CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After opening the gates for the first time March 31, 1973, Carowinds looks quite different from 50 years ago.
The park, which straddles the North and South Carolina state line, has been a memory-maker for decades.
It also has been a matchmaker.
“It pays the bills, I met my wife here, she still works here, so ... there’s something special about Carowinds and the people that work here,” said Steve Jackson, the park’s director of maintenance.
Related: Carowinds theme park celebrates 50th year of operation
The memories always come flooding back while walking this 50-year-old theme park. Jackson first visited in the 1980s.
“I’d never been to Carowinds before, my roommate worked out here and I signed up for an interview, and I got an interview. But I went the wrong way on I-77. So I had to turn around — I kind of got a little lost on the way here the first day,” Jackson said.
He never looked back. Jackson started as a game technician, finished college and split time with the Air National Guard. Over the years, he’s had multiple jobs at the park and has made dozens of memories.
“You know probably my favorite thing is when we put in the After Burner roller coaster. At the time in the park’s history, it’s really what took us to the next level,” Jackson said.
In 50 years, Carowinds has changed from regional theme park with a few rides to a major park with big roller coasters, drawing visitors and families from all over the East Coast.
“Change is evident, it’s always going to happen, and you can like it or you can’t, but you need to go with it,” said Dean Jackson, Steve Jackson’s wife.
For Dean Jackson, Carowinds has been her working life for nearly 44 years, from her start as a merchandise clerk to now human resources supervisor.
“I remember making fudge and slapping that fudge on the table,” Dean Jackson said, while walking past the sweets shop.
The Jacksons started their love story in a Carowinds office 30 years ago, when Dean Jackson said she was playing hard to get.
“I kind of played it like, OK, when Steve gets here make sure I’m here, so I can tell him what’s going on, that kind of stuff. And then, realized that’s not really working. Not getting any attention. So I started being not available,” she said, laughing.
“I don’t know that I realized she was actually doing that,” Steve Jackson added. “She was always the go-to person. If I needed something I’d go down there and I’d be like you know, she’s kind of cute.”
Eventually, Steve Jackson asked her to attend a concert at the park. Neither can remember if it was Jimmy Buffett or James Taylor.
While the details of that first date are a little fuzzy, the couple are celebrating 25 years together as the park they call home celebrates 50.
The secret? Maybe it all comes down to keeping your co-workers happy.
“If you can work at some place that you like, and your home life is good? You know — happy wife, happy life. And happy work? It doesn’t get any better than that, it really doesn’t,” Steve Jackson said.