UPDATE - The day has come and Carowinds has made their official announcment. Looking for information on Carowinds Intimidator? Visit my post here.
UPDATE - Looking for the latest on the Cedar Point 2010 roller coaster? Check out this post.
A photo was posted on CarowindsConnection yesterday that has caused quite a stir in the coaster enthusiast community. It is supposed to be a ‘spy photo’ in a marketing office at the park. It’s said to show the name and theme for the Carowinds’ yet tobe revealed 2010 roller coaster.
White Lightning Photo – Real, Fake, or Leaked
Now, the debate is on. Is the picture real? Meaning someone risked being fired or possibly prosecuted and took a James Bond-like spy photo of the ride’s new logo. Was the picture leaked? Some see placed hints or clues in the picture and also note that the desk looks too clean and organized. Is it possible that Carowinds released the photo on purpose to build up some buzz on the new ride. Or is the picture fake? Did someone photoshop or manufacture it just to pass some time home from school this summer?
UPDATE 7/26 – EMRAWFODOG found this video of a teaser that was being played at CoasterStock this past weekend:
I’m excited to see that the ride will have a racing theme like I’d hoped. It’s great that it will have an original, local flavor to it. NASCAR is HUGE in these parts! A racing theme will only help bring added attention to the new attraction. Props to Carowinds & Cedar Fair for not going the ‘Goliath’ generic name route.
UPDATE – The official announcement for Carowinds 2010 roller coaster will be on August 26th. We’ll finally know exactly what the park is getting in less than a month! Check back here for my take on the news.
Carowinds & White Lightning
White Lightning has been thought to be the name of the Carowinds coaster. Since Carowinds had a coaster named ‘White Lightnin’ in the past, the whole “Lightning Strikes Twice” thing would be the expected motto of the ride. Also, this leaked teaser photo was said to be from taken at Carowinds. In addition, NASCAR is huge in the Charlotte area and the image invokes the history of the sport that involved moonshine smugglers. We’ll find out when the park releases all of the details on August 26th!
What’s Your Take?
Is it real, fake, or leaked? Leave a comment below.
July 21, 2009 at 13:37
I think this photo was shot by one of the guys who work at Carowinds. I think they are making this too make some people scratch there heads. Well the first thing i see about this pic is that its on a clean desk so that may be a big clue. But who knows it could be anyones guess
July 21, 2009 at 14:56
I think its something like that Matthew, but he was given permission to take the pic.
July 21, 2009 at 17:42
i agree also i feel a like this is gonna be a shuttle coaster liked greased lighting at the six flags parks but i sense a launch coaster coming to the carolinas
July 21, 2009 at 19:59
oh man, i really do not want a launch coaster. i am really hoping for a B&M hyper because the closest one to me is like a 4 hour drive.
July 22, 2009 at 00:18
If this is legit, it may be a rebirth of the name. If anyone remembers, back in the 70s and 80s, Carowinds had a weight-drop launched shuttle coaster called White Lightnin'. Perhaps Carowinds will use the naming in the same way that other parks have given rebirth to previous names, or used a new coaster to reference a past one. For example, Steel Phantom becomes Phantom's Revenge, Hercules is torn down to make way for Hydra's Revenge, and Ravine Flyer made way for Ravine Flyer II. Then again, this could all be a hoax.
July 22, 2009 at 02:39
Ive heard that its going to be a hyper coaster. If it is, its going to be just like Maverick. You have your first drop, have some sharp corners, then you hit the brake run, then they launch you
July 22, 2009 at 05:18
OK. If this is true it helps the KD giga-coaster theory.
There was a post that said it would be called Revenge of King Kobra. And King Kobra was a shuttle loop at KD. Just thinking.
Then again, someone may know how to photoshop and keep his desk very clean.
July 22, 2009 at 12:33
I think just like Matthew said this is to just make us wonder and scratch our heads. I doubt that they would name the coaster WHITE lightning because if we are getting the red track pieces from the b&m plant in Ohio why would it be called WHITE lightning??? Then again nighthawks colors don't match the name either so who knows?
July 22, 2009 at 18:43
actually, it would be cool if it was like maverick and climbed over 200 ft than had some great airtime and then get launched. hmmm. maybe just maybe.
July 23, 2009 at 06:33
Actually i believe that the strait area may be a launch to get some more speed before the ride goes into the splashdown so it looks cooler.
July 23, 2009 at 07:09
yes it would be cool if it was a hybrid like maverick and it would make more sense for the name then a hyper named white lighting but then that would sound cool
July 25, 2009 at 22:04
I was at Coaster stock and all they had was a teaser video with the date of August 24. The video said something about "37 years in the making, Record breaking. August 24,2009. The video had a checkered flag in background with race car sounds. During the Q&A they did an excellent job dodging questions but that the new ride is definetely worth the wait.
July 25, 2009 at 22:23
Here's the youtube video url http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-OQKGDWlk
July 26, 2009 at 09:21
it might be the tallest and fastest coaster in the carolinas but it could be even bigger than that
July 26, 2009 at 10:01
This is so exciting. Thank you Paramount for selling your parks to Cedar Fair. I just got back from a 10 hour trip to cedar point then 8 hour trip from there to kings dominion then 4 hour trip back home to charlotte. come on carowinds stop making me have to drive so far
July 28, 2009 at 07:38
If you sign up for the email newsletter at Carowinds.com, they'll send the announcement to your email before the media announcement on August 26. Hope they send it tomorrow.LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 31, 2009 at 00:35
There is now a container sitting at Carowinds with teasers written all over it. It has ID # EBCLAKF. There is also IZ12ENUFF written on the side. USERNAME B&M Coaster 1095 on carrowinds connection has discovered that EBCLAKF could be Designer for ITEC named Eric B Clefk. He designed Disaster Transport at Cedar Point that has 12E written on side of it. It was confirmed in 2005 that Disaster Transport was his 12th design. So, that part of the teaser is that he is designing the theme for this new coaster. I guess they spelled EBCLAKF wrong to throw everyone off. Now maybe somebody will crack the weight code and the item #44 from Morgantown West virginia. Bulldog shipping.
August 1, 2009 at 04:12
You know there saying that on the containers and boxes they have those numbers and letters on it. Well i just heard that they found one box says "Lightning really does strike twice" so that could be a BIG hint to this coaster
August 4, 2009 at 14:52
im really hoping for a ride that is breathtaking. I go to carowinds alot and i can say its time for a new ride. I'm going to carowinds this friday and im going to check out the crate and the land that they cleared and see if i can get any info from the workers.
August 16, 2009 at 18:18
Hello everyone. I found a teaser for everyone to check out.! First go on google and type in Cedar Point Sponsors. The first link that appears click it. Then when you get there, click on the logo that says Bottling Crystal Rock Company. It will take you to website that says whyte lightning. First off, I noticed a lot of things. First, on the flask, i noticed an upside down millenium force logo. The logo for the company is also the very sam font used for frontier town in Cedar Point. Third i noticed, the colors of the site resemble the millenium force. Also, i honestly believe that this also has something to do with carowinds and king dominions new coaster! i JUST WENT ON SCREAMSCAPE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE NAME OF KING DOMINIONS NEW COASTER IS CALLED WHITE LIGHTNING! Details for Carowinds are still to come, as of I know. But if that photo is true, it will add a twist. Then the thing left to figure out is whats up with Cedar Point? Cedar Point also will have a new coaster/ ride but they will not spill the beans until october.(as usual) If Carowinds currently has a toatl of 12 coasteres, then listen to the clue, iz12enuff? basically asking is 12 rollertcoasters enough. the new 2010 coaster will be their 13th. Also, sponsor i mentioned earlier is not real! i google it and nothing was found.! All that came up was a water company. Cedar Fair is using this as a brain teaser to make us think about the twist between the three parks, CAROWINDS, KINGS DOMINION, AND CEDAR POINT!