07/04 Chaos At Carowinds Closing Time

[The Interpreter]

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Thousands spent July 4th at Carowinds Amusement Park, but when it came time to leave the park after the fireworks show, chaos erupted in the parking lot.

Many drivers became frustrated when they exited the parking lot. Police report there were some minor fender benders in the parking lot as people grew impatient.

It was estimated between 40,000 - 60,000 people visited the park on the holiday.

The challenge?

There are only two parking exits at Carowinds. But experts that WBTV talked to say when you have thousands of cars leaving at one time - more than two exits could help....

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12756331

(That's one more exit than Visionland first had...and it often took up to two hours to get out of that parking lot at closing time...one of many factors that led to that park's demise)

[CoastersRZ]

Well, at Coney, there is only ONE exit from the West Parking lot (by Moonlite Gardens). When I left Coney on the 3rd of July at 11:45, the west parking lot was STILL a mess. (The rides closed at 11pm, and the fireworks were at 10pm. There were still cars backed up into the parking lot all the way back to Moonlite Gardens. And that was with about ten cops standing in Kellogg directing traffic out of the parking lot. (And the rides stayed open until 11pm this year, to try and avoid EVERYONE rushing to their cars immediately after the conclusion of the fireworks).

[CedarPointer]

There are only two parking exits at Carowinds. But experts that WBTV talked to say when you have thousands of cars leaving at one time - more than two exits could help....

I'd say it doesn't exactly take an expert to say that...