Carowinds celebrates 50th anniversary with new park 'Aeronautica Landing'

Carowinds amusement park is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, and in honor of 50 years in operation, the park will be opening a new section dedicated to the history and future of flight.

Aeronautica Landing will add five new themed attractions to the park and will open in 2023.

The section of the park will have a new, upgraded dining venue that will feature a craft beer bar and patio along side a snack location.

"We are constantly looking for new ways to provide immersive experiences for our guests that showcase the rich history and heritage of the Carolinas, while showcasing the rich legacy and original themes of Carowinds,” said Manny Gonzalez, Carowinds vice president and general manager.

“This region played such an integral role in the history of developing and testing the tools for aviation, and we believe Aeronautica Landing will help bring that to life for our guests for years to come," he added.

One ride and another classic basketball challenge will be re-themed to match the Aeronautica Landing section of the park, according to a press release.

Carowinds opened in March 1973 and originally included the Carolina Skytower, Snoopy's Junction and Carolina Goldrusher -- which are all still in operation today.

The park will host additional anniversary events that will be announced at a later time, a press release said.