In celebrating “50 years of Family Fun at Carowinds,” we wanted to take a deep dive down the rabbit hole of the park’s kids-centric land, which has varied in size and scope over the years. For the sake of a...
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50 Years of Family Fun at Carowinds – Part 1: The Taft Broadcasting Years (1975-1992)
On March 31, 1973, Carowinds opened its gates to guests for the first time. Debuting with 17 rides, the park celebrated the history of the Carolinas across seven themed lands that straddled the state line. What you may not realize...
Continue reading...Top 10 Most-Missed Coasters from the 1970s
The 1970s were a pivotal time period for roller coasters. Designers pushed the envelope as steel became a more popular track material. Still, the classic wooden coaster remained a staple, with many opening across the country. According to RCDB, roughly...
Continue reading...20 Years of Fear: A History of Halloween at Kings Dominion
This post first appeared on the KD Blog. Your pulse rate soars to 200 beats per minute, and you’re too terrified to open your eyes. Five All New Worlds of Horror, including the Bloodbath, Mummy’s Revenge and Elvira’s Superstition, plus...
Continue reading...New Six Flags Over Texas Museum Commemorates Park’s 60th Anniversary
60 years of thrills, music, foods, screams, shows, culture, and unforgettable memories; and it’s finally on display. From Saturday, July 31st until Thursday, August 5th, the museum will be displaying a “retrospective presentation” (both physical and digital) of the park’s...
Continue reading...A New Take on the Old Mill
In a very odd year for amusement parks and openings, the hype for new attractions has sort of dwindled with the times. We have seen new-for-2020 attractions put on hold or even become new-for-2021 attractions. Some rides we have seen...
Continue reading...How Every Modern Wooden Roller Coaster Traces Back to One Company
For the last 20 or so years, there have been two primary wooden roller coaster maker: Great Coasters International and the Gravity Group. Custom Coasters International dominated the wooden coaster market in the 1990s. Before CCI, names like Dinn and...
Continue reading...Geauga Lake: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of the World’s Largest Amusement Park
The world of regional amusement parks is one that rarely sees a story as captivating or as tragic as that of Geauga Lake amusement park. Located in Aurora, Ohio, Geauga Lake saw more owners, operators and went through more name...
Continue reading...What’s Left of Coney Island? Part 2: Rust and Relaxation
Note: This is the second part of a two-part series contrasting Coney Island’s Golden Age and its present-day state. You can read the first part here. Part II: Rust & Relaxation A piece of advice: if you visit Coney Island,...
Continue reading...What’s Left of Coney Island? Part 1: The Golden Age
Why Coney Island? Everyone knows the name Coney Island. It’s one of those places, like Hollywood or Gettysburg, that you probably can’t remember hearing about for the first time. It’s just part of American culture, known as the birthplace of...
Continue reading...Former Libertyland 1923 Dentzel Carousel Reopens in Memphis
On a bright Saturday morning in early December 2017, the Children’s Museum of Memphis celebrated the rebirth of the 1923 (or 1909 by some accounts) Dentzel Grand Carousel. The ornate attraction operated for many years at Libertyland until the amusement...
Continue reading...National Roller Coaster Museum Planning Expansion
The National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) is fundraising to double the size of its archive facility in Texas in honor of its late founding board member Mark Moore, who died last year. The expansion would also include a...
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