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Carowinds Theme Park in the Carolinas

Carowinds is a 112-acre theme and water park that straddles the North Carolina/South Carolina state line just minutes from uptown Charlotte. One of the most popular family entertainment destinations in the Southeast, the park offers more than 60 state-of-the-art rides, attractions and shows for all ages. Get set to get wet in the 20-acre Boomerang Bay water park, laugh and play with more than a dozen Nicktoons™ characters on 16 rides in Nickelodeon™ Central, or enjoy high-energy thrill rides, including 12 roller coasters. There’s something for everyone at Carowinds.

Carowinds is a 112-acre theme 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 $30 million,
after 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.

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 combination 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.

Some of the rides at Carowinds:

Afterburn
A Bolliger and Mabillard inverted roller coaster. Located in the South Gate section of the park. Previously named Top Gun: The Jet Coaster.

Carolina Cyclone
Arrow Dynamics coaster featuring 2 loops and 2 corkscrews. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to feature 4 inversions.

Carolina Goldrusher
First roller coaster ever at Carowinds, made by Arrow Dynamics. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. First roller coaster to cross state lines.

Fairly Odd Coaster (Carowinds)
Formerly the Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster and themed to Fairly Odd Parents. Located in Nickelodean Central section of the park.

Hey Arnold's Taxi Chase
A kiddie coaster themed to Hey Arnold. Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.

Hurler
A wooden out and back roller coaster formerly themed to Wayne's World. Located in the Thrill Zone section of the park.

Nighthawk
A Vekoma Flying Dutchman coaster. This ride operated as Stealth at Great America before being installed at Carowinds. Previously named Borg Assimilator.

Ricochet
A Wild Mouse Coaster. Located in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park.

Rugrats Runaway Reptar
Vekoma Inverted Coaster themed to Rugrats. Located in the Nickelodeon Central section of the park.

Thunder Road
Twin wooden roller coaster that crosses the NC/SC border.Both sides go forwards and race each other. Located in the County Fair section of the park.

Vortex
A Bolliger and Mabillard stand up roller coaster. Located in the Carolina Showcase section of the park.

(thanks to wikipedia.org  and about.com  for park information)