CaroMont Health Park - Gastonia Ghost Peppers
- Michael Rusignuolo
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Michael Rusignuolo and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
CaroMont Health Park South Hill Street and West Franklin Boulevard Gastonia, NC 28016
Year Opened: 2021
Capacity: 5,000
Peppy Times in North Carolina
Baseball has fertile ground in North Carolina, and the central city of Gastonia has its own pro baseball history from 1938-1940, with a short-lived minor-league team, the Cardinals, who resurfaced from 1977-1982 for another brief run.
Starting at the turn of the century, Gastonia hosted the Grizzlies, a Coastal Plain League summer collegiate squad, from 2002-2020, before professional baseball returned in 2021 with the Honey Hunters of the independent Atlantic League. Financial troubles ended the Honey Hunters franchise in 2023, but the new Ghost Peppers filled the void the very next season and have played in the Atlantic League since then.
When the Honey Hunters returned after the pandemic, they moved into the new CaroMont Health Park, a 5,000-seat ballpark that replaced the aging Sims Legion Park. The multi-use, artificial-turf stadium was part of the FUSE redevelopment district in downtown Gastonia and transitioned seamlessly to occupancy by the nascent Ghost Peppers in 2024.
CaroMont Health Park and Gastonia itself won't change your life, but it offers a better-than-average experience with a unique ballpark layout.
Food & Beverage 3
The victuals offerings at the park are pretty standard, but they hit all the necessary notes.
There are two main concession stands right by home plate, next to a seating area to eat your grub. Your standard ballpark fare of hot dogs, burgers, and pizza is on offer at both. A Sweet Carolina BBQ concession is on the left, but it isn't open for all games, and the Gashouse Bar & Grill on the right looks to be as permanently closed as its namesake.
Alcoholic drinks aren't served at the main concession stands, only at the bars located by home plate and in the outfield corners, offering beer and mixed drinks. Budweiser and Michelob rule the roost, but regional brands like Legion and Resident Culture are also available. Especially with an abandoned Coca-Cola plant next door, Dr. Pepper products are the unexpected soft drink family of choice in the park, headlining RC Cola, 7 UP, and Electrolyte Sports Drinks.
The Gleezy Dog with Carolina Sauce is the obvious choice, whether on its own ($8) or spicy and loaded ($10). Always try a local beer; Resident Culture Brewing Company is recommended for $5.35.
Atmosphere 4
The problem with a successful design is that it is copied endlessly. Nearly every minor league and indie ballpark in the last 15 years have basically the same layout: a promenade above about 20 rows of seats that end at the top of the dugouts, and a second level that runs from first to third base stuffed with luxury boxes and party decks. It's a functional, useful design, but after a while, parks just sort of melt into each other.
Not CaroMont Health Park. While the promenade is there, there are only about five rows of seats, and they start right at field level, giving an incredible view from nearly every seat, as well as keeping the smaller crowds condensed and intimate. The Premium Club is a second level just behind home plate, providing an affordable upgrade from the field seats.
There is a small berm in left field, and group areas in both outfield corners and along third base. The large scoreboard rises in center field against a backdrop of trees in left and the FUSE district in right field. The only point deductions are for the artificial turf field.
"Peppy" the Ghost Pepper is the new franchise's award-winning mascot, bizarre-looking in the best way possible. He's a local hit and leads the between-inning entertainment, with the standard array of contests, races, and the like.
Every seat in the park has a fantastic view. Grab a dugout box seat in section 116 to sit right next to the home players and managers for the whole game.
Neighborhood 3
Gastonia will never be mistaken for a bustling metropolis, but it has enough to keep you fed, housed, and entertained outside of the game.
There are several restaurants to choose from. Just past right field is the Durty Bull Brewing Company (serving up house brews and a pub menu), right down the street from Waterbean Coffee Exquisite Cafe. With the passing of local mainstay Ro's BBQ, the best eatery in town is now Webb Custom Kitchen, just down the street from the park. Slightly further on is Ray's Country Smokehouse, and additional choices are east of town, mostly on I-85.
The big local draw is Crowder's Mountain State Park, southwest of town, but the area downtown is dotted with smaller parks, antique shops a-plenty, and local museums such as The Schiele Museum of Natural History, the American Military Museum, and the African-American Museum of History and Culture.
Gastonia is also well-equipped with hotels. While there are just two choices on opposite ends of the spectrum downtown (the Midtown Motor Inn and the Esquire Hotel), there are about a half-dozen options slightly north at the junction of US-321 and I-85, and the same amount east of town along I-85.
Fans 3
While a relatively new franchise, the Ghost Peppers aren't tearing up the Atlantic League in attendance. They are at the bottom third of the Atlantic League charts, but within percentage points of the middle.
The crowds aren't regularly packing the park, but the intimate confines help to concentrate the faithful that do show up, who are generally attentive and loud for the play on the field.
Access 5
CaroMont Park is a breeze to get to and get around in.
The Ghost Peppers are located right in downtown Gastonia, on US-74 (parallel to I-85) and just off US-321.
There's no mass transit in town except for an on-demand van service, but there is an Amtrak station to the northeast of downtown and a regional airport to the southeast.
Parking is thankfully free. While there isn't a dedicated lot for the park, there are several local business and municipal lots right around the park, all within a short walk to the two gates at home plate and center field.
The park features a broad promenade and walking areas that only pinch slightly behind home plate. Walking around poses no problems.
Return on Investment 4
Indie ball caters to families, and CaroMont Health Ballpark certainly hits their target for an affordable night out.
Ticket prices are reasonable within the league. They range from $12 for general admission through $24 for the waitress-service Premium Club on the second level behind home plate.
Food and beverage prices are also quite reasonable, with entrees not topping $10 and combos that add drinks and sides to make things even more affordable. Both beers and non-alcoholic drinks are under $6, mixed drinks are $12, and parking is free.
Extras 3
The unassuming park does its best to cram in a lot of unexpected extras. There is the regulation team store by third base, children's play areas in right field, and dedication plaques, but there is also a local sports museum behind the batter's eye in center and a rent-a-charger machine on the promenade to keep your electronics in the green. There's also a post-game MVP interview for all home wins, and most importantly, all the players file out of the park on the third base side past the fans, giving a great opportunity for pictures and autographs at the end of the game.
Final Thoughts
Although the surroundings, food, and crowds won't blow you away, the park is easy to get to and provides an affordable night out in a unique layout that doesn't skimp on the extras.
