Carowinds Press Release

Paramount's Carowinds Press Release
Paramount's Carowinds to Get 'Nicked' in 2003. Nickelodeon? themed area and rides to become permanent part of park.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 19, 2002) - A junior inverted coaster, an exotic river adventure, a dramatic free-fall ride, a place to greet everyone's favorite cartoon stars, and a Nickelodeon-based stage show are the main attractions in an imaginative new themed area opening next year at Paramount's Carowinds.

Carowinds officials today announced the details of a variety of new rides and attractions based on popular characters from Nickelodeon, the number one children's brand in the world. The Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and Blue's Clues are just some of the popular Nickelodeon programs that will come to life in Nickelodeon?Central.

"This area will give the entire family a chance to enjoy rides and attractions based on many of their favorite Nickelodeon characters and shows," said Watt Burris, the park's executive vice president and general manager. "We've had an outstanding relationship with Nickelodeon for many years now, so we decided to go one step further and provide a dynamic, one-of-a-kind Nickelodeon-themed area at Paramount's Carowinds."

Based on the popular Rugrats' television series, The Rugrats Runaway Reptar will take riders on a high-flying adventure in ski-lift style seats that are suspended below the coaster track. The giant green dinosaur known as Reptar looms 32 feet above the ground and beckons riders to climb aboard the green and yellow scream machine, with cars that feature his buggy dinosaur eyes. With their legs dangling below them, riders are whisked up, up and away to a height of more than 50 feet. Soaring over treetops like birds ?swooping side to side ?then hurtling into a scream-evoking nosedive ?it's non-stop Rugrats-style action as riders race around the track and attempt to steer clear of the larger-than-life Reptar.

The park also will introduce The Wild Thornberrys River Adventure, a splash-filled water adventure based on one of the most watched kids' television shows, The Wild Thornberrys. The popular Nickelodeon show follows the adventures of 12-year-old Eliza Thornberry, a courageous girl with a big secret - she can talk with animals. Kids riding the Wild Thornberrys River Adventure are in for an amazing journey. Seated in dugouts, brave explorers cast off for a surprise-filled excursion through the wilderness.

A Nickelodeon-themed free fall ride also will become a part of the new Nickelodeon Central at Paramount's Carowinds. The ride swings in 360?loops with 33-feet-per-second, controlled free falls, all the while keeping riders upright in their seats. At the top of each loop, riders are treated to a 70-foot-high, panoramic view of the park before plunging into a series of several speed loops.

Details: This Rugrats Runaway Reptar is a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster. It was the third such ride from Vekoma. As of 2004, there are six examples of this model including the Carrowinds version. Another example of this ride is Paramount's Kings Island's Rugrats Runaway Reptar. However, Paramount's Great America's Runaway Reptar is not a Vekoma coaster.

This ride opened on March 22, 2003. It is 49 feet tall and 1,142 feet long.