Jonathan Posted March 27, 2006 Posted March 27, 2006 For the full gallery of photos I took on this day, including high-res versions, go here: http://www.jonathanhawkins.net/photos/thumbnails.php?album=91 Another opening day, another breakfast at IHOP. Phil, Alan, and myself left Raleigh shortly after 5 AM, and made it in time for some pancakes. We were joined at breakfast by Mark, Wes, Max, Chris, and Jay and his family. After breakfast, we headed off to Carowinds, where Scott and Natividad were kind enough to offer a construction tour of Boomerang Bay before the park opened. Jarvis was out and looking sharp, although he didn't bring the tripod along for the day. I managed to find some geese hanging out in the waterpark. We were able to climb to the top of The Abyss slide, where we got some good views of the new portion of what will become Boomerang Bay. Scott notes that when complete, it will in fact not be just a bunch of dirt. Thunder Road was warming up for its 30th anniversary season. Back down we go. Thanks to Scott and Natividad for the tour! After the tour, we made our way to the main parking lot and then into the park. Hmmm.. what should be the first ride of the day? Duh. The Phantom Flyers. Alan enjoyed his ride... As did Wes. Next up: the Dodge'Ems. Phil was excited to drive. I guess the three hour car ride there wasn't enough. Max did his best Tony Stewart impersonation. Our first coaster of the season, fittingly, was Thunder Road. We split our group in half and had some great racing action. Max and Mark bailed out early. Perhaps the cold was just too much for them. Over at Hurler, something is different. The line has been relocated to where the exit is, and the area you see here is being prepared for a new go-cart track. Here is part of our group getting ready to enjoy Hurler, which was running awesome. Some retracking in two of the turns has the coaster running faster than it has in years. Underneath the Flying Super Saturator station, we found an army of trash cans. Jay, Eric, and Alan were excited to ride the Saturator, which was thankfully running without any water on this cold day. Eric and Phil were happy to stay dry. The Ham-On-Rye virtual reality game wasn't operating, but that didn't stop Phil and Alan from playing. Drop Zone was a lot of fun as always. Not quite sure what was going on here. Ricochet is always good for a ride... As is Scooby Doo. I mean, the Fairly Odd Coaster. The finger scanning used last Fall for season passes appears to no longer be in use for people who purchase a pass this season. Phil had to have his picture taken. KO'd. We had to have one more ride on Top Gun before we left. And now, before you leave, here is a picture of Jay with his pants off. Thanks to everyone who came for a great day. It was great seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Thanks to Scott and Natividad for the tour. Here's to a great 2006!
SharkTums Posted March 27, 2006 Posted March 27, 2006 Wow, looks like fun! What slides are they adding to the waterpark?
Jonathan Posted March 27, 2006 Author Posted March 27, 2006 The only new things they are adding are the lagoon and some sort of family slide. Somewhat disappointing, but hopefully it will look nice.
cfc Posted March 27, 2006 Posted March 27, 2006 I checked out Winterfest with some friends last year, and we all liked Carowinds quite a bit (especially Top Gun). I'm hoping to check it out this summer (my PKD pass works there, too) when it's going full bore. Maybe after Boomerang Bay opens--my North Carolina friends are always up for water-park action.
Carnage Posted March 27, 2006 Posted March 27, 2006 Nice TR Jonathan. I still got over a month until my park opens.
DarkStitch626 Posted March 27, 2006 Posted March 27, 2006 Looks awsome. Thank god this is to become my home park in May when I move. I hear from my friend who works at Hurler that Drop Zone got stuck quite a bit during the opening day operation hours a few times low and once at 145ft.
AMartin777 Posted March 29, 2006 Posted March 29, 2006 Looks awsome. Thank god this is to become my home park in May when I move. I hear from my friend who works at Hurler that Drop Zone got stuck quite a bit during the opening day operation hours a few times low and once at 145ft. If it did we sure didn't notice it. We got a ride in on DZ at about 3pm and everything was working fine.
RollerNut Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 Amazing that it was considering who was operating it. *Wink*
l3ite_me1313 Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 YAY! Going to Carowinds next week. Maybe you guys will get MY first TR. Doubt it tho
carowindsman Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 Cool man i am the team leader at Top Gun (guy with the white shirt) give me a holla to al the roller coaster junkies out there
carowindsman Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 Cool man i am the team leader at Top Gun (guy with the white shirt) give me a holla to al the roller coaster junkies out there
TwistedTrack Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 Carowinds is my home park. Hoorah! I dont know why, but I have never been on Thunder Road. I'm also from Raleigh...
RollerNut Posted March 30, 2006 Posted March 30, 2006 I am the guy at Drop Zone that says "We will see you in 40 seconds", "You know what goes up, comes down....3 times as fast.", or "Clear, going up 160 feet". I also work up at Hurler normally at drive. At Hurler just look for the guy checking lapbars backwards on the exit side, that would me. No, I am not showing off when I do it, it is easier for me to do it that way, and the Team Leaders approved of it. Hmm, I must have been at Hurler when Drop Zone got stuck because I didn't see it.
jarmor Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 Jarvis was out and looking sharp, although he didn't bring the tripod along for the day. EEEEEEk!! I forbid you to show anyone else that god awful picture of me again lol lol... Jarvis "usually look much better than that!" Morant
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