Woodstock Express is a wooden roller coaster located at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina that was formerly named after the Nickelodeon cartoon The Fairly OddParents. Though containing all of the elements of a "full-size" or standard wooden roller coaster, its short drop heights, slower speed, gently curving layout and short track length lead to its mistaken identity as a 'junior roller coaster'.
History
It opened as "Scooby Doo" in 1975, loosely themed to the Hanna-Barbera cartoon of the same name in the Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. Shortly before the park's 1993 season, the name was expanded to "Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster".
In 1993, Paramount Parks bought Carowinds' parent company and added areas themed to the Nickelodeon television channel, owned by their parent company Viacom. As part of this, the Hanna-Barbera area was eventually annexed into the Nickelodeon Central area, and in 2005, the roller coaster was renamed "Fairly Odd Coaster".
As part of the new theming, the wooden superstructure was painted indigo, and the cars repainted to mimic the Fairy Oddparents characters from the show; one train pink and the other green, with the fairies' faces on the front of the cars. To depict these characters as roller coaster trains is accurate to the television show because on screen, the fairies can change their shape at will, though their faces always remain visible on whatever they become.
The coaster was renamed Woodstock Express in 2010 when the area was rethemed as Planet Snoopy. In 2015, Woodstock Express was repainted periwinkle with yellow side-rails.
Throughout its history, Woodstock Express has undergone several refurbishments to ensure its safety and maintain its classic charm. The wooden structure requires regular maintenance, including retracking and repainting, to provide a smooth and enjoyable ride experience. Despite these updates, the coaster retains much of its original character, a testament to its timeless design.
Woodstock Express holds a special place in the hearts of many Carowinds visitors. As one of the park’s enduring attractions, it represents the nostalgia of childhood and the joy of family-friendly amusement park experiences. The coaster has introduced generations of young riders to the excitement of roller coasters, often serving as their first taste of this type of thrill ride.
The ride’s ability to adapt and remain relevant through various rebrands and refurbishments is a testament to its well-designed structure and enduring appeal. Woodstock Express continues to be a beloved fixture at Carowinds, celebrating nearly five decades of operation and promising many more years of fun for families and young coaster enthusiasts.
Layout
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Woodstock Express ascends the 40-foot (12 m) chain lift hill and then travels through a series of camelback hills and slightly banked turns.[1]
Significance
Woodstock Express was recognized by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) as an "ACE Coaster Classic" but that status has since been rescinded as a result of recent changes to the coaster. Roller coasters with this designation must be wood, not steel, and meet certain operational and design criteria, including non-ratcheting lap bar restraints, no seat dividers or headrests, and free choice of seating for riders (over being assigned a seat by the operator).[2]
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