Intimidator305

^ Don't be too optimistic there, Omar. Intimidator 305 is a top tier ride in the world, and obviously not every coaster addition can and/or will do that. Look at rides like Banshee - sometimes not doing 'the next big thing' and staying simple can give you a solid ride that the GP loves. Is Banshee a top ride in the world? No, but it is a headliner for decades to come at Kings Island.

To sum up the water park renovation/expansion to Carolina Harbor thanks to Carowinds Connection's find: 1.) Wave pool with sand volleyball courts nearby 2.) Slide tower (same as the new one at KD, Dorney, WOF) 3.) Water play tower/structure (replacing old wave pool) 4.) Separate entrance to water park and exit out of parking lot 5.) Splash pad (assuming it is the same as KD/CW/VF's) 6.) 2 new bathhouses 7.) 500,000 annoying Facebook comments on August 27th complaining Thunder Road was removed for nothing

In real, non-generic graphic design news... What appears to be the first building permit was filed with Hanover County on July 2nd, 2015. $500,000 seems like an appropriate price to remove a crappy coaster. Rest in pieces. As of July 31st, this was the only building permit filed. With the announcement happening sometime this month (rumored Thursday August 20th), I'd expect to see more building permits filed within the next month.

Personally, my two favorite coasters in the park, including my #1 overall coaster. Excellent shot!

If I recall, the ride originally was supposed to be about twice the length but was cut due to the prices of the innovation going behind the wheel. I highly doubt the ride will be any different, just a much less spectacular station.

As Chuck said, BGW is primarily a regional crowd. The park is located in a much more highly populated area than Kings Dominion yet only gets a crowd of 2.7 million while KD pulls in about 2.2-2.3 a year... BGW also opens up two weeks prior to KD, is open 2 weeks for Spring Break, and is open a whole extra month and a half for ChristmasTown compared to Kings Dominion. While there are those who travel long ways to the area for Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown and such who do go to the park, they only make up a very small percentage of the park goers. I'd consider parks like Cedar Point and HersheyPark more 'national destination' parks than BGW.

RMCs are some of the most intense coasters out there and we all know Cedar Fair isn't working with RMC yet... so we definitely know an RMC is not going to be the next coaster. And, all these people begging for airtime? Intimidator 305 has some of the strongest pops of ejector airtime out there... maybe those pesky shoulder straps are distracting you from it.

Apparently you've never read the Cedar Point Discussion Thread or the comments section on Cedar Point's Facebook page.

Boomerang Bay becoming Carolina Harbor - can't wait for the details to be revealed. Carowinds has one of the most dated, run-down water parks in the chain so this is much needed, especially since often the Carolina heat during the summer is too warm to even be in the dry side of the park!

They were both for sale on http://www.intermarkridegroup.com/used-rides/roller-coasters/2.html so I knew something new was going in to fill that huge hole. Actually, they are both sold now - Glad I got the credits who knows where they will end up! This new attraction certainly looks better than those two combined.

This looks so much better than the Tempesto/Superman/Phobia rides. I may have a 'reason' to plan another OCNJ trip just to ride this! I enjoyed this park and loved all of the OCNJ Boardwalk so this might get me back there for the first time since 2012.

A countdown has been added to the Cedar Point website and we have an announcement time: 9:00 PM. This is exciting as one of Cedar Fair's best announcements was the nighttime announcement of Banshee. I think all of this "darkness" going around just further backs up Valravn.

I don't think Cedar Point could make this anymore obvious that they are announcing a coaster, without clearly saying "We're announcing a coaster!", and yet people are still thinking this will not be a coaster? That makes two Cedar Fair announcement dates set now: Tuesday, August 18th - Valravn at Cedar Point Thursday, August 27th - Carolina Harbor at Carowinds

^^ The amount of inaccuracies in the show is making my skin cringe. Personally, I love the random shot of Canada's Wonderland at the beginning when showing clips of Carowinds. Some unique perspectives and views is about all this show is worth so far. EDIT: "It's the tallest thing in all of Charlotte North Carolina!" Really? I can name 17 skyscrapers in Uptown Charlotte that are taller...

^ More asphalt, faded paint, and dated theming.

Thunder Road's signage, lighting, ect. are beginning to come down and the ride's entrance is fenced off. Demolition is scheduled to begin August 4th.

Thanks for the photos - very unique shots! Fury sticks out very well on the Carowinds skyline. My only complaint about the look of the ride is the choice of colors for the seats (light blue) and lap bar (neon green). Those are going to get very worn/dirty very quick and look disgusting. I wish parks would just go black//black on the seats and restraints.

Cedar Fair has a trend of painting/sprucing up the whole area around where the new attractions go each season so I suspect Raptor will be painted this offseason to look good right next to the big shiny B&M next door.

The hours of Bistro 75 are subject to change, but last I heard it was open Saturday and Sunday beginning at 2 PM. The rest of the week, when the restaurant is not open, the area is open to anyone wanting to sit down in the area next to the fountains.

As a Shrek fan, I'd love to visit this park. That area of the park seems incredible! Thanks for the photos!

The park has a new executive chef since last season (Chef Paul), and I'd say food quality and offerings have steadily increased since his arrival and he has big things planned for the park, such as the Spring Bloom and this new festival. Take a look around at the wide range of food offerings in the new Soak City, it's much, much better than before. I expect each season, an area of the park will be focused on to enhance the food offerings. As far as Bistro 75 goes, it only takes up 1 of 6 'coves' along the fountains, there's still plenty of room to sit next to the fountains if you aren't dining at Bistro 75 (especially on the non-busy west side of the fountains).

Has anyone been on Leviathan this season? I ask because I wonder if the ride has developed a slight rattle over the past 3.5 seasons? People (including myself) have noticed a very slight rattle on Fury 325 compared to earlier this spring and summer. In no way, shape, or form would I call it rough (or even close), but it definitely is something that wasn't there earlier this season on the ride and is noticeable to enthusiasts. It's not just a bad wheel either as it's more than one train. Anybody who is riding the ride for the first time wouldn't even realize it probably. The ride is still about as smooth as you can get... Recently though, I'd have to say Millennium Force is smoother.

I like that the park is starting to do more and more events like this - I hope to see this event and the Spring Bloom Festival grow in the coming years. Those final riders on Shockwave are definitely going to need some of the beers!

^ This is coming from the same folks who named the 2013 and 2014 teasers something along the lines of "Carowinds-Windseeker-Teaser-Rotator.jpg" and "Carowinds-DinosaursAlive-Teaser-Rotator.jpg" so I doubt it. I could see something else smaller happening in the County Fair area, but the attention will be in the water park next season which is fine as it definitely needs renovated.

VF, Dorney, MIA, and WOF don't have the competition and attendance Kings Dominion does either...