Myrtle Beach Pavilion Closing

The pavilion closed in 2006. It was an icon of Myrtle Beach family fun. Roller coasters of various styles and types, a merry-go-round of antique quality, a Calliope of unsurpassed elegance, kiddy rides, a Scrambler, and carnival food. Best of all, it was located almost on the beachfront. Today it is but a memory. I have a few pictures of its last days. We were privileged to be allowed to attend a closing preview before the dismantling. 

 

Most, if not all, of the horses were sold for charity. I understand that the calliope was salvaged to be used at another location later.

After a few years, Hard Rock built a theme park out of town on US 501 on the site of the former Waccamaw Pottery. It was opened for one season and filed bankruptcy, I think, the following year. 

Another group bought the park assets, changed the name and the theme to a Rock and Roll experience, built one roller coaster, and also lasted about one year. Now, unfortunately, the park sits quietly and looks like an abandoned afterthought.


I hope that there will, again, be a major theme park in the Myrtle Beach area. We have something here that no other park has, that I am aware of...the Atlantic Ocean. People will continue to come here and vacation here. Water, wind, beaches and sunshine are what draws them. A really nice park, full of rides and carnival food, a place where one can spend most of the day with family and still find something to do would be an important asset, I think.