Carowinds marks its 50th anniversary on March 31, 2023, and will celebrate the milestone with new attractions and entertainment, décor, specialty treats and more throughout the year, with the festivities beginning this weekend. On March 31, 1973, Carowinds officially opened to 6,000 guests amid great fanfare. The grand opening marked the culmination of years of formulation, planning and development by founder E. Pat Hall, a Charlotte businessman. Built at an estimated cost of $70 million, Carowinds was named for a combination of the surrounding Carolinas and the winds that blew across the two states. The park included original attractions such as Carolina Goldrusher, Carolina Skytower, Snoopy’s Junction and The Scrambler – all still in operation today. Five decades later, guests will experience the iconic border between North Carolina and South Carolina anew when Carowinds celebrates this year.
As the park celebrates “50 years of Carolina fun” in 2023, guests will find plenty of new rides and attractions with the opening of Aeronautica Landing on Friday, April 7. Guests will always find something fun going on at Carowinds during its year-round operation with a lineup of special seasonal events including Grand Carnivale, The Great Pumpkin Fest, SCarowinds, and WinterFest.
March 31 marks the beginning of “50 years of Carolina fun,” a limited-time special event replete with exciting entertainment, enhanced food and beverage offerings, nighttime spectaculars, and family-friendly celebratory experiences for guests. This weekend, Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2, will kick off the 50th anniversary festivities.
- Friday, March 31: Ticket Plaza and Celebration Plaza debut special 50th anniversary décor, Midway Memories (Stateline Designs), a retail location, and Peanuts Gallery (located in Camp Theater) open
- Saturday, April 1: Midway Memory Makers pop-up appearances, Bands In Residence Performances at Harmony Hall Patio from Blaze The City and at Blue Ridge Junction Stage from Hot Sauce, and at 9:30 p.m. ET Celebration Fireworks, a 10 minute firework show
- Sunday, April 2: A Kid Again, Central Carolinas Chapter, Birthday Bash
About Carowinds
Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park located on the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, is home to top-rated roller coasters, including Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster, as well as more than 60 rides, attractions, and live stage shows. Carolina Harbor, a 26-acre water park, features a variety of water slides, wave pools, large play structures and a three-acre children’s play area. Carowinds Camp Wilderness and SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Carowinds are guest accommodations located on-site. For information on attractions and accommodations at Carowinds, visit www.carowinds.com or call 704.588.2600.