With Carowinds announcing that they’re making a “Splash” this week, (presumably in Camp Snoopy?), it sent us down the rabbit hole of thinking about water rides of the park’s past. Despite not having any true “water rides” on the dry side of the park since 2019, there is a long history of guests being able to make a few big splashes of their own at the place where the Carolinas Come Together, even dating back to the park’s opening year in 1973.
Here’s a quick look at five now-shuttered water rides from Carowinds’ past.
Powder Keg Log Flume (1973-2009)
An original park attraction, Carowinds’ Powder Keg Log Flume featured double barrel log vehicles, and featured more than 1,600′ of track. The Arrow Dynamics-designed attraction also featured a 44′ drop and a midcourse “spillway drop.” In 2003, it was rethemed to the Wild Thornberry’s River Adventure, and featured characters from the Nickelodeon cartoon. It was demolished following the 2009 season to make way for the new-for-2010 Intimidator roller coaster, now known as Thunder Striker.
Rip Roarin’ Rapids (1982-2019)
The Intamin-designed Rip Roarin’ Rapids opened at Carowinds in 1982, and featured six-seater rafts. The 2,100′ long man made river sat on more than four acres of land, and featured separate load and unload stations rather than a rotating platform. At its peak the ride would circulate more than 36,000 gallons of water per minute. It quietly closed during the 2019 offseason, and its queue was utilized for a SCarowinds maze in 2021. Currently, a bar has been set up in the park to block guests from accessing the ride’s entrance.
Bamm Bamm’s Boat Float (1987-2002)
A miniature river raft ride, Bamm Bamm’s Boat Float opened in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera in 1987. The 248′ long boat chute that actually didn’t feature any rapids like its cross-park “big brother” Rip Roarin’ Rapids, it was the perfect introductory water ride for Carowinds’ younger guests, and was later renamed Wally Gator’s Tube Shoot before closing for good in 2002, along with Elroy’s Space Station. The family friendly water ride remained on the Carowinds park map, albeit unlabeled, until 2005, when Nickelodeon Central opened at the park.
White Water Falls (1988-2016)
The 45′ tall White Water Falls was a simple “Shoot the Chutes” attraction manufactured by Hopkins Manufacturing. Opening in 1988, the ride replaced the Hillbilly Jalopies, but kept the same entrance. Guests could get soaked either on the ride – in the ride vehicle – or off the ride, by way of an elevated “Splash Zone” viewing area – with an enormous splash created when the boat made its way down the chute. In 2016, White Water Falls was removed to make way for Copperhead Strike and Blue Ridge Junction.
Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator (2000-2008)
Bordering Carowinds’ water park, then known as Waterworks, the Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator, opened on April 1, 2000 and was the first roller coaster to feature interactive water features (and one of only two in the world!). Not only were there multiple water elements on the ground and around the coaster track, riders had the opportunity to release four-gallon “flash floods” onto unsuspecting guests below as each ride vehicle was refilled with water during each loading cycle. There were eight unique water elements associated with the Flying Super Saturator – Spray Stations, Water Cannons, Geysers, Water Curtains, Giant Hose Nozzles, Gondola Blasters, Pistons Blasters, and Pump Blasters. It closed in 2008 to make way for Carolina Cobra (now known as Flying Cobras)
For a more in depth read on the Flying Super Saturator, be sure to check out this feature from our “20 in 2020” series.
With Carowinds making a “splash” with their August 7 announcement, we wonder if there will be a new attraction that can be added to this list in the future!
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