After a successful 2015 season, Carowinds made two huge announcements this fall for the 2016 Season; a rebranding and expansion of their current “Boomerang Bay” Water Park into Carolina Harbor, as well as the transformation of the park’s former Action Theater into Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 3Z Arena.

Late last week, Coaster101 had the opportunity to visit the park and check out some of the construction that is going on this off-season throughout the park.

Starbucks

As part of the Carolina Harbor Announcement, Carowinds announced a 3000-square-foot Starbucks would be built on the site of the former Plaza Gifts location at the park’s entrance.

Plaza Gifts has been demolished, and vertical construction on the new Starbucks will begin soon.

Woodstock Express

Woodstock Express, after celebrating its 40th season at Carowinds in 2015, is receiving some minor track work in the station as well as on the coaster’s first turn.

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Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena

A lot of the exterior work has not yet begun on the Action Theater’s transformation into Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 3Z Arena just yet. Soon the Action Theater will resemble the following images, taken of a model at this year’s IAAPA Conference in Orlando by Alterface Projects, one of the companies help bring the Plants Vs. Zombies arena to life.

Something interesting I caught in these next two photos were the remnants of the “Days of Thunder” mural. “Days of Thunder” was one of the first experiences in the Action Theater, and was based around the 1990 Paramount film of the same name. (You can see the stock car sponsors in the second photo)

Work was being done inside the former arcade at the Action Theater. (also home to SCarowinds’ Last Laff Maze)

Carolina Harbor

Tons of construction progress was being made over at the Carolina Harbor site.

No stone was being left unturned, as the expansion and rebranding will introduce an all-new water park in Carolina Harbor.

Dorsal Fin Drop and Surfer’s Swell, opened in 2014, will be maintaining their names and colors.

We climbed the Dorsal Fin Drop and Surfer’s Swell tower to get a bird’s eye view of new construction.

Above: the site where Blackbeard’s Revenge Slide tower and landing pool will be.

Lots of great things out in the parking lot, waiting to be erected.

Carowinds’ new exit from Dorsal Fin Drop and Surfer’s Swell:

Thanks to Carowinds for letting us take a glimpse into offseason construction. For more information about Carolina Harbor, be sure to visit the Carolina Harbor website and construction blog.