Carowinds 11th Roller Coaster To Highlight Park's 30th Anniversary

Charlotte, NC -- Paramount's Carowinds announced today plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2002 with a new family attraction and a newly themed area that will bring the Carolina beaches to life in the park.

When the 105-acre water and theme park opens spring 2002, Paramount's Carowinds will debut its 11th roller coaster, Ricochet. Ricochet is a unique, fast track roller coaster packed with tight hairpin turns, abrupt twists, breathtaking bumps and insane turnarounds. Guests will drop, twist, bank and curl through a series of six, 180-degree curves and 11, 90-degree curves.

Ricochet is designed to provide every rider with the feeling of sitting in the front car as each four-seat vehicle takes thrill seekers on a wild adventure. The unique design of the rollercoaster also makes it an ideal attraction for parents and their children to enjoy together.

Fast track coasters got their start in the 1950's as "Wild Mouse" coasters and have evolved into today's modern mechanical marvels. The basic premise of the "Wild Mouse" remains-compact coaster design with single cars careening high above the ground through tight turns and abrupt drops. But, more speed and bigger thrills give it 21st century fun.

Ricochet was designed and built by Heinrich Mack GMBH & Company from Waldkirch, Germany. Mack is recognized worldwide as a leader in roller coaster design. The company was founded by Mr. Paul Mack in 1780 and began manufacturing amusement rides in 1920.

Ricochet will anchor a newly themed Carolina Boardwalk area in the park. Whether guests are regular visitors to the Outer Banks, the Grand Strand or any of the other beaches in the Carolinas, the new Carolina Boardwalk area is sure to invoke memories of lazy summer days spent by the shore. The area will feature new games, merchandise and food locations reflecting some of the best known themes along the Carolina coast including lighthouses, boats, fishing and seafood. Guests also will notice landscaping reminiscent of the Carolina coast, including sea oats and coastal grasses, and can snap a photograph at one of several life-size picture postcard opportunities. Carolina Boardwalk will replace the area currently known as Blue Ridge Junction.

"Paramount's Carowinds is committed to enhancing the guest experience by adding to and evolving the park experience each year," said Paramount's Carowinds General Manager Watt Burris. "In 2001, we added three new attractions and completely redeveloped the entry plaza. In 2002, we're taking that commitment one step further by adding a new coaster and completely redesigning and retheming a major section of the park."

Ricochet will become the centerpiece of Carolina Boardwalk and will join park favorites Carolina Cyclone and Carolina Goldrusher in the Carolina Boardwalk section of the park. The new attractions will debut in March 2002, when Paramount's Carowinds opens for its 30th season of operation.

Also in 2002, Paramount's Carowinds will add a new motion-simulator experience in the Action F/X Theatre. Combining non-stop action with a humorous soundtrack, "Meteor Attack" is a motion base ride experience that manages to be both exciting and fun. Iwerks(R), of Burbank, Calif., developed "Meteor Attack." In the four-and-a-half minute film, recruits learning to fly the Rocketstar fighter craft are interrupted when a giant meteor crashes near their home base and threatens to block all power to their planet. It is up to the recruits to fly the Rocketstars into battle and repel the attack. "Meteor Attack" will be located in the theater adjacent 7th Portal, the park's first 3-D attraction that was introduced in 2001.

Paramount's Carowinds also will introduce two new characters to its current lineup of costumed stars next season as Nickelodeon(R) favorites Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Dora the Explorer make their debut at the park. In addition, park favorite Scooby-Doo and his "Mystery, Inc." pals will return to the Kid's Studio stage with an all-new interactive show entitled "Scooby Doo's Movie Madness," and the sound of Latin music will fill the Paramount Plaza as "Hot Latin Beats" debuts on the Plaza Stage.