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Author: Tim Barnes | Total views: 19 Comments: 0
Word Count: 734 Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 2:26 AM

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Hard Rock Park was billed as the beginning of great things to come in Myrtle Beach. A savior to a vacation spot that had seen dips in tourism during the summer months of the past couple years. Myrtle Beach had been on its way to phasing out bikers and bike rallies to make room for family vacationers in May and October, making a weekend pilgrimage to the beach and a day at the Hard Rock Park an affordable possibility. In the high months of the summer, perhaps that is what happened. Then the rubber hit the road, the attendance numbers at the Hard Rock Park dropped amidst grumblings of the park being too pricey, too small, just not enough bang for the buck. Just four months into its first year of operations, the park was closed, the owners were screaming from the windows of the poorhouse and every visitor that arrived to Myrtle Beach by airplane was reminded of Hard Rock's failure by flying over the monstrous unlit Les Paul guitar, standing in effigy of mismanagement and poor community response.

Now it seems that Hard Rock Park will rise from the ashes. With a new buyer that got a real steal on the price and the ability to keep the name while changing to a new management team that seems eager to do whatever it takes to keep it open and thriving. Hard Rock may have a shot at building something brilliant out of the rubble that the previous owners left in their rearview. So now is the time for the new owners to ask us...what will it take for you, the Myrtle Beach public, to get behind this thing and make it work? With May right around the corner and no one asking us yet, I have decided to put in our two cents. That's right! I am giving you a list of demands that we, the Myrtle Beach and South Carolina Residents, need to see happen before we climb on the bandwagon again and let you drive us into the boonies and leave us to hitchhike home.

Demand #1:

In this economically tumultuous time, we need to see real discounts for South Carolina residents. That means on the Daily Pass and the Annual Pass. Let's make a dent with this discount, no ten or twenty percent. We are the ones that keep you afloat in the lean months, remember that.

Demand #2:

The park needs a shuttle service during the summer. To alleviate traffic problems on US 501 and surrounding areas, offer a free shuttle to tourists staying at the hotels of the Grand Strand to the park and home again without the fuss of traffic and parking issues.

Demand #3:

Start using the stage god gave ya. Let's book big bands, small bands on the rise, established artists, smaller venue festivals, whatever it takes to bring the rock back to the Hard Rock Park.

Demand #4:

Buy one Daily Pass, get the next day free with the presentation of your ticket stub. Come on, SeaWorld does it. Carowinds does it. Why should you have a problem with it?

Demand #5:

This one gives you a viable income in the Fall. Open the Park with a Halloween theme in October. Again, Carowinds does it in October with Scarowinds. You could call it Goth Rock Park or Death Metal Days or think of a name yourself, we're not married to any of those.

Demand #6:

This one is more of a request to do the right thing. One day, in the off-season, you should dedicate to the members of the Police and Fire Departments of South Carolina. Make admission free, but you could still charge for food and refreshments if need be. The Police and Fire Forces risk their lives on a daily basis, the least thing you could do is give them a day at the park with families and friends.

So there they are. I really do not think they are too much to ask to receive our unwavering support. We know you are starting over from scratch so take your time on honoring them, but do not make us wait too long. We may start to feel snubbed again and we all know where that leads.

About the Author

This article is provided as a courtesy from Monster Resorts Group. Visit us to see how we are able to offer the best deals on high end Myrtle Beach resorts and Myrtle Beach hotels.