Carowinds amusement park to enforce chaperone policy requiring supervision for youths

Some teens and other youths will no longer be allowed to be dropped off for a night by themselves without supervision at Carowinds amusement park.

Starting Saturday, guests age 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 to be admitted to or remain in the park after 4 p.m., Carowinds said in a statement Thursday on its website. The policy also was posted on the park’s social media.

“Over the past two years, there have been increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across our industry and at other major entertainment venues,” Carowinds said. “We believe these changes will help ensure that Carowinds continues to have a positive atmosphere.”

The park also “strongly” recommends children younger than 18 be accompanied by an adult. “Parents/guardians may be held legally liable for all acts of the children under their care,” Carowinds said.

The news comes five days after a 13-year-old boy had to be rescued after climbing into an arcade claw machine in the Thrill Zone section of the park. Carowinds officials were alerted about the incident at 1:54 p.m.

In September, Carowinds started a chaperone policy for SCarowinds after the park closed early one night for “unruly behavior by several groups of minors,” The Herald newspaper in Rock Hill reported. Scarowinds chaperone policy requires adult supervision for park guests age 17 or younger.

SCarowinds is the park’s popular seasonal Halloween event with haunted attractions and entertainment.

What to know about the Carowinds chaperone policy

Under the new Carowinds policy:

▪ The chaperone must present a valid government-issued photo identification with date of birth at ticket entry.

▪ One chaperone may accompany no more than 10 children age 15 or younger.

▪ The chaperone must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone throughout their stay.

▪ Children age 15 or younger in the park who are unaccompanied by a chaperone will be ejected.

▪ The chaperone requirement applies to all Carowinds ticket and season passholders.

▪ The chaperone requirement applies to all Carowinds ticket and season passholders. Employees age 15 or younger can visit the park without a chaperone. But they must have their valid work ID with them throughout their stay, Carowinds spokeswoman Courtney McGarry Weber told The Charlotte Observer. Guests of the employee are not exempt from the chaperone policy and will need a chaperone if age 15 or younger, she said.

The 400-acre park straddles Mecklenburg County in North Carolina and York County in South Carolina. Cedar Fair purchased Carowinds in 2006 from Paramount for $1.24 billion.

Malls also require supervision

Carowinds isn’t the only venue in the Charlotte region addressing business disruptions by youths.

Two years ago, Concord Mills mall started requiring anyone younger than age 18 to be accompanied at all times by a parent or adult, age 21 or older, after 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The policy was part of the mall’s safety plan to deter disruptive activity after two incidents in two months by youths, including fighting and a “disorderly” disturbance that closed the mall early during holiday shopping.

Days after Concord Mills’ policy was announced, Northlake Mall in north Charlotte updated its teen curfew that had been in effect since 2009. The mall extended the curfew hours from 5 p.m. to 3 p.m. Northlake requires ages 17 and younger to be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older starting at 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Eastridge Mall in Gastonia also requires anyone 17 and younger to be with a guardian starting at 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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