Carowinds Discussion Thread

[lilj4425]

A good photo update here of construction from Carowinds facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2283026&id=91085023598#/album.php?aid=100607&id=91085023598

[MiniMike]

The Carowinds website said that if you sign up for the newsletter you will get an email on the 26th holding the rides information!

 

I've already signed up! Have you?

[typo86]

Record breaking: Tallest, fastest, longest in the carolinas

History Making: largest investment in carowinds history?

 

They could claim in the South if in their minds Texas and Virginia are not in the South...

[snapp0420]

Just for a recap to bring everyone up to date on the new coaster coming.

 

It is a B&M (possibly a hyper)

It is going to be Dale Earnhardt themed

South Carolina side of the park only.

10 acres to cover for the construction

Big tax discounts from York County (is that just property taxes?)

Maximum build height for Carowinds is 285 feet (not really sure but i think that is what i heard)

Digging is an option (they dug for Top Gun....er i mean Afterburn)

 

am i missing anything?

 

Edit:

Been a while since i visited due to being busy, but 93 pages is a lot to read. Just trying to make it easier for anyone else who may want to know.

[lilj4425]

Yes, you did miss something. The skytower is taller than 285 feet, which means that is not the maximum height.

[snapp0420]

The sky tower is 340 feet with antenna, but i think there is a local FAA code that says 285 feet is the max for a new structure within so far from the airport.

 

I may be wrong. Just going by hearsay

 

Edit:

 

There have been instances with other parks that built over maximum allowed height by exceptions granted by local governments.

[fallen xxi]

^^ It was grandfathered in to newer FAA regulations. The limit is indeed 285 ft. for Carowinds.

[lilj4425]

^^ It was grandfathered in to newer FAA regulations. The limit is indeed 285 ft. for Carowinds.

 

Proof? Not saying you're wrong. Just want some evidence to back up the claim.

[Jerrykoala2112]

That actually sounds reasononable. SFGAM's limit is like 325ft and they even had problems building the 210 foot tall Raging Bull...soo it doesn't matter really what the height is...

[Afterburn117]

^^ It was grandfathered in to newer FAA regulations. The limit is indeed 285 ft. for Carowinds.

 

For the entire park? Or just areas where airplanes that are landing at the airport normally go through at low height?

[swampfox]

I think these problems stem from the Carowinds tower being implicated in the plane crash in 1974. It's the one that Stephen Colbert's father and older brothers died on. Apparently there was a lot of fog that morning and the tower was being used as a landmark, but according to the FAA report, it just confused the flight crew more....

 

Not saying it absolutely has to do with the supposed new rules... just that it might. If nothing else, it's a piece of trivia I guess.

[SKULLY]

It's probably just a precaution in case pilots are completely ignoring their altitude on final to the runway. It is strange that they were trying to locate a tower in foggy conditions though. Either way, I can see why they would impose a limit. God bless all those that were on Flight 212.

[fisher1095]

I read somewhere that when The Time Machine was built at FMP, it was only 13 inches under the FAA restriction. But, if you've been to FMP and Carowinds, you know that the planes come ALOT closer to the ground at Freestyle.

[sushirocks13]

^yeah, if you're going up the lift on TM when a plane is coming by it feels like it's coming right at you.

[snapp0420]

I read somewhere that when The Time Machine was built at FMP, it was only 13 inches under the FAA restriction. But, if you've been to FMP and Carowinds, you know that the planes come ALOT closer to the ground at Freestyle.

 

Ya i just got back from Carowinds and was watching the planes fly over, they really don't fly low over the park at all. Also watched the tight rope walker guy, Nick Wallenda? Pretty good show, he says he will be back next year and will raise his cable to the top of the tower.

[HCLcoasters]

^ Where would he tie his rope to other then the tower. There need to be 2 points of connection.

[snapp0420]

He had a crane for the other end.

[kitkat12]

What time on wednesday will they make the announcment ?

[Homeboy23]

^ I believe 10 AM EST.

[lankanboy101]

If this ride is "record breaking," what is it going to break. I highly doubt height or speed because it would have to be launch and B&M doesn't build launch coasters except if the sub-contract it and if it were inversions, then where would the race car theme fit in.

[lilj4425]

If this ride is "record breaking," what is it going to break. I highly doubt height or speed because it would have to be launch and B&M doesn't build launch coasters except if the sub-contract it and if it were inversions, then where would the race car theme fit in.

 

Could be the tallest B&M hyper ever built. Either that or just a record breaker for the park and southeast.

[coastermoosh]

If this ride is "record breaking," what is it going to break?

 

Easy. It'll be the --est coaster "...in the Carolinas" or "...in the South."

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^Yea, but aren't the Carolinas considered mid-Atlantic, too? Kinda makes KD's i305 overshadow any B&M built in this region

[kitkat12]

Where in the park is the announcment going to be made?

[Afterburn117]

^Yea, but aren't the Carolinas considered mid-Atlantic, too?

 

Anywhere below the Mason-Dixon line is considered the south.