Disney’s Hollywood Studios has its Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. SeaWorld has its Shamu Rocks show. And sometime next year, Universal Studios Florida guests will be able to experience the rush of riding on the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit.
But an entire theme park dedicated to rock ‘n’ roll ? Is the world really ready for that?
Well, ready or not, here comes Hard Rock Park. Though this 140-acre project won’t officially open ’til the first week of June, this past Tuesday the folks behind this $400 million development invited the media to come take a peek at the park. And based on what JHM’s reps saw … This place definitely has some possibilities.
Now please keep in mind that Hard Rock Park isn’t fully functional yet. Yesterday — for example — was the very first day that the Operations staff was able to cycle cars through this theme park’s roller soaker, “Slippery When Wet.” They’re also still trying to work out the kinks (No, not those Kinks) with “Maximum RPM,” the world’s first roller coaster to use a ferris wheel-type loading system.
But as for the rest of the park … the vast portion of Hard Rock’s rides, shows and attractions will be ready for guests when Myrtle Beach‘s newest attraction — as part of its test-and-adjust period — throws open its doors this morning and experiences its first full day (i.e. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) of operations.
“So what’s the place like?,” you ask. To be honest, the folks behind Hard Rock Park have made some very smart moves. They took the bones of what was already located around Fantasy Lagoon (i.e. the now-defunct Fantasy Harbor entertainment complex as well as the Waccamaw Factory Shoppes) and transformed that into a theme park that’s sure to appeal to tourists as well as hardcore music fans.
Mind you, this worksite did give the Hard Rock design team a few challenges. Take — for example — the height restrictions on this piece of South Carolina property. Because the old Fantasy Harbor complex was actually in the flight path for Myrtle Beach International Airport … Well, that meant that no HRP structure could be taller than 15 stories. Or otherwise this theme park would have been in violation of FAA regulations.
But — of course — if you’re an organization that celebrates rock ‘n’ roll, you gotta push the envelope a bit. See how close you can get to breaking the rules without actually breaking them. And in the case of “Led Zepplin : The Ride” (i.e. the tallest structure in Hard Rock Park), this coaster is just 13 inches shy of the FAA’s maximum-height limit.
Which, as you might imagine, puts a little extra thrill in this thrill ride. Though — that said — I seriously doubt that anyone will be able to take time out to look out for low-flying aircraft as they zoom along on “Led Zepplin : The Ride.” You see, this looping coaster has six separate inversions and reaches speeds of 65 MPH.
Hard Rock’s height restriction problems also seriously challenged the folks who were designing the park’s lagoon show. This nighttime water pageant — which is choreographed to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” — features 137 dancing fountains, fireworks as well as state-of-the-art lasers.
Speaking of those lasers … Again taking into consideration the safety of those planes that would be flying directly over Hard Rock Park … Well, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” team had to make sure that none of the the laser lights that are fired out from behind from Hard Rock’s signature 70-foot-tall guitar icon as part of the park’s nighttime water pageant were aimed straight up into the sky. Which might then result in the temporary blinding of a pilot.
Likewise, the “Bohemian Rhapsody” show only could make use of low level fireworks. Which — while they still look cool to those standing around Hard Rock Park’s 9-acre lagoon — would never have a negative impact on any flights that were passing overhead.
I know, I know. “Safety” and “consideration” aren’t words that one usually associates with rock ‘n’ roll. But the management team behind Hard Rock Park? It wasn’t enough for these guys to just deliver a great show to their paying customers. They also want to be thought of as a good neighbor by the rest of the Myrtle Beach community.
Of course, there was method to their madness. You see, the Hard Rock guys will need Myrtle Beach’s co-operation if they’re going to pull off some of the future plans that they currently have in the works for this theme park. These include a Halloween hard ticket event that may feature horror mazes that are personally designed by rock legends like Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson.
But all of that stuff … That’s a-ways down the road. For now, the folks at Hard Rock Park are far too busy concentrating on completing the “Sound Check” phase of this project (i.e. that’s what they’ve been calling HRP’s soft opening). As they prep for their official grand opening, which will be held on on June 2nd & 3rd and feature concert performances by the Eagles and the Moody Blues.
In the meantime, the Hard Rock design team is concentrating on adding whimsical touches to their park (Like the “Free Air Guitar” stand shown above) as well as making sure that their signature attractions are up to snuff.
And speaking of white powdery substances that one could place in one’s nose * … As you make your way through the queue of “Nights in White Satin: The Trip,” there’s this moment where an employee hands you a pair of holographic glasses and insists that you put them on immediately.
Why For? Because you’re about to enter a room that’s been done — floor-to-ceiling — in black light paint.
And as you stand there, watching the room throb with color as you experience the stone-cold-sober equivalent of being drugged out of your gourd … That’s when you realize that this ain’t your Daddy’s theme park.
For further information on Hard Rock Park, please click on this link.
Your thoughts ?
* This year’s nominee for “World’s Worst Segue” at JHM