Carowinds makes ‘tough decisions’ to end 3 rides to make way for new attractions
Three long-time rides at Carowinds are going away, as the theme park plans for new attractions.
Scream Weaver, Nighthawk and Drop Tower will be retired, according to the amusement park split between Fort Mill and Charlotte.
Scream Weaver dates back to the earliest days at Carowinds. The ride opened in 1979, but moved to its current location in 1993. Riders in pods rotate both horizontally and, once the large central arm begins to lift, vertically.
Nighthawk is a steel roller coaster that opened in 2004 after operating for four years at a California park. Riders are seating in a way that simulates flying.
And Drop Tower opened in 1996. Riders are lifted slowly before they’re released for a 174-foot drop at up to 56 miles per hour.
A notice on the Carowinds website detailed the decisions. It reads: “As we look toward the future, we have to make some tough decisions. To move forward and evolve sometimes we must step away from some attractions from our past.
“We know that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate your passion,” the park stated. “These changes are an important part of our growth and underscore our commitment to elevating the park experience.”
.jpg "Nighthawk (2).jpg")
What’s next for Carowinds
Several areas of the park are under construction for new attractions.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp., Carowinds’ parent company, recently announced more than $1 billion of new investment for its 42 theme parks in the next two years. Carowinds is one of nine parks across North America listed as getting upgrades for the 2026 season.
Next year, the Camp Snoopy children’s area at Carowinds will get a new launch roller coaster and a raft ride. There also will be splash play zones. The park announced those additions this summer and they’re under construction now.
For 2026, Carowinds will add what it calls a “record-breaking water ride.” More details will come next summer, according to the park.
Six Flags will spend between $500 million and $525 million next year, and again in 2026, the company said. More than $80 million of that total will be food and beverage upgrades including new restaurants and menu items across various parks, according to Six Flags.
Carowinds spans about 400 acres and is split by the South Carolina and North Carolina state line.
This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 3:11 PM with the headline "Carowinds makes ‘tough decisions’ to end 3 rides to make way for new attractions."
