Theme Park Review visits Hard Rock Park!

[Wes]

Off the top of my head....Austin, Atlanta, Seattle, Nashville, and SoCal all have thriving music scenes. And if you're gonna have a park which will only feature musical themes, then why not one of these places? The more and more I think of it, the more and more intrigued I am by the decision to go with Myrtle Beach.

 

Because Hard Rock Park has no intention of trying to appeal to music scenes. They're as much about music as Olive Garden is about Italian food. They're just giving a rough approximation of what casual music listeners would think would be at a "rock and roll" park.

[cgodsey]

From a tourism perspective, I can see why they built in Myrtle Beach. The population of MB swells from ~25,000 to ~350,000 during the summer. The area sees over 10 million visitors per year which would provide an ample attendance base to hit 1.5-2 million visitors per year.

 

I think the problem is, their focus was more on the "experience" rather than the attractions. I think its great they went to awesome detail on some of the area but when you cut out park staple attractions like water rides or a decent flat ride collection, it will hurt you in the end. I can guarantee that most of their visitors have been to Six Flags, Busch Gardens, or Paramount Parks and they will definitely see a difference in attractions REAL QUICK unless they address their deficiencies.

 

Also, I dont know about most of you but the combination of the arrival of our daughter along with rising prices has SEVERELY cut our summer travel plans from 7 trips to 1 (Holiday World this weekend). I simply cannot afford the airfares into Myrtle Beach (utterly ridiculous!) along with hotel stays and $50/day tickets to HRP. I think many families that have the money to still visit the MB area will think twice about blowing $50/ticket when the money can be used on other activites they can do as a family that their kids will enjoy more. From looking at the photos, there is NOTHING my 9 month old daughter can do at HRP. But, there are things she can enjoy at Holiday World so it made our decision easier.

 

I am sure their attendance numbers thusfar will help expose their issues and what they need to add to the park in the future which will help them in the long run. But, if they dont have multiple additions planned for the next 2-3 years, they might be in trouble!

[Coaster Palooza]

I have to say that Gyendolynne and I are HUGE Hard Rock Cafe fans (we have been to over half of them in the US) and after seeing Reed & Stacey's TR, along with R&E's review, we aren't going to Hard Rock Park this year.

 

We planned on attending the ACE event this weekend, but when they only had 1 hour of ERT, we decided to not do it. I guess ERT isn't such a luxury when the park isn't packed though. We were still going to try to go in August, but not now.

 

^I am with you Chris in regards to gas/airline prices. Our plans went from around 7 trips this year to 3.

[ParkTrips]

If you think about it.. what successful amusement park is more than 30 miles from an interstate? When I mean successful, I mean attendance of at least 1 million per year. I bet you can count them on one hand...

BUT Myrtle Beach gets 14M visitors per year, despite being a pain to get to. Granted, thats less than a third of what Orlando gets.

 

Unless the incoming tourists are aware that this brand new park exists, how can they expect them to budget the $250-$300 it is going to cost for a family of four to spend a day there? They just seem to be going about the process all wrong.

I know the full-blown, front-page article in the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution the other day certainly was a nice way to inform hundreds of thousands of readers. Maybe they should advertise even more?

[Scaparri]

Unless the incoming tourists are aware that this brand new park exists, how can they expect them to budget the $250-$300 it is going to cost for a family of four to spend a day there? They just seem to be going about the process all wrong.

I know the full-blown, front-page article in the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution the other day certainly was a nice way to inform hundreds of thousands of readers. Maybe they should advertise even more?

 

I like the specific 'Scott' reference.

 

That's good to hear, though! Other than the billboards near MB, I haven't heard of any other advertising. I guess I really just expected to see a few commercials. I feel like that's the best way to let people know they exist, 'cause I'm sure several million of those 14 million visitors aren't from neighboring states.

[ParkTrips]

I think a lot are from the mid-Atlantic states, from the beltway up through PA and NY. Perhaps thats where they should focus!

[BeemerBoy]

If you think about it.. what successful amusement park is more than 30 miles from an interstate? When I mean successful, I mean attendance of at least 1 million per year. I bet you can count them on one hand...

BUT Myrtle Beach gets 14M visitors per year, despite being a pain to get to. Granted, thats less than a third of what Orlando gets.

 

Yeah, but here's the thing about that number.....I'm willing to bet that a LARGE percentage of those visitors are middle-aged golfers who purchased a golf vacation package with their buddies. Trust me, I've researched it in the past for one of my own "out with the boys" vacations.

 

And with that large percentage of visitors, I'm also willing to bet that most, if not all of them aren't interested in doing anything but drinking and playing golf.

 

The best golf vacation value in the USA

 

 

I got several comments from readers about the high cost of the dream destinations I listed in my New Year's resolutions piece a few weeks back. These are once in a lifetime type golf trips, and yes, some of them can be pretty pricey (though I’ve got to say that a trip to many run-of-the-mill courses and resorts in high-ticket destinations like Vegas, Florida, Palm Springs or Phoenix can cost as much or more than world class vacations to Scotland, Ireland or Australia, and certainly more than domestic greats like Bandon Dunes). But many of you wanted lower priced golf trips, and I promised to come up with a similar list for values. And I will. But one golf destination stands so head and shoulders above others when it comes to delivering bang for the buck that I wanted to single it out: Myrtle Beach, S.C.

 

A reader from Myrtle just wrote in and said, “Disappointed you didn't list any Myrtle Beach area courses. I guess you've never ventured south but prefer Michigan and Wisconsin winters. It's forecast to be 73 here today! Come on down!”

 

Well actually I have been down, several times. I did not put Myrtle on my list because frankly, the best courses there are not as good as the best courses of Scotland or Ireland, or stateside, Bandon or Pebble, and I doubt you will find anyone who has played both who will disagree with me. But on the value front Myrtle simply cannot be beat. I wrote an article a few years back about how you could enjoy a full week’s golf vacation in Myrtle Beach, with lodging and golf, for less than just the cost of the greens fee for a single round at Pebble Beach. I think that is probably still the case. Myrtle has a plethora of better than average courses, along with a few really good ones, and a few really bad ones, but with over 100 public layouts one after another along the Grand Strand, plus endless lodging choices in every price range, it is hard to go wrong.

 

Myrtle is a perfect example of when it’s best to choose a package vacation. Here’s how it works: contact Myrtle Beach Golf Holidays, a booking consortium that offers hundreds of varied, customizable packages with virtually every course and lodging entity (800-845-GOLF, www.golfholiday.com). Most are available online but they can also send you a free glossy, magazine sized directory with detailed course and hotel information. Basic packages will be limited to a certain group of courses with upgrades available to play better known layouts. You choose where you want to stay, what caliber of courses you want, what kind of rental car you need, and whatever quality experience you are after, you can be confident that you will get a tremendous amount of golf vacation for the dollar. As my reader pointed out, the weather is favorable much of the year down there, and last winter when I visited Myrtle, I was able to find winter rates for rooms and 18-holes starting at just $45 a day.

[ParkTrips]

or drinking on the beach

 

Unlike Orlando, amusements aren't the main draw. It will take time to grow.

[RIP Psyclone]

It's funny how Hard Rock Park doesn't have a Hard Rock Cafe, being that there is already an older, well-established one in Myrtle Beach. Same thing with Planet Hollywood Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. The Planet Hollywood restaurant has been at the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace for years.

[Jew]

Judging by how many mini-golf places there were on the main street (not the beach one...the one right behind that), and how busy they all seemed to be as we were driving by...I'd say there is a shortage of family things to do in Myrtle Beach.

 

I think their plan all along was "Dad's already here for the golf, mom is already here for the resorts/beach...lets force them to give something for their kids to do!" At $50/person, that will be a tough sell. But with an adjustment in price/marketing/operating strategy, I think the park can be moderately successful.

[tnguy]

I just got back from Hard Rock Park, and I pretty much agree with everyone else. The place has potential, but it feels very bland. It looks like they started off with a good idea, but it didn't fully come together. I do have hope for them in the future though. Overall it was fun for a day, but I won't be rushing back.