There’s a new entrant into the amusement park world and it’s full of heavy metal music: Hard Rock Park. Brought to you by the same rockers who do the Hard Rock Café and Hard Rock Hotel, this park is in Myrtle Beach, S.C. My coaster-loving daughter, Tess, 12, and I visited Sunday and we both loved it.
We were there during what they call the “soft opening.” On the downside, that means they still are working out the kinks, so some of the rides would shut down for short periods of time, some of the shops are still under construction and one coaster, the Maximum PRM, was closed by order of the DoPES (Department of Plant Engineering Services). On the upside, it also means a very small crowd so we got to ride every ride that was operating, sometimes twice in a row.
The only ride we didn’t choose to repeat was the bone-rattling, headache-inducing Led Zeppelin—an intense coaster that zips over, under and upside down at 65 mph while Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” rocks you from the in-car speakers, although it sometimes was hard to hear over the sound of my own screaming. We loved it, but once was enough.
This park seemed small by our Great America standards, which made it feel like it would be manageable even with smaller kids. And, although many of the rides have height restrictions that would keep little ones out, there is plenty for them to do here—from play areas to Reggae River Falls where they can get soaked and soak one another to the strains of Bob Marley to the Punk Pit inflatable obstacle course where they can challenge Mom and Dad to a race and Garage Jam, where they can propel foam balls to amazing heights.
When the thrills get to be too much, there is plenty of entertainment to keep you rockin’ even while you’re restin’. We listened to a live concert by Black Label on the main stage—a nice way to chill and get out of the sun for a half hour. And there are several kitschy live shows as well. Don’t miss the Roadies Stunt Show. There was so much going on during this 20-minute acrobatic extravaganza that we could have watched again to see everything we missed the first time.
If you’ve never been to Myrtle Beach, you might think of it only as a golf mecca. But it’s much more, plenty of which is perfect for kids, families and non-golfers. Next we’re off to see some of what the PR guy calls “Old Myrtle Beach”—the nature centers and wet lands. I’ll let you know how it goes.