Carowinds goes to a year-round schedule. Here’s what to expect at the park for 2023.
Carowinds will be open longer, starting this winter.
The theme park, in both Fort Mill and Charlotte, announced Tuesday morning it will expand to year-round operations starting Jan. 1, 2023.
That means it’ll now be open in January, February and early March each year. Typical park operations will continue throughout the later spring and summer. Historically Carowinds was a later spring and summer attraction.
In recent years the park expanded service to include fall weekends and its WinterFest dates. Carowinds also offers the popular SCarowinds event each fall.
Rides, dining, merchandise and other park activities will be open during the expanded winter weekends, subject to routine maintenance, refurbishments and weather issues that could impact rides.
The 2023 Gold Season Pass will include visits during the expanded early weekends, plus the typical operating timeframe including access to Carolina Harbor Waterpark in the summer.
The 2023 season marks the 50th anniversary for Carowinds. The Cedar Fair-owned theme park on the South Carolina and North Carolina state line will launch the aviation-themed Aeronautica Landing portion of the park next year with five new rides and a rethemed one.
Visit York County president and CEO sees an economic impact of the Carowinds announcement.
“Carowinds continues to be York County’s largest producing tourism attraction with 36% of all trips to the area including a stop at the amusement park,” Clinton said. “By expanding operations, Carowinds is providing us with the ability to attract visitors during typically slower months and increase economic impact throughout the entire year.”
Plus, there are options for area residents already here.
“Additionally, the expansion will bring new jobs that are critical to supporting the local hospitality and tourism talent pipeline,” Clinton said.
Carowinds is a 400-acre park with more than 60 rides, attractions and live stage shows. It has a 26-acre waterpark.
This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 10:14 AM.
