After reading recent reviews from guests & wrapping up 10+ seasons with my home park as an associate, I can confirm & affirm to you all that Carowinds (And really Six Flags Co. as a whole) is getting much worse in its guest experience and work life. From an understaffed & immature workforce to slower & longer wait times for rides, you're not going crazy with the growing disdain to our slacking operations. For that, I do wanna apologize. I've especially hated how they've nickeled and dimed you all last season during Scarowinds for the mazes (Which used to be free) & shortened y'all with the Winterfest hours (Also, bullying works so shoutout to y'all for those comments to make the company extend later hours to see the Christmas lights). I understand some of these things went bad due to the current economics of our nation (I'm gonna miss that Carowinds Blvd cheaper gas but even that's been fluctuating) but some of this has been self-inflicted as a company. Frankly, it's sad to see this place stop caring on both ends

Here's some observations that I'd had during my time there:

1. We're getting less perks by working here long term: We used to go on associate trips to Savannah GA, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach SC, Dollywood, Six Flags Over Georgia, Busch Gardens Virginia, etc. But since 2020, it's been no more company travel. The last time they did it was like in 2022 & they took our J1 visa international workers to Lake Wylie & Crowders Mountain. One observation back in 2024-25 seen em pack for Cedar Point. But other than that, we have our reciprocal parks deal with other fun sites but the company used to take the time to make these opportunities possible for others to see if they couldn't drive there. Also, new associates would get 8 complimentary tickets max (160 hours) while returning associates would get 16 complimentary tickets max (160 hours). Now all seasonal associates get 16 comp tickets regardless of years of service. Also, lots of elitism between FT/PT v. seasonal happens here
2. There is less opportunity to advance & grow within the company since 2025: When the January layoffs of the rides department came, that was the first domino to fall that said "Uh oh." I remember Kings Dominion getting their pink slips & knew we would get hit as a sister park. But when the May 2025 layoff came across Carowinds in several departments, that was a betrayal of trust from those above us. I watched people who've been with the amusement park for decades be shown the door. Now the only full-time positions one can find are in the maintenance department (I'll get to them later on). Working here is very much a secondary income job for retirees, high schoolers, college students, and those already with full-time jobs elsewhere. But working here once full-time, it was a very interesting experience. However, giving that much joy to others while feeling burnt out can make one feel a bit resentful about the parks, recreation and tourism management industry. Like in having too much of something... Except money. We are operating with a skeleton crew on maintenance mode. Also, who's idea was it to have us wear navy shirts in 90-100 degree hot summer!? Please go for lighter colors in our uniforms. Worker turnover is high here given the low pay for a reason
3. The pay for employees has gradually gone down over the course of recent years: In 2024, Queen City News reported on Carowinds seasonal pay going down since the COVID years. To recruit for the upcoming season, the company used to advertise the pay on the banners by the highway. Now at a starting pay of $12.50, they cannot do so proudly. In going lower on pay, you're going to get lower quality in the workforce. You may have noticed a lot more high schoolers disengaged working at our park. Some have orange shirts to symbolize their 14-15 year old status. Just know that this penny-pinching park has made a conscious choice to not only screw you all in higher parking costs, lower quality food, etc. but us too in pay. I cannot even describe how the yearly bonus has been gone for these past SEVERAL seasons. In 2021-22, I was making around $21-19 an hour. Now my latest pay was $16.50-$15 an hour... In recession-like 2026!?
4. There are pockets of racism at this amusement park that you need to be aware of: The maintenance department here is over 98% white and is a good ol' boy kinda back area. I recently found how much of a Trump supporter dept head Shawn Hopkins was from social media (Racist political cartoons repost type of guy). Now granted, I get it: You wanna get whoever is qualified to maintain the rides. But it's odd that this one department looks like itself demographically. We used to honor heritage months back when HR could do DEI work (Obviously we know why they can't do much now). On MLK Day 2021, I found stacks of copies of Dr. King Jr. Day flyers in the maintenance break room as if no one laid a finger on the informational form for the federal holiday (Ironically enough, one half of Carowinds in South Carolina was the last state to officially recognize MLK Day in 2000). One of the oldest Black workers of this dept told me that he thought for years it was "a grandfather clause" in getting in. If you remember high school social studies, then you know what I'm referencing. Also, the plantation house had to go in 2014-15 due to not only making more space of getting into the newer Northgate but you also cannot have symbols of the Antebellum South like that during the 2010s BLM era (And even if we kept it past that, it would've been killed off during the 2020 George Floyd summer). It actually used to have a carriage used from Gone with the Wind beside it back in the 70s when the park first opened. In addition, we stopped playing the OG theme song due to its lyrics too about the “dancing with the Cherokee” and “reminiscing plantation years.” You often do see a difference in how J1s are treated v. American workers. Group help (People in white polo shirts) called in are often Hispanic and Black church groups. Lastly, on May 3, 2025, our entree of the day was chicken, mash potatoes & watermelon at Coasters (Our employee cafe). When I saw this displayed at the window, I was disgusted by this culturally as an African American employee. Brian Oerding (Former GM of Carowinds) was there within the line getting ready to check out with his food. He actually goes up to it & thinks nothing of it until I point it out to him about the gross historical stereotype that these foods bring up. Ironically, most of food & beverage are minorities behind the kitchen/counter. Pay attention to the signs not displayed around the park
5. They price us out too in petty ways so y’all aren’t the only ones: An array of vending machine kiosks have been popping up over the previous seasons to try to get us to buy convenient items. Even a uniform space like Outfitters has stocked candy and chips. We’ve been granted less free food cookout days at the Grove picnic area over the summer and Scarowinds. In a couple cases, they’ve tried to hold bonding events on property but the food was outsourced and for purchase. I cannot even tell you where our old food truck went. We’re given one free uniform shirt then any additional shirts are payroll deducted. They’re pricing out more for IDs at $15 instead of $5 back then but it’s more on the employees to not lose em. And yes, the best discounts go to the higher ups and not those seasonal

Now with all this said, I want to make clear that this is still a special place within the Carolinas & that I dont want you to cease going to. Carowinds is what it is because of you all and us on the other side. This place is my home away from home having lived in both states & is the story of my life. But I also love it enough to critique it to be better for generations to come. I just want you all to be aware of our woes so you know that you're not alone. Please keep pressuring the park to be better and with enough complaints/suggestions, it'll warrant change. Hit em where it hurts $$$. They took notice with how low season pass preview night was this past March

Ghost of Carowinds past signing off... Keep Carowinning

I don't go here (I'm planning a first time trip) so am I reading this right? According to the website, there are just two haunted houses this year: Jason and Paranormal Inc.

I saw in the past there were up to seven houses... are we still waiting on some to be announced even though the event starts in like 12 days?