Im not sure when it was started or when it ended, but it was thriving during the moon-launch summer of 1969. the buildings were built two-thirds scale to those in Charleston. were gone, the lights turned out for the last time. Magic Harbor - Myrtle Beach, SC - (1960s? The Attic was my first love, first dance and first long-distance boyfriend!, We spent many many great nights at the pavilion. Was this park named Pirate Land back in 1971? MYRTLE BEACH PAVILION AMUSEMENT PARK Ocean Blvd 8th-9th Ave N The amusement park across Ocean Blvd is also closed and torn down. In the early 70s I worked there as a early teenager and my older brother was one of the Pirates. I can barely but do remember visiting Pirateland as a child. The park, which also includes a 10,000-sq. This park is commonly referred by locals as "Haunted Harbor" here's a brief history why. Himalaya while the buildings and grounds were spruced up and given a new coat of paint. net Find a better deal. But the grounds looked just like a Haunted Town. I also recall an interesting feature of the log flume in the early slow-moving stages of the ride, I seem to recall that it actually went through some of the shops and the arcade, which was a cool feature one that Ive never seen repeated anywhere else. Mother Fletchers closed in 2004 and The Freaky Tiki in Myrtle Beach closed before the 2006 season. From the human checkerboard games to the Sun Fun Jaila place for anyone breaking from wearing summer attirethis festival was wholesome family fun at its finest. It offered some of the best views of the Grand Strand. Anybody else rememebr the skating rink you skated on wax (it think) with ice skates. To capture the nostalgia of the park and what made it so special, we asked our MyrtleBeach.com fans what they remembered most fondly about the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. Log In. The park originated as a Wild, Wild West Theme Park in the 1960,s complete with They were BBQ with lettuce, finely shredded cheese & a tomato wedge Not like the tacos that are served these days!, We always rolled into Myrtle Beach on the street beside the rides, and we were always excited to see the Pavilion. (Oh yeah! We loved the big ride up front that let us see the ocean., The arcade. Located 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach on the old Highway 17, it was a novel attraction for its time. Rhonda was a cast member for many years (including the days at Magic Harbor). Please email any pictures you would like to share to scharettbonnie@gmail.com. It seemed to us that the people who worked at Magic Harbor and the cast of HSC were more like family than co-workers. These days, the dinner-and-a-show entertainment continues nightly, but was re-themed in 2011 as Pirates Voyage. The first in many deaths occurred as a it was July 4th in the mid 90s. The park closes to the public on Sept. 24, with a ticketed The Last Ride event held on Sept. 30 and a final private party send-off at The Attic in October. Secondly the manager from Blackpool to whom you referred is my father, Carl. Yeah, Magic Harbor was on US-17 north of 544 and south of Myrtle Beach State Park. My female cousins and friends that I took along on our beach trips all loved Magic Harbor as well. A historical marker commemorating the Myrtle Beach Pavilion is placed on the northeast corner of the lot and a small live-music stage and sand volleyball courts are built in the area where the pavilion building once stood. I doubt Blayne remembers me but my bff at the time was dating his brother, Tony. Any remembrances would be appreciated. Rained most of the time but didn't matter. Does anyone remember Pirateland? the park grounds and buildings were put up for sale, the rides removed and sold off. As horrific as her death was, you all make it worse with comments like that. Don Perry Sr. will attest to that, as would others. Dixie Stampede became one of the most popular shows in town during a time when the Myrtle Beach show scene was really thriving. The attraction spans three areas, including the Pavilion Park East (the former Pavilion Nostalgia Park), Pavilion Park West (a kid-focused area) and Pavilion Park South (an area focused on thrilling rides). You wrote a great little memory piece right up till the end there. With more than 10 million visitors per year, we aim to provide users with the most comprehensive vacation planning guide for the Myrtle Beach area with more than 1,000 hotels, restaurants and attractions. With folks flocking to Liz Claiborne, DKNY, Bon Worth, QVC, and other stores, and people coming from all over the country just to buy the top-notch ceramics Waccamaw Pottery was famous for, it was a popular stop for many tourists. The changes they made were actually very successful. After two months, several rides were The park did continue to operate as-is after Sherris death, but there were continuous lawsuits against Blackpool Pleasurebeach, LLC from the time of their purchase by local groups, not to be named here, who greedily felt they should have the park and not an international company, even though Blackpool introduced the Worlds Largest Ferris Wheel, at that time and make Magic Harbor a great place. To this day, the park remains emptyso empty that it was used in NBCs apocalyptic drama Revolutionbut some of its rides have been appropriated to Family Kingdom, while others have been sold and are moving to a park in Vietnam. Despite massive damages to the tune of $420 million across the country, the storm did not take down the reinforced pavilion structure, which became a symbol of perseverance for the town during a tragic time. He would put coins in & yell Break out! just like he was a teenager himself; It was his Rebel call, I guess. Not far from there across the way was the alligator swamp which provided tons of entertainment if you had a pack of Saltine crackers. Lots of great memories and good friendships formed that summer. In fact, Im pretty sure there wasnt a Perry in sight at that point to confirm any of the operators. Her parents did sue and won. Our family went here every time we were in Myrtle Beach. A decade after its closure, were looking back on the history of the Pavilion, its legacy and the present and future of its historic location. By signing up, you agree to receive our weekly newsletter, deals, and other occasional updates. 2012 Yes it was. What would later become one of the Pavilions most iconic attractions, the Herschell-Sillman Carousel, is built in 1912. After serving as a front-line base throughout the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf War, the base closed for good in 1993, sparking a variety of ideas as to its future use. Were they sold or torn down? Can some refresh my memory and tell me what year that took place. who was heading off to study at Clemson University, Andy at The Bucket drop, Sir Hugh at the pub, Bryan, Scott, Johnny, etcyou guys were truly charming! Tony was our production manager. Jul 20, 2016 - This Pin was discovered by Maria Sellers. Originally called PirateLand, it was renamed for its 1975 re-opening with a revamped British theme. The song that the Carolina Breakers recorded called Boardwalk Angel so reminds me of all of this!, Playing the games and the funny mirrors. The park introduces two new rides, the Enterprise and the Mind Scrambler, which is an update of the classic Scrambler ride in a new building with flashing lights and music. I had a dream that it broke free and rolled across the street once, lol. Also opening in 1978 was The Haunted Hotel originally called the "Haunted Inn" a dark ride with scary, animatronic ghosts and ghouls inside. The Magic Harbor Amusement Park is long gone but remembered fondly by many. They both created small communities -They call them Villa Communities where they built modular homes that people use as their vacation homes because they love the campground atmosphere, but no longer cared to drive a big RV. grounds began to take on a sinister look for several years. company that owned "Blackpool Pleasure Beach" bought into the park. The final pieces of the demolition happen in March and April. Throughout the 1980s, several smaller additions are made to the park, including the addition of a small train-themed coaster called the Little Eagle that opened in 1986. His family owned the park when it was successful. Heres a few of our favorites: Check out these great images of the Pavilion area taken from historic postcards from the 1960s (Click here to see more great postcards): Want to learn even more about the Pavilion? It was truly a beautiful place as it was located Yes, there was a robbery/murder, but it was actually the owner who was killed as someone broke into his home to rob and murder him. They are the ones who built the Water Slide (the first fiberglass slide on the East Coast), built the Log Flume, added the Corkscrew Roller-coaster, a live Dolphin Show, had Hot Air Balloon rides, and built the High Steppin Country Theater creating what would become the longest running show in Myrtle Beach). This thrilling wooden coaster featured a 100 foot drop and a top speed of 55 mphit was a favorite among guests from its opening in 2000 until the parks closing in 2006. It was truly a beautiful place as it was located above a lake with a campground (still in use) on the other side of the lake. The real tradgedy is how much we have grown apart since then and seldom ever see each other as we are all probably looking forward to becoming or already grand parents. You could be in the arcade (or whatever buildings they were), and in the back there were folks passing through on the log flume. This $2 million compact steel roller coaster features small cars that race around a track that features many quick dips and sharp, hairpin turns. I had the biggest crush on one of the other performers. Lol riding the water slide when I was t afraid of heights was great and the Ferris wheel. As young girls I think we all fell in love with any number of cute high school guys working there each and every summer! So glad I found this. Located 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach on the old Highway 17, it was a novel attraction for its time. Occupying a small portion of the amusement parks space near the Kings Highway side of the lot, Myrtle Beach Adrenaline Adventures opens a zipline attraction on the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion area. As a new generation of visitors experience the joys of the pavilion at Broadway at the Beachs latest incarnation Pavilion Park many in the older generation are left missing the original. no wonder while locals refer to the park as "Haunted Harbor". My memories of that time have become insanely romanticized and it is very sad for me to hear that it has all been flattened. First of all, Sherri DePew was not nearly decapitated at all, as I was sitting two cars behind her when she tragically came out of her seat and knocked her head on the rail that enclosed the Black Witch. The park the writer is confused with was Fort Caroline. The New park opened to great fanfare and fireworks on Memorial Day Weekend, but without Major Theme Park type rides, attendance soon went downhill. Magic Harbor Magic Harbor, Myrtle Beach Single-Family Homes Magic Harbor is a neighborhood of homes in Myrtle Beach South Carolina offering an assortment of beautiful styles, varying sizes and affordable prices to choose from. Residents of Belle Harbor are breathing a sigh of relief at least temporarily after the Myrtle Beach Planning Commission voted Tuesday against extending two roads with cul-de-sacs to The new Myrtle Beach Pavilion building, built of poured concrete to withstand winds up to 150 mph, officially opens. Thank you very much for your comment. The Myrtle Beach Pavilions first roller coaster, the Comet Jr., opens in 1951. Yes , it was. Though it is never proven, many believe it is one of these fires which causes the demise of the wooden structure. Park It was after the removal of the Corkscrew that the park went downhill by means of several changes of ownership. The park did continue to operate as-is after Sherris death, but there were continuous lawsuits against Blackpool Pleasurebeach, LLC from the time of their purchase by local groups, not to be named here, who greedily felt they should have the park and not an international company, even though Blackpool introduced the Worlds Largest Ferris Wheel, at that time and make Magic Harbor a great place. Echo Valley . The Perrys always spoke fondly of their time as owners of Magic Harbor. I would also like to comment that Blayne Perrys account above is much more similar to what I recall than is the original account by Bret Malone. There was no packing up and leaving town as you incorrectly wrote. Those were good memories!. Funny Ive been to all the Disney World and Lands except Euro Disney. She flew out while the woman behind her tried to hold onto her. But its first home in Myrtle Beach was at Magic Harbor, unless I am mistaken and its not the same coasterbut I am pretty sure it was. Discover (and save!) The ride features a 70-foot drop and two looping corkscrews and was in operation for more than 30 year until is was removed to make way for the Hurricane: Category 5. I cant remember his name but he sang Timber Im Falling and Anytime Youre Feeling Lonely. The place just never recaptured that magic (no pun intended.) The pirates used a small cannon to make a big boom at the paddlewheel boat, and during one such exhibition, the cannon blew up, sending my brother the pirate over a building. A Sky-Ride carried park patrons to and from an island located on the lake. It featured an Opera House, train, sternwheel boat, chairlift out to Skull Island and back on Buccaneer Bay where an alligator lived, as well as a puppet show, pirate fights, an aquatic show(I think), a pirate museum, and a then-new log-flume ride. Again, the park changed hands and the company that owned Blackpool Pleasure Beach bought into the park. your own Pins on Pinterest Chris at: emai me at achristopher.mathews@gmail.com. Blayne, I hope you can correct your inaccuracies. And, not to forget that feeling in the pit of my stomach on the way down., I loved the crazy mirrors, and I ate my first slice of pizza ever there! Over its decades-long run, Sun Fun welcomed tens of thousands of guests and became the longest running festival in the area. Im back. 3 Magic Harbor Just four miles south of Myrtle Beach, Magic Harbor Amusement Park had all the makings of a fun attraction a roller coaster, bumper cars, Tilt-a-Whirl, arcade, hedge maze, Ferris wheel, and other all-ages rides, but it never really succeeded. Located 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach on the old In the mid 1990's, a Carnival Ride Company took lease of Trust me, we didnt like them there any more than anyone else. Theyd use college guys as pirates and thered be a couple street sword fights. The success of Sun Fun and other events in the 1980s and 90s solidified Myrtle Beach as the hub of family-friendly festivals in the Southeast. Hello to all the people who worked with me during those four wonderful summers. This beloved Myrtle Beach dinner show ran for 18 years and hosted tons of families making memories noshing on down home cookin and cheering on the North and the South in a competition that featured horse riding, lassoing, pig races, and much more. I do have one question who were the people suing for business reasons and not reasons related to any of the tragic deaths that occurred? As the Myrtle Beach area grows in population, tourism increases at a steady pace throughout the 1930s. Former status: Operated. When fans remember the old Myrtle Beach of the 1980s and 1990s, Mother Fletchers, Freaky Tiki, Purple Gator, and the Pavilion all come to mind. Darin Spencer, CPA, MAcc, MBA (PhD. It is true that the name Tragic Harbor (as a play on Magic Harbor) was, and is, used to reference the Park for many reasons: the obvious tragedies that occurred, the multiple ownerships, the questionable business tactics and employee treatment from the British group, etc Thanks for the comment Ky! I wasnt the best worker in the world and even got sick in the hot sun lol I remember the cheese of all things and I remember wrecking with Tina pace on the witches cauldron. With more than 10 million visitors per year, we aim to provide users with the most comprehensive vacation planning guide for the Myrtle Beach area with more than 1,000 hotels, restaurants and attractions. See more of National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives on Facebook. Throughout the late 1950s and into the 1960s, the area surrounding the Myrtle Beach pavilion thrives. It was sold to the Myrtle Beach Pavilion where it remained until it was replaced with the Hurricane coaster. Myrtle Beach Pavilion: Myrtle Beach: 1948-2006 Springs Park Lancaster . My dad wasnt given the park to make a go of it whatsoever. It was exactly like the one currently at Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach. My father ran that amusement park and waterslide with compassion and honesty and fairness to his employees. I have never heard anything about the Magic Harbour property having been called Haunted Harbour.. What fun memories I will always have from Magic Harbor, circa 1983+. 2008-2009 Later known as Freestyle Music Park: Heritage USA: Fort Mill: 1978-1989 Magic Harbor: Surfside Beach: 1954-mid 1990s It was originally named PirateLand. The organ weighs in at more than two tons and measures 20 feet wide and 11 feet high with 400 pipes, 98 keys and numerous cherubs and twirling figures. Made a lot of great friends there. Blayne, I hope you can correct your inaccuracies. I was 19 years old. Blayne is correct, the Wild West park was not there. That was the best! Trust me, we didnt like them there any more than anyone else. Used to sit in there for hours with my grandfather playing the baseball games., Sitting up top near the club watching the traffic and people below., Going [to the Pavilion] every vacation as a kid, I loved the wall with the sculptures that made music., I miss the good old days at the Myrtle Beach pavilion., Skee ball and riding the Himalaya ride with my cousin and of course a dip cone., The years from 1953-1958, I was 14 when my family would go to watch dancers at the Pavilion! From its oceanfront location in the heart of downtown to its classic attractions, like the Herschell-Sillman carousel and German Baden Band Organ, there was plenty to like about this park, but the wild rides were the most memorable part for many. a.k.a. It sat unused for years, until, as Malone says, they bulldozed the whole thing. your own Pins on Pinterest Rainbow Harbor Shopping Center. It is kind of out of place considering the era the movie was set in. The carnival agrees to make its permanent home across the street from the old pavilion on the west side of Ocean Boulevard, as a reinforced concrete version of the main pavilion building is built on the east side of the street. Good memories each and every one., The Magic Attic. Man, I miss those times., The Ferris wheels that were side by side were my favorite. Myrtle Magic - This 2-bedroom Myrtle Magic offers accommodation around a 10-minute drive from the outdoor fun Broadway at the Beach Mall, while Myrtle Beach Convention Center is within 2.3 miles away. I remember the year the Corkscrew opened and everybody was in awe of it. I know because I worked there and am actually writing a novel about it. I imagine its the exact same coaster that was later relocated to the downtown Pavillion park where it was enjoyed for many, many years by millions of people. I operated the upside down roller coaster there in the mid 70s. Oh my goodness I stumbled across these posts while doing some research for a trip and I so enjoyed this little walk down memory lane. It was by the Priate Land campground. Magic Harbor was thriving! Family Kingdom, in Myrtle Beach now has the top of the famous Lighthouse Steeple that used to grace the parks parking lot. Four-Day/Three-Night Stay at Crown Reef Beach Resort & Waterpark, 4 Tickets to the new Iconic show at Alabama Theatre. I went many times but the best being when Santee Cooper rented the park out for employee families. Weve gathered the top 10 memories of Myrtle Beach to help you relive the fun again. A Sky-Ride carried park patrons to and from an island located on the lake. I worked at Magic Harbor from 1984 to 1988. Maybe some people have used the term, but it isnt widespread or common. park is commonly referred by locals as "Haunted Harbor" here's a brief history I still maintain friendships with former employees who adored my dad and the tireless efforts he put into Magic Harbor. I distinctly remember this. A longtime favorite, the Galaxi roller coaster shuts down after the 1997 season and is moved to the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach. Magic Harbor Myrtle Beach, SC. Since 2008, residential developments, including the Market Common have popped up. The work of the Perry family has had a significant, positive impact on the economy of Myrtle Beach and countless young people. I can precisely say NOT ONE of them was from England, as you incorrectly wrote. PIRATELAND / MAGIC HARBOR 4901 S. King's Highway Myrtle Beach, SC (803) 238-0717 This was a small amusement park approximately 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach, located on Highway 17 south of MB Air Force Base (now Airport). So, its highly unlikely that Blaynes account is untrue. Our three boys went on every ride. The Thompsons packed up and left town. Even after the destruction of the building, the pavilions midway remains a popular attraction for visitors. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Again, the park changed hands and the Another business group bought the park and turned it into a more traditional type of amusement area with classic rides. Bret Malone must not have thoroughly researched his article. The park originated as a Wild, Wild West Theme Park in the 1960,s complete with Cowboys, Indians, gunfights and more. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Save $1,000s with the Monster Coupon app! If youre one of the select few who chose to brave The Great Recession in 2008-09 to visit Myrtle Beach and actually attend one of the parks two incarnations, then chances are you actually enjoyed your time there. MyrtleBeach.com is the Grand Strands largest privately- owned tourism portal. Fun memories of a wonderful childhood spent growing up in Myrtle Beach. Magic Harbor USA / South Carolina / Surfside Beach / amusement park, abandoned / shut down, historical layer / disappeared object It did not make wise financial sense for Mr. Thompson to continue to invest money into MH when he was constantly paying unwarranted attorney fees to defend what he rightfully purchased and tried to do well. The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park is officially built when Myrtle Beach Farms signs an agreement with a traveling carnival that is in town for the Conway Tobacco Festival. My dad moved his entire family over to America from England and with three of us in school and no family in this area, he didnt not want to uproot us again. She also obviously knew the Perrys well and they were always friendly and welcoming. A similar ride is still in operation today at nearby Family Kingdom amusement park. only caused more people to refrain from visiting. My condolences to those families. For a short time after the demolition, Burroughs & Chapin sells collector bags of crushed concrete from the Magic Attic floor and the Walk of Fame on the Pavilion store website. Wild, Wild West Theme Way before this place was Magic Harbor, it was Pirateland, just as the campground next door still is. This In fact The Black Witch was my first hard core rollercoaster. In 1992, the portion of Chester Street that runs through the pavilion is closed off, and the amusement park is expanded to take up the entire area between Eighth and Ninth avenues North from Ocean Boulevard to Kings Highway. Magic Harbor operated under various owners from the 1960's to the mid 1990's. Maps Road Maps. The shopping center ran successfully for three decades before shutting down for good in 2005. [Black Witch Roller Coaster] The city, realizing that the buildings were a fire hazard, bulldozed everything the following year. Myrtle Beach: 1970-1981 The park closed due to competition with Pavilion Amusement Park. My hubby and I rode the rides on our honeymoon! I am doing some scrapbooks and dont really have any good pictures of the park itself just my friends. You could see it easily from the highway. Once Now I cant say how all that worked there where treated, but I do know that I never saw anyone unhappy at thier job. It's I remember the corkscrew coaster at the Pavilion Amusement Park. Updated Tuesday, April 03, 2007. At the height of its popularity the store served as the hub of the Waccamaw Factory Shoppes, an enormous 750,000-square-foot outlet shopping complexat the time, the nations third largestthat included more than 100 stores. The organ was originally built for display at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris and had toured Europe on a wagon for decades before being brought to the beach. Magic Harbor Wikimapia is a multilingual open-content collaborative map, where anyone can create place tags and share their knowledge. New rides added during this time include the Pipeline Slide, a huge dryslide; the Cliff Hanger, a spinning hang-gliding ride; The Rocket, a 200-foot-tall tower with spinning, flipping swings; and The Speed XXL, where riders are spun around at speeds of up to 50 mph and heights of up to 130 feet. My father loved playing the jukebox! On Saturday, July 20, 1991, a 17-year-old male is killed while riding a ferris wheel at the park. The teen, who was riding with his 12-year-old sister and 15-year-old friend at the time of the accidents, had been rocking the rides car and was warned by the ride operator to stop, but eventually their car tipped over and the safety bar broke.