Carowinds To Remain Closed For 2020 Due To COVID-19

CHARLOTTE, NC — Carowinds amusement park will remain closed for the year, amusement park officials announced this week. The news comes as North Carolina faces another five weeks of restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

"The safety of our guests and associates is always our top priority. Although we have done our due diligence in developing a comprehensive safety plan in accordance with industry and public health standards, the continued uncertainty in our region surrounding COVID-19 as well as the diminishing number of calendar days left in the 2020 operating season, has brought us to the difficult decision to keep the park closed for the rest of the year," Pat Jones, vice president & general manager of Carowinds, said in a statement.

Carowinds 2020 season passes will be valid through 2021, and day tickets sold for 2020 will be valid until Sept. 6, 2021, the park said.

"To further show our commitment and appreciation, all 2020 Season Passholders will now also receive a Pass Perks Loyalty Reward valid for purchases within the park next season," Jones said.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday announced the state will stay in Phase 2 of its reopening plan for five more weeks, meaning things like gyms, bars and movie theaters will not reopen until Sept. 11 at the earliest.

Cooper said new cases and deaths across the state are showing signs of stabilizing. His decision to extend the current reopening phase, he said, is to turn stable case numbers into declining numbers.

"As I said last week, stable is good, but decreasing is better," Cooper said. "And while we are seeing stabilization of our numbers, that doesn’t mean we can let up. You only have to look at hospitals in other states that have been overwhelmed when reopening occurred too fast."

SEE ALSO:

• 42 COVID-19 Deaths, Nearly 2K New Cases Reported In NC
• NC's Phase 2 Pause Delays High School Sports Beyond Sept. 1