Carowinds history

After a disappointing 1975 season, Thunder Road gave the park a much needed attendance boost.

In 1976, Carowinds opened Thunder Road, a Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters racing wooden coaster designed by Curtis D. Summers.

White Lightnin', a Schwarzkopf launched shuttle roller coaster, opened in 1977.

In 1979, a $3 million expansion adds the County Fair area, which contains four new rides.

The Carolina Cyclone was added in 1980, and is the first roller coaster in the world to feature four inversions.

Rip Roarin' Rapids, a water rapids ride, opens in 1981.

Opened in 1982, and located between Thunder Road and the former “White Lightnin” Shuttle Loop coaster, “Ocean Island” was a 700,000-gallon, 25,500 square foot wave pool that featured waves reaching heights of five feet.

Ocean Island Advertised Inside of Carowinds' 1983 Brochure.

In 1984, Smurf Island opens on a 1.3 acre island surrounded by the Carolina Sternwheeler river boat.

In 1987, Carowinds purchases Ocean Island.

In 1989, Ocean Island is renamed to RipTide Reef and expanded to over 6 acres on the land previously occupied by White Lightnin'. Carowinds became the first amusement park in the United States to include a full water park with admission.

Riptide Reef in the 1990 Carowinds Brochure.

In 1992, Kings Entertainment Company was acquired by Paramount Communications and Paramount Parks was formed, with the corporate headquarters a few miles away from the park in Charlotte.

The park's name was changed to Paramount's Carowinds in 1993.

In 1994, Wayne's World, a new three acre themed area that re-creates the Hollywood set popularized in the Paramount motion picture of the same name, is added to the northwestern corner of the park with the Hurler roller coaster as its centerpiece.

In 1995, Animation Station introduces an interactive experience for kids featuring The Power Station, a three-story climbing structure, and Kids' Studio, an outdoor amphitheater for children's shows.

In 1996, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Thunder Road, the left side of the coaster had its trains reversed.

In 1997, to celebrate the park's 25th anniversary, RipTide Reef is expanded into WaterWorks, doubling it's size to include 12 acres at a cost of $7.5 million.

In 1998, ZOOM ZONE opens in Animation Station.

The addition of Top Gun: The Jet Coaster in 1999 became the single-largest investment in the park's history at a cost of $10.5 million.

In 2000, The Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator takes riders along a 1,087-foot suspended track while dodging a gauntlet of gushing geysers and rain curtains and was the first of its kind roller coaster in the world.

After the success of Flying Ace Aerial Chase at sister park Kings Island, Paramount decided to build a clone at Carowinds in 2003 as part of the Happy Land of Hanna Barbera's transition into Nickelodeon Central.

In 2004, Nighthawk (then known as Stealth) was relocated from California's Great America and opened as BORG Assimilator in the location previously home to Smurf Island.

WinterFest, a Christmas event in November and December that previously operated in 2005, was also reintroduced.

On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair acquired all of the Paramount Parks, including Carowinds.

Thunder Road would continue to operate with one side reversed until 2008, when both trains faced forward again.

In 2010, Intimidator, a 232-foot tall roller coaster, opened in the space formerly occupied by the Powder Keg Log Flume.

In 2012, WindSeeker, a 301-foot tall swinging flat ride, opened in a filled portion of the main lagoon near Nighthawk.

Those who can't wait until Spring 2015 to experience Fury 325 can take a virtual ride at carowinds.com/fury325 where they can also check out photos, virtual renderings, ride stats and more.

But what’s next? Here’s hoping we’ll have the “Wright” Information about Carowinds’ 2016 “BIG splash” sooner rather than later.

In 2018, Planet Snoopy was expanded and converted into Camp Snoopy with the addition of six new children's attractions.

Carowinds did not open for normal operation during the 2020 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

In 2021, Boogie Board Racer, the longest mat racing slide in the Southeast, opened in Carolina Harbor.