts, this is for the kiddies... Lots of cool rides though. 3 small roller coasters, a train, a carousel and other types of rides

We had a great time, although we didn't ride any of them. The only thing we did was the Action Theater which is an interactive movie basically. We usually just walk around and people watch. Love doing that and it is a perfect way to get exercise.

Well check back later for our next adventure. We are heading to the Nascar Hall of Fame.

You can view videos at Delbert's Videos on YouTube.

Gotta run.....