Case Study: Revitalizing Carolina’s Carowinds

Words: Dan KamysMarch 2016

Rehabs and Restorations

By Chad Corley, Director of Public Relations, The QUIKRETE Companies

Revitalizing Carolina’s Carowinds Revitalizing Carolina’s CarowindsCarowinds, an entertainment destination in the Carolinas, is undergoing a more than $50 million, multi-year revitalization. Fury 325 – the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster – highlights this renewed energy. The revitalization celebrates the Carolina culture and features aesthetic enhancements to numerous areas of the park, including segmental concrete products from Pavestone installed by Draw Enterprises Inc. and Unit Paving Inc. that installed during an unusually challenging winter. Revitalizing Carolina’s CarowindsMore than 51,000 square feet of Pavestone Holland Stone Parkway Series 80-mm pavers were installed at the Carowinds Main Entrance by Unit Paving, and the 6,000-square-foot Coca-Cola Marketplace and 11,000-square-foot Fury 325 by Draw Enterprise Inc. Available in dozens of variations, the rectangular, oak blend Holland Stone Parkway pavers with Provencial finish installed at Carowinds helped capture the rustic elegance and simplistic style appreciated in the Carolinas and surrounding region. The snow, rain and freezing temperatures that defined the final stage of the project did not prevent the pavers from being installed in less than a month to welcome Carowinds visitors when the park opened for the 2015 season. Revitalizing Carolina’s Carowinds Draw Enterprises is no stranger to completing projects on schedule and within budget at Carowinds, regardless of conditions. During the last eight years, Draw Enterprises has installed about 120,000 square feet of Pavestone pavers, retaining walls and benches in various areas of the park. Installing the pavers around Fury 325 was critical to opening the 2015 season with a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors, so Draw Enterprises ran multiple crews simultaneously on the job, seven days a week, as weather permitted. Revitalizing Carolina’s CarowindsFacing the same weather conditions and streamlined schedule, Unit Paving deployed three to four five-person crews on the jobsite, strategically each day, to complete the main entrance, which is one of the park’s largest paver surfaces at 34,000 square feet. Built on a reputation of quality, prompt and dependable service, Unit Paving crews prepped large sections with base sand and bedding sand. These were protected in the process from rain, snow and ice as necessary with sheets of plastic, before installing the pavers. Carowinds opened to great fanfare thanks the creative planning, hard work and dedication of Draw Enterprises, Unit Paving and their crews. During the last 50 years, Carowinds has evolved from a local, 73-acre park to a 398-acre regional, national and international tourist destination for tens of thousands each year.
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More
How TMC Is Reaching the Next Generation of Masons
January 2026

Advocacy, outreach, and education have never been more important to the future of Texas masonry. As the state continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled trades. Industry leaders, schools, and organizations are working together to make sure the next

Ashton Fairchild
Industry News
Read More
Restoring South High School: A Beaux-Arts Icon in Youngstown
January 2026

By Eric Holm, Executive Director, Jubilee Urban Development A Testament To Time And Craftsmanship In the heart of Youngstown, Ohio, stands a structure that has witnessed more than a century of history, resilience, and craftsmanship. South High School,

Technical Talks
Read More
Risk Management Benefits of Reviewing the OSHA Top 10
January 2026

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards serve to keep employers aware of common risks that can have serious consequences. This annual list highlights the most frequently cited violations that inspe

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More