After a "terrifying" ride on the Top Gun roller coaster last summer, 9-year-old Nicholas Gretz was anxious to prove he was no longer afraid.

The Matthews boy was one of many thrill seekers whose wait ended Saturday, when Carowinds opened for the 2007 season. Clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s made it one of the busiest openings in the theme park's 34-year history, a spokesman said.

The reopening of a popular ride, new ownership and other changes also helped make Saturday a standout opener.

Cedar Fair, which bought Carowinds in June from Paramount, spent $3 million in the off-season to add trash cans, enhance landscaping and repaint a landmark tower, among other tweaks, spokesman Scott Anderson said. Officials also increased the cost of a season pass by $8 to $10 (up to between $67.95 and $69.95) and raised the minimum height requirements on a few rides, which some patrons Saturday said annoyed them.

People waited up to 45 minutes to ride the Borg Assimilator, a roller coaster that caused minor injuries to seven employees during a test run March 17. An employee accidentally pushed a button that released seat locks, causing the cars to stop at the bottom of a loop, Anderson said.

Officials made changes so pushing the button now triggers a slow stop and sounds an emergency alarm. It will not release the seat locks unless the cars are inside the gate. S.C. Department of Labor officials cleared the ride on Friday.

"It's even safer now than ever before," Anderson said.

The park has not had any ride-related accidents since 1999, Anderson said.

Southern Star, a ride shaped like a Viking ship, was not open Saturday. It is expected to debut in its new location next to Top Gun today, Anderson said.

But that closing did little to hinder the day. Attendance was up 10 percent to 15 percent from an average opener, Anderson said, declining to release other figures.

"It's a gorgeous day," said Gail Gretz, Nicholas' mother, who took her four children to the park. "The kids were very excited to come."

Nicholas rode Top Gun twice by midafternoon. He planned to go again. But had he conquered his fears? Said the boy:

"I was terrified all over again."