Shane's Amusement Attic

[montezooma"Can I get clamshells out of this ATM?"]

CAROWINDS
New for 1980…CAROLINA CYCLONE

Carowinds was a pretty small park at th time so I think it was quite impressive for them to be introducing the world’s first quad-looping roller coaster.

This update has some pretty great facts and figures on the parks attendance, capital expenses and additions for the first couple of years as well as some great old black and white photos.

There is a lot more Carowinds to come this week so keep checking in to see more…and as always, I love to read your thoughts and comments.

Shane.


















































and here is a look at the park how it appeared in 1979 before the addition of the Carolina Cyclone.

[eddie200330"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

I really liked the old trains on Thunder Road. Too bad they couldn't have stayed around.......or be brought back with a more modern train!

This is a park I have only recently visited for the 1st time and have to say I really enjoyed it. It was over Labor Day weekend and would really like to see it in full swing of mid summer.

[Geauga DogThe only thing better than a naked woman is a naked donkey!]

Great update, Shane! Looking forward to the rest of your Carowinds update. After visiting Carowinds for the first time this past summer I really liked the park.

Looking back at the old photos I wish they still had the Carolina Sternwheeler. Seemed like the perfect centerpiece for the park along with the Skytower.

Love the old school park map Taft used back in the day.

[simon8899I wish they would make Street Fighter Donkey.]

The mother of all double-loops - double corkscrews. A dubious achievement in a continueous headbanging kind of way....

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

Forget the "quad loop" coaster--there's an animated country bear show!

[SeaWhippetYummy! I just ate donkey!]

Wow, my home park certainly has changed a bit since its glory days. While there have certainly been a lot of improvements, removing White Lightnin' and the Sternwheeler are unforgivable crimes ... especially considering their "replacements."

[BigDipper 802 + 2 = donkey!]

I think that the best part of that press release is the photo of Thunder Road with its old trains. They are incredibly awesome!

[Philrad71Don't put that donkey on the floor!]

Thanks for sharing, Shane!

Visiting the park for the 1st time this year, this was an interesting take. The Powder Keg and White Lightnin' looked awesome and it's always interesting to see how many rides and attractions change over the years.

Other than Intimidator, I think I would take the park as it was then over how it is now.

[montezooma"Can I get clamshells out of this ATM?"]

Here is a Carowinds update featuring a look at park map & guide through the years. You can see how the park did some changing from 1979 to 1990. I have to agree that the parks biggest mistake was the removal of White LIghtnin for that lame wave pool.

Of course White Lightnin still lives on as Golden Loop in South Africa http://rcdb.com/1168.htm?p=1983

1979


1983






1985






1987






1988




What happened here? It seems like the wave pool at Ocean Island was closed for a year? Can you Carowind locals give us the story?



1990




We've lost White Lightnin'

[RoCoBonafide Donkey Expert]

This stuff never gets old. Some part of me wishes we could go back to a time when a $2 million Arrow four-inversion coaster was a big freakin' deal.

And should I admit that I used to have a huge crush on Tennille? Probably not, right? So, yeah, I totally never did...