Caro-Blog

It's That Time of Year Again...

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:34:00 EST

Hello everyone,

Breaking News Alert! On Friday, August 27, 2010, Carowinds will be making a special announcement. For all you fans of fun out there, do we have a puzzle for you! Go to our Facebook fan page as I’ll be posting a new “clue” each day. Use each piece of the puzzle to figure out what the special announcement will be!

Think our social media puzzle is a neat idea? You’re not alone. The Rock Hill Herald thought it was a pretty cool concept too. Check out their story at: http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/08/12/2377056/carowinds-teases-fans-on-facebook.html

On August 11, Carowinds stepped into the national spotlight during an episode of Bert the Conqueror on the Travel Channel. What a great episode! Bert battled both the Intimidator and Afterburn, and screamed the whole time! Who came out on top? You’ll have to check out the episode to see for yourself. Check out www.travelchannel.com for show times.

Speaking of screaming, now that the season is winding down, it’s time to focus on that ghostly time of year, SCarowinds Halloween Haunt time! Are you ready? In an effort to get you in the spooky spirit, we’ve launched our new SCarowinds Halloween Haunt website at www.scarowinds.com. Check it out today. If you like my blog you’ll want to check out what the Caretaker has to say in the SCarowinds obituary. Creepy!

This is my first SCarowinds Halloween Haunt, and I am extremely excited to be part of such a spooktacular event! This year we’re announcing a new maze which I am so excited to tell you all about…but I can’t- at least not yet. But if you want clues as to what the new monstrous maze may hold, follow us on twitter @CarowindsPR for daily clues as to what you can expect.

But Carowinds is more than just SCarowinds, don’t forget we have lots of fun things for the little kids too! This year we’re revamping our Boo Blast event, making it more fun than ever. I’m revved up for the costume parade and mumpkin (teeny-tiny pumpkin) decorating, where you can put your artistic skills to the test! You’ll want to bring your little ones to this very special event. Go to www.carowinds.com/booblast for more information.

For those of you don’t know me, let me tell you Halloween is my favorite time of year, and you’ll see me taking an active roll in getting the park ready for you, whether it’s painting, decorating, or dressing up in costume. If you see me out and about, don’t forget to stop me and say hello!

Until next time, dig your best costume out of your closet and get ready for a fun day at Carowinds!

Sincerely,

A message from our guest blogger, Wormy!

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:16:00 EST

Hey there thrill seekers,

I hope you are all having a great summer! Can you believe it’s almost over? Soon we’ll be trading in our swimsuits for sinister costumes. Are you coming to the 2010 Halloween Haunt? This year marks the tenth anniversary of SCarowinds, and it’s promising to be scarier and more malevolent than ever!

This is my first SCarowinds and to be honest, I’m getting a little freaked out about it. All of my co-workers here in marketing are making it sound pretty scary, and even though I’m a big fan of scary movies-I think there’s a big difference between watching them, and being part of the action. Of course, I’ll continue to update you on the latest and creepiest of this year’s Halloween Haunt!

On the subject of becoming part of the action; If you are a fan of all things frightening, why not become part of the haunt? Auditions for performance roles and interviews for non-performance positions will be conducted during Job Scares held on Thursday and Sundays from 5:00-8:00PM in the Carowinds Employment Office. But you’d better hurry, because positions are filling fast! All applicants should apply online prior to their audition at www.scarowinds.com.

Applicants must be 16 years of age or older. Acting experience in not necessary for all positions, but the ability to scare, haunt and frighten is a must.

Turning the conversation from monsters to movies-On July 24, 2010, Carowinds held its second annual Coaster Stock event. Coaster enthusiasts from all over the country descended upon the thrill capital of the Southeast for a full day of fun. During the evening we held our first Coaster Stock video competition. It was a tough decision choosing just one winner, but we did, and I asked them to be a guest blog here to talk about their video and to showcase it for the world to see!

So, without further adieu….here’s Wormy!

So Bryn asked me to be a guest on the Caro-Blog and tell you a little about the submission I made to the CoasterStock video competition. Never Caro-Blogged before, hope it doesn't hurt.

When the park opened in the spring of 2009, it became clear that the log flume formerly known as Wild Thornberrys River Adventure was being removed in order to make room for a future park attraction(s). This was months before the park made any official announcement on what was to come, but it wasn't long before many of us over on carowindsconnection.com were heading out to the park to snap pictures of the project's progress. With a wooden fence in the way, the best way to do this was to hitch a ride up the Carolina Skytower, or take a walk over by the season pass processing center. Or stroll through the parking lot to see what was being done behind the mysterious chain link fence. As the summer went by, and once the dirt had cleared, the telltale signs of coaster construction began appearing - utility flags, drainage equipment, and markers for potential footer placement. Soon, out went the bulldozers and in came the diggers, the rebar, and the cement trucks.

One day in August, an unannounced but highly anticipated beautiful piece of red B&M coaster track appeared in the parking lot, raising the excitement level to a fervor for those following along. Soon after, Carowinds made the official announcement and ended years of speculation - new for 2010: Intimidator, the tallest, longest, and fastest rollercoaster in the Southeast. More track and supports began to arrive, and the station house and the first several pieces of track began to go "vertical".

Then, one very tall crane arrived. Then another, and yet another. With baited breath, everyone kept their eyes on the newly installed webcam overlooking the construction site, and I took up position at the outlet mall across the street from the park, where there was a clear view of what was to come. Before long it became part of my almost daily routine when passing by to capture the progress.

After the park closed in the fall and on into the winter, Intimidator continued to rise. Construction ended well ahead of schedule on December 21, an early Christmas present to all its fans. The cranes were packed up and driven off, the final touches were made inside the park, and the coaster completed its test runs. Intimidator in its inaugural season has been a great success.

All that said here's my submission: a collection of my photographs (except for one) from four seasons of coaster site-prep and construction set to a score as majestic as the coaster itself. Believe me when I say the entire process was a labor of love, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Thanks to Bryn for letting me blabber on, thanks to all the fellow shutterbugs, and a big thank you to Carowinds for Intimidator!

Wormy

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:18:00 EST

Dear Fellow Thrill Seekers,

Where is the summer going? How can it be the middle of July already? Have you been to Carowinds yet this summer? If so, what was the best thing about your visit? Was it the coasters, the food, the water park? I want to know.

We have so much going on this year! Between Intimidator, PEANUTS Party in the Plaza, and Rock Band Live, this place is always hopping. Speaking of Rock Band Live, did you see the Fox Charlotte live broadcast with the cast? Check it out!
http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/top-stories/97468024.html

On the subject of television, as a former reporter, I am always on the lookout for cool information about the park to share with you. Today, I was chatting with Jill and David in landscaping, and they were telling me that each year they grow more than 38,000 flowers for the park! Can you say, “green thumb”? Feel that sun? You know how hot it gets here in the hot Carolina summer, and it takes more than 2,000 gallons of well water EACH DAY to keep everything green. Yowza! Jill and David start planning in August of the previous year to determine what they’ll plant in the park the following season! A big thank you to Jill, David, and the rest of the landscaping department for making our park look amazing!

Need another reason to visit Carowinds? Grab your sombrero on July 25, from noon to 7PM, as we celebrate the second annual Fiesta Latina celebration in conjunction with Norsan Media Group. You’ll get the chance to sample authentic cuisine, listen to area musicians, and learn about the growing Latino community during this day-long family friendly event.

After you stuff yourself, how about helping others? Join Carowinds and CBS Radio Charlotte on Saturday, July 31 from 10am-4pm for a canned food drive to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Guests bringing 4 or more non-perishable canned food items will receive $15 off a full-price Regular Single Day admission!

As July speeds by, it’s time to look at what’s going on in August. We have lots of fun and exciting things going on. On August 7, 2010 Snoopy will celebrate his 60th birthday here at Carowinds. To help Snoopy, and his canine compadre’s, we’re teaming up with Mecklenburg County Care and Control for a beagle birthday bash! Bring Snoopy a birthday present and get a discount at the door! Visit our events tab for more information.

Now that you’ve marked all that down on your fridge calendars, here’s another question for you. Do you have a behind the scenes question you’ve always wanted to ask? Well ask away, fellow fans of fun, because I want to sleuth my way to an answer.

Until next time,

It's officially summer!

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:31:00 EST

Hey Thrill Seekers,

It’s officially summer, and you know what that means? It’s time to grab your swimsuit and your friends and head to Boomerang Bay! Every morning there are dozens (really, dozens) of people waiting at the gate, looking to snag the best chaise lounge in the park! Have you checked out our really “cool” water park yet? You may just see me soaking up the sun! If you do, don’t hesitate to come out and say, hello!

In the next few weeks, there are several really awesome events going on at the park that you’ll want to check out:

Beginning July 1st, Rock Band Live will take the stage at the Carowinds Theater! Come and be discovered at this amazing show! It’s only going on for a limited time, so make sure you check it out soon! Want to be part of the action and get a chance to take the stage during one of the shows? Show us what you got! Go to the Carowinds Facebook page to learn more about this “rockin’” show and how you can score free tickets and win a FREE Rock Band game!

The thrill capital of the Southeast is once again honoring our military men and women during our Military Appreciation Days on July 4th and 5th. All active and retired military get in FREE (you must show valid military ID) and their family members get in at a reduced rate! And don’t forget, the celebration takes to the sky following the day’s events with our Night of Fire! Visit www.carwoinds.com for more information.

The warmer weather also means it’s the start of coaster enthusiast season! As I’m still new to all the coaster fan groups, I’ve been both amazed and honored that coaster enthusiasts from all over the world have been visiting Carowinds to try out the new Intimidator! If you think you traveled a long way to visit the park, these guys traveled from all over Europe to test out the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the Southeast! Check out a photo of the group on our facebook page!

This year I am in charge of our Coaster Stock event at the park! Besides the standard ERT and Q&A sessions, we are doing something very special; a video competition!

Check out our events page at http://www.carowinds.com/public/visit/schedule/events.cfm to find out how you can be a part of this “intimidating” event!

The beginning of summer also signals the start of another event; SCarowinds! It may be June, but the Army of Darkness is already meeting under the cloak of secrecy to find new and better ways to scare you!

This year marks the 10th season of the SCarowinds Halloween Haunt, and if you are brave enough to visit the park when the sun goes down, be prepared to scream!

Are you ready to join the army of darkness? You still can!
Please go to http://www.carowinds.com/public/jobs/scarowinds.cfm to find out how you can be a part of this years SCarowinds haunt!

See you at the park,

Behind the scenes of Intimidator!

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:05:00 EST

Hello all you Carowinds fans,

Wow, it’s been a month since our Intimidator commercial! Can you believe it?

Starting on May 31 Carowinds went to full time operation! It’s strange to be walking around the park on a Tuesday and see Boomerang Bay full of people. It makes me want to throw on my swimsuit and bask in the sun!

Some of you may not know about some of the cool changes we made to our water park this year, including some pretty awesome upgrades in the cabanas! Now, not only can you cool off in style, but you can watch television too!

Check out this awesome spot Wilson from Fox New Rising did on the new upgrades!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxcharlotte.com%2Frising%2Fwilsons-world%2F95012809.html&h=38d8b

The technological upgrades aren’t the only changes we made to the park. Take a look around Bondi Beach and you’ll spot an elephant and an alligator. While these animals might be new to the waterpark, they aren’t strangers to the park; do you know where they were before getting their new home?

We have so many (really, really cool) things going on around the park! During the Memorial Day weekend we saluted our service men and women with free admission to the park. But that’s not all-the Rock Hill American Legion Post 34 came to the park and took part in a very moving ceremony.
Check out WBTV’s video of the ceremony.

If you missed the ceremony, don’t worry, we’ll be having the American Legion out again (with the same free admission to military personnel with a valid ID) during the 4th of July weekend.

Calling all you rock stars! If you like playing Rock Band, you’ll want to come to Carowinds between June 28 and July 11 to see Rock Band Live! The show combines the high-energy game play action of the popular Rock Band video games with talented live singers from all over the country! So, grab your guitar, your microphone, and your friends for a rockin’ good time!

By now you know Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have taken up residence here at the thrill capital of the Southeast. And while you might know Snoopy to be one cool canine…did you know he knows how to ice skate? Check out America’s favorite Beagle as he dons his ice skates in a spectacular ice show starting June 12th!

Check out our website http://www.carowinds.com/public/park/shows/index.cfm for more information on all of our exciting shows!

A few weeks ago, I asked our facebook fans (are you a fan? If not, shame on you! You are missing out on great deals and the latest Carowinds news) to tell us what they wanted the latest video blog topic to be. The majority wanted a behind the scenes look at Intimidator. So…all you coaster enthusiasts get ready because the behind the scenes look of the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in the Southeast is just as exciting as the ride itself!

So, without further adieu…Gentlemen (and ladies) START YOUR ENGINES!

See you all here soon,

Can you believe I've been here a month already?

Mon, 03 May 2010 12:25:00 EST

Greetings Fellow Fans of Fun,

My first month here at Carowinds has flown by! Between media day, opening day, and learning my way around the park (I’ve only gotten lost twice…ok, three times!) we’ve been pretty busy!

One of my favorite things in the park (besides the new Intimidator®) is Planet Snoopy! But Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang don’t stay in Carowinds-they’re on the road a lot! This past month I had the chance to escort Snoopy in the Earth Day Parade in Gastonia. Check out pictures of the world’s most famous beagle on our Facebook page! Not a fan yet? Make sure you sign up to get the latest news, and special ticket pricing!

This past week we filmed the new Intimidator® commercial! Do you know how hard it is to film something at 80+ miles and hour? Fortunately we had a great film crew and more than a hundred fabulous models who braved the rain and stuck it out until the end. It took a long time, but I know it will be a great commercial! You’ll be able to check it out in just a few weeks! Can’t wait that long? Have no fear-here’s a behind the scenes look at the commercial shoot! I hope you enjoy it!

Sincerely,

Hello!

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:11:00 EST

Greetings from the thrill capital of the Southeast! My name is Bryn Hough and I wanted to introduce myself to you this month as I am brand new to the park!

I am the new Public Relations Manager here at Carowinds, and I have the best job in the world-I get to interact with you; our guest!

Besides learning everyone’s name at the park, (thank goodness we wear nametags), I also get to learn all the rides, attractions, and eateries in the park and where they’re located! While this might seem like an easy task, let me assure you it’s not! I’ve already burned through two pairs of shoes and I’ve been here less than a month!

Have you ridden “Intimidator” yet? I have! The experience of going up to 80 miles per hour is something everyone should experience- after all, it’s the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster in the Southeast! Larry Sprinkle from WCNC made me ride “Intmidator” with him and we had a blast! Check out his amazing story: http://www.wcnc.com/video/featured-videos/Larry-rides-the-INTIMIDATOR-89257967.html

Planet Snoopy is one of my favorite parts of the park! Where else can you find 12-acres of rides that take you up and down or round and round? Plus, mom and dad can ride, too. Of course, hanging out with everyone’s favorite beagle is another perk of the job! Have you checked out Planet Snoopy yet?

So join me as I learn my way around Carowinds, and learn some “park secrets” that I’ll pass along to you.

Thank you for reading, and I hope to meet you soon,

Bryn

2010--The Year of the Coaster...and the kiddie rides...and historical anniversaries...This is a Big Year

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST

I’ve found it difficult to stumble around the Intimidator™ and Planet Snoopy area lately. Decked in my bright orange hard hat and trekking throughout the park the past week, I’ve noticed that there is much more going on at Carowinds right now than just building a $23 million scream machine. All around the construction zone for the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster in the Southeast and stretching all of the way to the newly themed children’s section, Planet Snoopy, the asphalt has been ripped up and dug into. There are holes and gravel and bricks and machines I have never seen--some that are ran by remote control! My inquiring mind wanted to know…what on earth are they doing? To my delight I discover that one of our projects this year is removing a large portion of the asphalt in the park and replacing it with pavers, the small bricks you oftentimes see in historic downtown roads. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps cool down the midways and prevent heat-related illnesses. This is a project that has begun this off-season and will continue over the course of several years until all of the asphalt is replaced!

It gets better. I continue zipping around in the golf cart, passing a beautifully repainted and re-themed Planet Snoopy (it looks almost magical), until I reach the bottom of the park in the Carolina Boardwalk area. Carolina Cyclone’s facelift was no secret, but the new colors are breathtaking! It was difficult for me to picture a Cyclone that would be blue, yellow, and orange. The shade of blue now having been applied is a very creamy color with a hint of purple and the yellow is just now being added! A very bright yellow—I might add! The point is Carolina Cyclone looks the best it has ever looked! Happy 30 years of flipping riders upside down four times!

I continue whizzing about to the Carolina RFD area when I smell something. Mulch is being laid everywhere. I imagine that strolling through the park during a busy Saturday one doesn’t typically notice things like mulch or greenery. But when it has just been laid in countless of planters after the cold winter of dullness subsides--one takes notice. It was interesting to discover that 90 percent of all the greenery in the park is grown from seed in our own Carowinds greenhouse. Moreover, 100 percent of the greenery is maintained by the landscaping staff. It takes a really big green thumb to maintain 122-acres of planters, trees, bushes, floral arrangements, and potted plants placed on midways, restaurants, and between rides and roller coasters.

Long story short, walking through the park during the off-season is sometimes more interesting than when the rides are up and running and crowds fill the queues. This is how it all happens, and sometimes our busiest time of year is when we are preparing for a new season of thrills. Our goal is excellence for the guest and for 2010 we hope you notice!

Welcome to the NEW! Carowinds.com

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:26:00 EST

Surprise! 2010 rushes into Carowinds this year like a cyclone…or like a racecar…or like a pack of exuberant kids and their favorite dog! The Park not only begins the 2010 season kick off with a 30-year old coaster make-over for the Carolina Cyclone, a massive new roller coaster, Intimidator™, and a newly rethemed kids section, Planet Snoopy, but we have also made quite a large attempt to provide you with all of the information you need to make your visit at the Park the best it can be—by launching a brand new interactive website filled with photos, videos, descriptions, blogs, maps, and mobile applications—the NEW Carowinds.com. Yes, ladies and gents, that big announcement you were waiting for…was for our spectacular new website! Surf around and make yourself at home and we’re sure you’ll find something to entertain you, inform you, or just give you something to look at.

Speeding into Carowinds for our 2010 season is the Park’s largest capital investment ever made in our 38 year history; Intimidator™ will debut on March 27 as the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the Southeast. Inspired by racing legend Dale Earnhardt., Intimidator™ is the Park’s 13th roller coaster and will include a Winner’s Circle, Victory Lane, and Wall of Fame Tribute to Dale Earnhardt. You won’t want to miss this record breaking, history making scream machine when the green flag drops on opening day!

For 2010, the Park will welcome a new crew to town! Join us in welcoming Snoopy and the PEANUTS gang as Carowinds debuts its newly re-themed "out of this world" 12-acre children's area featuring America's most beloved beagle.

Not only are we introducing a new roller coaster, reinventing an old section, but we are celebrating a staple attraction’s birthday! This year, Carolina Cyclone, the quadri-looping steel scream machine, will celebrate 30 years of flipping riders through two loops and a double corkscrew! When it opened in March of 1980, Carolina Cyclone was the first roller coaster in the world to take riders upside down four times, so to celebrate, we’ve given the attraction a new facelift, complete with three new colors—blue, red, and orange.

So, as you can see, Caro!Fans, 2010 is not only the “Year of the Coaster” for the southern bell of amusement parks, it is also a year of new attractions, remembering old favorites, and honoring a legend. The time is now to purchase your season pass to enjoy the thrills all summer long!

Ride On, Ride Warriors!