Carowinds is a 407-acre amusement park located adjacent to Interstate 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina and Fort Mill, South Carolina. Although it has an official North Carolina address, the park is located along the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, with much of the park (including the main entrance) located in Fort Mill. The park opened on March 31, 1973, at a cost of $70 million. It is the result of a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, Carowinds also features a 27-acre water park, Carolina Harbor, which is included with park admission. The park has a Halloween event called SCarowinds and a winter event called WinterFest.
