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Hard Rock Park is a rock 'n' roll theme park located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that opened on April 15, 2008. The grand opening celebration was on June 2, 2008, and featured a concert by The Eagles. The park takes up 55 acres on a 140 acre (0.57 km²) property [1] between Highway 501 and the Intracoastal Waterway on the site of the former Waccamaw Factory Shoppes in Fantasy Harbour. The Hard Rock name is licensed from Hard Rock International, current owners/operators of the Hard Rock Cafe brand, to HRP Myrtle Beach Operations, LLC, which is designing, building and owns the theme park.
[edit] Park areas
The park features six “rock environs” celebrating rock’s culture, lifestyle, legends and irreverence:[2]
[edit] Attractions
The park has amusement rides, live shows, shopping and dining attractions. The main attractions of the park are its roller coasters. The park will include an amphitheater with 10,000-person capacity, featuring live daily shows and special performances. Other amusements include a carousel, a small water play structure and swings. Most attractions feature music, bands or memoribillia prominently like the cafe counterpart.
[edit] Roller Coasters
- Led Zeppelin - The Ride (Bolliger & Mabillard)- A steel roller coaster that is set to the music of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. The coaster stands 150 feet (46 m) tall and has a top speed of 65 mph (105 km/h). Other features include six inversions and a spiral over the existing lagoon. It runs along the side of the park next to George Bishop Parkway in the "Rock and Roll Heaven" section. The track was completed as of September 13, 2007. The park began to conduct test runs in November. The ride is most notable for the iconic relationship with band members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, who have contributed to all aspects of Led Zeppelin - The Ride, including the ride's name, logo and overall look and feel of the vehicles.[3]
- Maximum RPM! (Premier Rides)- Not yet open. A convertible car-coaster that races to 1980's hits. Riders go for a "test drive" through a mock factory in British Sports cars. The coaster features a first-of-its-kind Ferris Wheel lift hill, where the coaster trains are rolled from the bottom of the track onto a ferris wheel-like contraption and then pushed off at the top into a high speed adventure. It is in the "British Invasion" section.
- Eagles-Life in the Fast Lane (Vekoma)- Formerly known as Midnight Rider, the coaster was renamed after it was announced that the soundtrack would be set to the Eagles. It is a mine train coaster set to the Eagles song "Life in the Fast Lane" that careens through a creepy abandoned lumber mill. It is in the "Cool Country" section. The track was completed as of October 31, 2007.
- Slippery When Wet (Premier Rides)-A suspended roller coaster. It is located in the "Born in the USA" section.
- Shake Rattle 'n' Rollercoaster (Chance Morgan)- A white kiddie coaster that is located in the "Born in the USA" section. As of January 2008 the track is complete.
[edit] Other Rides
[edit] External links
[edit] References
