Carowinds adds new 50th anniversary flight theme attractions with Aeronautica Landing
Carowinds looks to soar into its 50th anniversary with a new flight-themed addition.
Aeronautica Landing is under construction at the former Crossroads part of the park. Aeronautica Landing is a tribute to the spirit of invention, exploration and aviation focused on both the history and future of flight, according to a Thursday morning release from the theme park.
The change involves five new themed attractions that will open for the 2023.
One existing ride will be rethemed.
The move follows similar upgrades in recent years including County Fair in 2017 and Blue Ridge Junction in 2019.
Aeronautica Landing also will have two new dining venues, and and upgraded one. A new restaurant will offer a craft beer bar and patio. A game zone with new games is planned, plus retheming of the basketball challenge game.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to provide immersive experiences for our guests that showcase the rich history and heritage of the Carolinas, while showcasing the rich legacy and original themes of Carowinds,” Carowinds vice president and general manager Manny Gonzalez said in the release. “
Renderings of the new attractions offer some details. One shows Air Racers, where plane style seats appear to rise and drop as they spin. There’s also Air Walker, Gear Spin, Gyro Force and Hover and Dodge. Gear spin appears to rotate riders vertically on what looks line an engine. Gyro Force appears to be a mostly horizontal, bench seat style spinner. Hover and Dodge looks like a modernized bumper car setup.
The release Thursday morning didn’t mention the new attractions by name, but did link to the renderings.
Other special events and attractions will coincide with the 50th anniversary year.
Carowinds announced the new additions Thursday morning. They come after the park closed four attractions Aug. 1 in the Crossroads area. The Crossroads County Fair Park space opened in 1979. It’s in the same part of the park where the historic Thunder Road roller coaster opened in 1976.
The rides that closed this month are Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena, bumper car space Dodgem, swinging ship Southern Star and swing ride Yo-Yo.
The bumper cars, formerly Autodrome and PT Bumper’s Dodgem, dates back to 1979. Southern Star, for years known as Frenzoid, goes back to 1986. Yo-Yo was made in 1981 but came to Carowinds in 2008 from a park in Ohio. The action theater that opened in Carowinds in 1993 and had Days of Thunder and other attractions, because Plants vs. Zombies in 2016.
Carowinds typically adds a new feature or two each year, ranging in recent years from new shows or theme events like Grand Carnivale last year or State Line Celebration food tastings this spring, to new roller coasters like Copperhead Strike in 2019.
Carowinds is a 400-acre theme park on the North Carolina-South Carolina border, in both Charlotte and Fort Mill. The park has more than 60 rides, attractions and stage shows plus a 26-acre water park.
This story was originally published August 11, 2022 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Carowinds adds new 50th anniversary flight theme attractions with Aeronautica Landing."
