TurboWagon

I took a few more shots of Tomahawk. I have not had much time to build further but I will get around to it. Because the coaster is so compact, I am not sure if I should add any on-ride tunnels but I may. I am still working on the buildings, I might change the walls because on the ones I have chosen, you can't change the color. A quich change was adding some glass roofs but I did not take a picture.

Thanks! I figure with landscaping first, it gives you an opportunity to let the land decide what goes where. The buildings are somewhat bare but I hope that some good shrubbery might fix that. Would you suggest more dynamic building shapes or more around them? I might have to download the supports package, it does make quite a bit of difference. Another CS pack I would like to find would be more path options. I have yet to post too many more of the screen shots I have taken. After posting the SLC-ish coaster (of which I have called "The Tomahawk"), I worked on adding Indian animatronics and other scenery. I have also recolored the land to add to the "western" feel. In the blank concrete area near the entrance, I also added another building to house some t-shirt stalls and the information booth. Right next door, the construction for the 200ft observation tower and building is being completed. As far as the direction of the park, the western theme will eventually lead into a spooky/haunted theme near the lowlands and standing water, I also plan on a boardwalk-type area along the beach. Overall it is a work in progress. I hope to get some good, working CS packs to add; I have already downloaded a few CFR's but will wait to find an appropriate location in the park to house them. I will try and get some better

^Thanks! I decided to make a simple compact suspended coaster. After I finished, I fount it reminds me of some of the SLC's you see in parks. I think I am going to go with a western themed area near the coaster, the island theme will be more on the coast.

Rolling Sands Resort Well, I applaud everyone who uses custom scenery and makes it look so nice! I love creating parks in RCT so I figure I would share my first "realistic" park with buildings and other scenery. However, I will be creating this with as much of the "in-house" scenery and rides as I can. If someone can point me in the direction of a few good custom supports packs, maybe the future rides will have a little more character. Anyways, My first step was to create the land. I always have something in mind before I start so I just imagine and use whatever looks nice in the end. Here are 2 shots of what I have so far. No rides yet (I took out the one flat ride I had to do more brainstorming on what to use) but the theme is a getaway-resort so any ride suggestions are welcome. I know these are amateur shots but I will get some more. I am working on the park as you read this!

Thanks for the quick responses! I have yet to navigate this site much more than the forum so I will do some searching around of the mentioned parks. Im sure I will have more questions once I do some more research. Seems that the consensus thus far is that PA is a "must".

My girlfriend will be studying in Spain for 3 months beginning in February and lasting until May. I plan on flying over there and traveling/sightseeing around Santander, Spain and neighboring countries for 2 weeks after her studies are through. While I am not certain I will visit a park while I am there, I figure I might as well have you guys talk me into one (or some) that might be worth a visit. My local park is Carowinds so those who know the park, know how limited the ride selection is. Also, while I love roller coasters and theme parks in general, the only really large park I have been to is US:IoA and that was a while ago. Are there any "easter egg" coasters that I might want to ride (I dont keep track of credits but I love a great thrill) or an outstanding ride I cant afford to miss? Thanks!

All this hate for Carowinds! If anything, this addition will make it even more well rounded of a park regardless of its small size. I would say that 12 coasters on a lot barely over 100 acres is quite good, especially for the area. Yes, it does stink that it is an old coaster but at least CF is trying to make the best of it and included new trains. Besides, the last launch/boomerang was "white lightning" back before many of us were even born. Lets face it, people will ride it FOR SURE, and like someone said before, be glad for the shorter lines it brings elsewhere!

Yep. It still leaves the Family Suspended Vekoma (Runaway Reptar) as our "newest" attraction in terms of age. But people wont realize that. The new trains are nice and makes me want to experience the ride regardless of how old it is. Anything "new" is nice at a park like Carowinds. Just shows that it isnt being forgotten.

Alright, so now that all the "tension" about getting a "new" coaster and its name are finally done. Whats next? I have been thinking about what Carowinds could do to utilize space. While it would be ideal if they could keep all of the coasters, some will eventually have to go. The thing is, Carowinds is so well rounded, it makes for a hard decision. Maybe they sould just go ahead and sell of Hurler. While I enjoy the ride, there are many complaints about how rough it is so instead of retracking, why not just make room for a larger coaster there? They have the room there as well. Vortex is another I would consider removing but its footprint isn't that large and whatever they would replace it with wouldn't match what the Vortex is today. Maybe Carowinds should outfit the Carolina Cyclone with some new trains similar to the ones on the new Cobra? Just some thoughts.

Little kids. Little, snot-nose, bratty kids.

^You got that right! I drove by on my way to work and I saw the top of a crane near where the "new" boomerang will be going. They were also moving a lot of the equipment around behind the new wave pool; my guess is over to the site for grading and such. Im glad they aren't pussyfooting around putting this thing up. Better do it while its still a little warm out.

I think it would be sad to see Wild Thornberries go but I would rather see that go than Goldrusher. Goldrusher has gotten more fun (and rough) throughout the years, hopefully CF wont do something stupid and get rid of it. I have grown to hate Nickelodeon and wouldn't mind a theme change although it would be expensive. However, Carowinds is very much so a FAMILY park with a gearing towards younger children. Just look at how many junior flat rides there ae compared to adult flat rides. Having ANY coaster go under the bridge at the entrance would be completely awesome. Carowinds is already pretty high on the inversions list so I wouldn't care if it had any (although I LOVE inversions) Its just me but Carowinds should really consider namind the snake copperhead because they are indigenous to the area. There are eastern Diamondbacks too but they arent as common although more well known i guess.

I would prefer it to be called Copperhead. Those snakes are indigenous to the region and there is even a park called Copperhead Island within 7 miles of the park. I have yet to see the teaser but when I visited the park, I rode After Burn and saw some of the track sitting in the open parking lot. It is still that nasty teal/white color combo but I think using a snake name is the way to go. Just give us a new color scheme.

My girlfriend and I went to Carowinds on the 12th! I have not been to Carowinds In a long time but I have lived in the area my whole life and have seen the park change over time. Great pictures but I will share my experience as well. Nighthawk: 1st time riding: I must say it is the strangest sensation being pulled up the lift hill while laying down staring into the sun. It wasn't as bumpy as I had expected but it also seemed faster than I originally thought it would go. The line was long but we waited only once. The staff could have sped up the load/unload process. 8/10 Vortex: I remember this ride New and for some reason, it feels faster NOW than it used to. The right hand drop after the loop was incredible; not even as a kid did that make me laugh so much. Still the same old 30-sec ride though. 7/10 Carolina Cyclone: When younger, I always hated how rough this ride was. Now, I don't think they made any changes with the trains but it didn't seem nearly as rough. One train was running though, too long of a wait for the ride. 7/10 Hurler: It was closed, I was pissed. 1/10 Carolina Goldrusher: I used to love how smooth this ride was, now it is showing its age FOR SURE. Both helix' were extremely bumpy and threw us both around. Im not sure what can fix this. maybe just a new mine train in its place. 5/10 Thunderroad: We rode on the former, front facing turned rear facing now back to front facing train and boy was it an awesome ride. Very rough even after the partial retracking but so much fun 7/10 Dodgems: How have they not updated this ride. GET NEW BUMPER CARS 3/10 YoYo: What the hell, maybe this one is cheaper to maintain but the old swings were so much better. And to make things worse, the attendant kept singing this stupid song about how many seatbelts you had to buckle. Not bad though. 5/10 Afterburn: The best ride in the park. Rode it twice. They added some cameras on the ride so you can watch yourself on a DVD. Still as smooth as ever but showing its age on the trains. 9/10

Mmm, lets wait in line for this coaster just so we can fake-play some chess. I guess there is always a new way to have "fun" on a coaster.

Haha, yeah I JUST saw those after I posted. I picked up some discount coupons for $15 or $10 off depending on what day you go before the 8th of June. If anyone is interested I can send one by mail for free if you plan on coming down.

I can't get used to where they put the swinging ship and YoYo. THAT's how long its been since I've gone to the park. I knew they moved them but now I can actually see where. Strange Great pictures though.

Well, Carowinds opens this weekend. Anyone going anytime soon? Not on my immediate plans but I hope to make it out there and take some pictures. Ill go if Thunder Road gets done but after going by there on Friday, it doesn't look like it will be any time soon.

Looks fantastic. I can't believe this is a TOTALLY new theme park, going will be a completely different experience than other parks. Which coaster was renamed for the Eagles? EDIT* Nevermind, figured it out. One thing though. Being in Myrtle Beach, this Park is going to be PACKED all the time! There probably wont be a good day to go the whole opening season without having to wait at least 45 minutes to ride one of the coasters.

"Something New" is definately in order. I have honestly not even been to the park to ride Nighthawk so whenever I go again, that will at least be new to me. I think that CF should utilize some of the parking lot near Thunder Road for an update to the park. No one really ever parks there so why not landscape it, add a Hyper that travels throughout the park (or under it), give it a cool name and add a few more flat rides. It has just been WAY too long since we got anything new. A lot of it probably has to do with Paramount knowing they were going to stop managing theme parks and not bothering to continue updating. Now that CF has been around a year and probably has a general idea of what the park needs, maybe now we will get something worth while.

I remember riding it right after it was built. That thing had some awesome airtime after the drop and long turn back on those first two camel backs. Going during the week, you could ride it 3 or 4 times in a row without getting off. Hurler is for sure one of my favorites.

^And it better be a NEW coaster at that. I know Nighthawk is unique in a way but the coaster is really 8 years old, making 2003's Runaway Reptar Ride the newest coaster in the park. I think that giving Dominator to Carowinds wouldn't have been a bad choice but KD already had the space after removing Hypersonic. Luckily, most of Geuaga Lakes coasters are now relocated or defunct so hopefully CF will feel motivated to give us a new one.

I can relate that Carowinds isn't the most exciting park but I think you just have to appreciate it for what it is worth. Yes, I do believe it has become increasingly more child-oriented and that probably wont stop. But I think that because of the relatively small size carowinds is restricted to, we are lucky to have as many coasters in as many styles as we do. Adding a Hyper would be great and would probably fit well near the Hurler. If it were up to me I would get rid of the Sky Flyer just to make room for a huge coaster......Vortex is dated and for a stand-up coaster the ride is short, rough and overall, not my favorite ride, maybe they sell that off.

Basically, this is just a thread to spread the love for Carowinds. I have been a resident of Charlotte NC all of my 22 years, living just 10 minutes from the park. I have seen it go through many of its changes (although not ALL of them) and am very pleased that it is still around. I guess I will pose a question to get this thread started. My brother is a lifeguard at Carowinds and he has said that CF plans to add some sort of steel coaster for 2009. I have searched the net and found nothing yet what worries me is that Carowinds is running out of space. Really, the only thing I can think of is taking some of the parking lot on the other side of Thunder Road, yet I dont want somehting thrown out there with no landscaping like Scream! Other than that, I can only imagine they would remove a coaster, something that Carowinds hasn't dont since White Lightnin' and something I hope never happens. MOST of our coasters have a uniqueness to them and if it were my decision I would keep them all. Honestly, maybe the next coaster will be some sory of powered launch coaster. They are compact and adds to the count. Yet with Hard Rock Park opening less than 4 hours away, Carowinds Is going to have some keeping up to do.

I wish they would bring back Wild Bull. As a kid that ride was one of my favorites along with Dodgems.