Carowinds retires Nighthawk and two flat rides

[TPoseOnTantrum]

Bye Bye Nighthawk

Source: Live Camera

 

[Peet]

Bye Bye Nighthawk
View attachment 35574
Source: Live Camera

That actually looks like those two pieces have carefully removed, although hard to be sure. Relocation seems very unlikely for this ride so maybe the rest of it is in a mangled pile of scrap off camera, but it's not yet confirmed as scrapped for me

 

[Bathtub Gin]

Possibly sections of the ride that were hanging over something and couldn't just be torn down?

 

[CaliAngel]

Carolina Cyclone getting pretty long in the tooth too as it approaches the big 5 - 0.

Were those old arrow multi-loopers built especially well?

I'd say so, but a lot of it comes down to individual park maintenence. Also have to consider they were all built with very old engineering design and fabrication.

Viper is one of the more extreme versions, and it's withstood the test of time, however I know from experience that Magic Mountain was very diligent from its opening through its first couple decades in taking considerably good care of it.

They also did a number of after-installation updates which no doubt has prolonged its life. Ex: trim brakes after the first loop, lateral supports along the first turnaround, trims before the double corkscrew.

I will say it is sad to see the Flying Dutchman go, I rode the one at Kings Island before it closed, and although not quite as good as Tatsu, found it to be a considerably fun and smooth ride.

Too bad I didn't get a chance to go on this one, it was definitely bucket list.

 

[Peet]

A closer look:

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The FB poster says there are scorch marks and broken track, not quite visible to me but I'm sure they're right.

 

[Matt N]

There could be more mangled track in a different place, but the appearance of those two pieces specifically very much gives off vibes of a “careful dismantling” rather than an “indiscriminate demolition” like you’d normally see, in my view.

Interesting…

 

[Peet]

Actually now I look more closely, this has been cut:


RIP Nighthawk, you weird crazy thing.