The water park originally opened as Ocean Island in 1982. In 1989, it was renamed to Riptide Reef. For the 1997 season,
Paramount Parks invested $7 million As part of the multi-year expansion at
Carowinds, Boomerang Bay added ''Surfer's Swell
and Dorsal Fin Drop'' for the 2014 season. On August 27, 2015, Carowinds announced that Boomerang Bay would undergo a major expansion in 2016 and would be renamed Carolina Harbor. The expansion includes a new wave pool named
Surf Club Harbor, 2 children splash areas named
Myrtle Turtle Beach and
Kitty Hawk Cove, a six-story, six-slide complex named ''Blackbeard's Revenge
, and a new play structure called Seaside Splashworks.'' On August 15, 2019, Carowinds announced "Boogie Board Racer", the longest mat racing slide in the southeast. This attraction has 6 separate enclosed, and open to the sun slides. ==List of attractions==