CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carowinds theme park shows no signs of slowing down during its multi-year, $50 million expansion.
In mid-August, the theme park bulldozed its classic Thunder Road roller coaster to make room for expansion. On Thursday, reporters watched Carowinds executives unveil a plan to revamp the entire water park.
The former Boomerang Bay will be redone as Carolina Harbor and include some big upgrades.
- PRESS PLAY: Watch the waterpark announcement at Carowinds:
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Several Carowinds fans were invited to the announcement as VIP guests. Sandra Bennett said she was impressed with the future of the park.
"It’s going to be wonderful. We bring our grandkids all the time, and they can enjoy it too," she said.
The expansion features a new wave pool, a much bigger area for young children, and the centerpiece, something called Blackbeard's Revenge, which features a six-story tower with big slides, and one where the floor drops out from under you.
The park will also add a Starbucks, more restaurants and a new acrobatics show.
Some local business leaders on hand said the expansion is about more than just adding more thrills.
Rob Youngblood is with the York County Chamber of Commerce.
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"It’s investment in the community and investment in jobs and economic development. That's what's happening here," he said.
Carowinds doesn't release attendance figures, but business leaders told Channel 9 those numbers were up significantly since the launch of the Fury 325 coaster this season.
Carowinds General Manager Mike Fehnel said the coaster has given more than a million rides since its debut in March.
Jeff Edge with the Charlotte Chamber said an announcement like the water park expansion means he can pitch Charlotte to outsiders with even more enthusiasm.
"For people like me who try to sell Charlotte, try to recruit new companies to Charlotte, this is gone be a huge enhancement to our ability to sell Charlotte," Edge said.
Carowinds officials ended the announcement with a tease, promoting another new attraction, that won't be unveiled until October.
List of new attractions:
- Pirate's Plank: Nearly vertical free fall slide where the floor drops out from underneath the guest
- Cannonball Drop: An enclosed chute with four intense 360-degree turns
- Captain's Curse: A series of intense drops and turns
- Seaside Splashworks: A multilevel children's water spray ground, which includes a giant 423-gallon tipping bucket
- Kiddy Hawk Cove, Myrtle Turtle Beach: Toddler water playgrounds with spraying water jets
- Surf Club Harbor will be the newest wave pool, creating up to 6-foot waves in 12 different wave patterns, mimicking the high surf of the Atlantic Ocean
- Sand volleyball courts
- Over 40 new cabanas and 1,100 lounging chairs will be added
- Current family changing areas will be upgraded, as well as new restroom facilities and a bath house
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