Thursday, March 28, 2024

Two New Slides Open at Carowinds Marking First Phase of Multi-Year Capital Investment Plan

[quote]Cedar Fair noted the growth in Charlotte and across the Carolinas, and saw an opportunity to grow our park as well.” — Bart Kinzel, Carowinds VP and General Manager[/quote]

Charlotte, NC, USA /PRNewswire/ — Carowinds, “Thrill Capital of the Southeast”, is excited to have opened two new water slides in their waterpark Boomerang Bay on Friday June 20.  The new slides stand over 4 stories high and add 600+feet of sliding fun, bringing new thrills and splashes to the popular water park.

They offer two distinctively different rides unique to Boomerang Bay.

Surfer’s Swell travels a total of 263 feet; riders plunge downward through a tunnel then swoop up onto an angled wall that mimics the sensation of catching an ocean wave.  Guests then gracefully enter a final tunnel for a fun ‘splash landing’ into a pool at the bottom of this 45 foot tall experience.  Dorsal Fin Drop offers 351 feet of slide and takes riders on the whirl of a lifetime as they gain speed in a curved-tunnel that blasts them into a bowl.  Like a shark circling its prey, guests spin and swirl before sliding into the corkscrew exit.

The slides opened just in time for the first official day of summer and are the first phase of a multi-year, multi-million dollar, capital investment plan at the park initiated by its parent company Cedar Fair.  “There are a lot of plans in the works to better serve our guests across all areas from infrastructure to new rides, it’s an exciting time,” says Bart Kinzel, Carowinds VP and General Manager.

The new slides will be the premier experience inside Boomerang Bay, the waterpark will now have 2 wave pools, 13 waterslides, and 2 kiddie splash pools with over 2 million gallons of water to help visitors have fun during the areas hot Carolina summers.  Riders will need to be 48″ in bare feet in order to slide down, each rider will slide down on a single rider inner tube.

A group of special kids from the University City YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, got to enjoy the experience first.  When the slides were announced in September 2013 they didn’t know how to swim, and never could have imagined themselves swooshing down the exciting twists and curves of Carowinds new slides.  After 9 months of weekly lessons sponsored by Carowinds the kids became the honorary first riders down Dorsal Fin Drop and Surfer’s Swell.

“We are so grateful to Carowinds for providing the opportunity for these 15 children to learn to swim,” says Matt Fitzwater, University City YMCA Executive Director. “This is not just a fun activity but a life-saving skill. This group represents the confidence and safety that comes with swim lessons.”

www.carowinds.com.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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