Carowinds, Amusement park in Charlotte, United States
Carowinds is an amusement park in Fort Mill and Charlotte, straddling the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. The grounds include roller coasters of different speeds, water rides, and areas for families with younger children.
The park opened in spring 1973 after businessman Earl Patterson Hall spent several years working on the planning. Since then, the grounds have expanded multiple times, with new zones and additional rides for different age groups.
The name combines the Carolinas with the word winds, reflecting the location between two states. Visitors notice references to the border throughout the park, and some attractions play with the theme of crossing between neighboring territories.
The season typically runs from March through fall, with additional openings during the winter holidays. Visiting on weekdays helps avoid larger crowds and shorter wait times at popular rides.
A real border line runs through the middle of the grounds, marking the transition between the two states. Some visitors use this marker for a photo where they symbolically stand in both states at once.
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