|
|
|
The history of Carowinds
Carowinds Timeline Sections:
-Pre-opening-
-1973-
-1974-1979-
-1980-1988-
-1989-1999-
-2000-2004-
-2005-2008-
 |
1973
The grand opening year for Carowinds, two weeks before the park opened to the public it was the host to the first ever joint session of the North and South Carolina legislatures, this was a step in E. Pat Hall's dream of bringing North and South Carolina closer together.
March 31st, 1973 finally arrived, and the gates to Carowinds were opened at last. Many guests had arrived before the sun even rose, and despite heavy rain, 7,000 people attended the park that day. With special guests on hand, a marching band playing, balloons being released, and the Melodia locomotive blowing her whistle, the ribbon was cut, and the first official guest, 11 year old Jimmy Henderson, led a parade of guests into the park. Every ride in the park was ready for opening day with the exception of the Monorail, which opened in June. 12,000 people visited the second day of operation, and for seven consecutive weekends Carowinds set attendance records. During the year picnic pavilions, parking, and queue lines had to be expanded to meet demands. In its first season of operation, Carowinds drew 1.23 million visitors. Carowinds in it's first year was a total success, the joy how-ever was short lived for the founder of Carowinds. Most of rides that were installed at Carowinds in the first years are now gone. The park for 32 years kept six original rides however in 2003, the Carolina Sternwheeler was removed and is almost forgotten leaving five orginal rides, the Scrambler(now known as Kaleidoscope), the Carolina Skytower, the Carolina Goldrusher, and the Powder Keg Flume(Now known as Wild Thornberry's River Adventure, Shortline Railroad(now Dora The Explorer's Train). Admission to Carowinds was $5.75, and an extra 75 cents to ride the Monorail.
| |
|
| |Design by: Opie!||Copyright © April 2nd, 2003 Carowinds Zone, All rights reserved||Hosted by TopClassHost| | |
