Carowinds theme park opens March 28 for 2009 season

March 13, 4:42 PMCarolinas Travel ExaminerPaul McDaniel

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Carowinds (Paul McDaniel)

Carowinds is a 112-acre theme park located on either side of the North Carolina and South Carolina border in Charlotte, NC adjacent to Interstate 77. The park first opened on March 31, 1973. With a dozen roller coasters, as well as many other types of thrill rides, water rides, family rides, Nickelodeon-themed children’s rides, shows, and a water park, Carowinds is the Carolinas’ premier theme park destination (see the park map). Carowinds will open its gates for the 2009 operating season at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 28. 

If, like many people, you are watching your budget more closely this year, you might want to check out Carowinds’ new category of ticket: the WOW Card. The WOW Card is a new type of ticket for the 2009 season. For $59.99, this card allows unlimited admission to the park from March 28 through September 7, 2009. The WOW Card is available on carowinds.com or at the Carowinds main gate. If you plan on going to Carowinds more than two times this season, I would highly recommend the WOW Card option. Regular single-day general admission to Carowinds is $46.99; Two-Day regular admission is $52.99. So, for $13 more than the cost of a single-day admission you can have unlimited admission to the park from March 28 to September 7. A great deal! 

Carowinds admission ticket categories include: Regular single day admission is $46.99; Junior/Senior single day admission is $21.99; Two-day regular admission is $52.99; Twilight admission (valid after 4:00 PM) is $25.99. 

Carowinds also offers season passes. An Adult 2009 VIP Season Pass is $79.99 (includes unlimited admission to Carowinds for the 2009 operating season, free parking, and special VIP pass benefits); while an Adult 2009 Platinum Season Pass is $160 (includes unlimited admission to Carowinds for the 2009 season, free parking at all Cedar Fair parks, and special VIP pass benefits). Discounts on season passes are available for juniors/seniors, and groups of four or more. The special VIP pass benefits include free admission to SCarowinds’ Halloween activities, early entry to Boomerang Bay waterpark, first in line access (enter Carowinds fifteen minutes early), free parking, ten percent discount on in-park dollars, bring a friend days (cost varies from either $9.99 or $19.99 depending on the particular date), twenty percent off cabana rentals at Boomerang Bay water park, ten percent off rental rates at Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort. 

Directions to Carowinds: Take I-77 to Exit #90 in South Carolina, at the North Carolina/South Carolina border. The park is 15 minutes south of Uptown Charlotte, and 15 minutes north of Rock Hill, SC. 

Carowinds is operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Other Cedar Fair parks include: King’s Dominion (Doswell, Virginia), Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio), King’s Island (King’s Mill, Ohio), Michigan’s Adventure (Muskegon, Michigan), Dorney Park (Allentown, Pennsylvania), Valley Fair (Shakopee, Minnesota), Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, Missouri), California’s Great America (Santa Clara, California), Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, California) and Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughan, Ontario).