I’m back at Carowinds for 2026 opening day, and I genuinely haven’t been this excited about a season here in years. In this visit, I walk you through what’s new around the park right now—starting with the entry plaza looking clean and fresh, plus little quality-of-life upgrades like new planters and fresh pavement near Burrito Café and the Stateline Store (that area has looked rough for a long time, so I’ll take the improvement). I also point out some future-looking stuff, like the old Nighthawk site still having footers, and why I’m always watching that land for what could eventually become the next coaster spot. The biggest “guest-facing” change for 2026 is Fast Lane. There’s no wristband anymore—you use the app, load your pass/order, and then either reserve a time (cheaper) or go unlimited. It’s a bit of a cultural shock at first, but once I used it a few times, it was actually simple, instant, and easy to understand. And yes, I checked in on the main event: Fury 325. Fury was running fantastic—honestly it didn’t even feel like opening day—and it’s wild that an 11-year-old ride can still run that strong. On top of that, I show the construction zone for the already-teased, record-breaking water ride coming in 2027 right next to Fury, and I share why I think we could get an earlier-than-normal announcement this year.