Photo TR: Adam and Andrew Conquer Freestyle Music Park

Just this weekend Andrew and I made a trip up to Myrtle Beach to check out Freestyle Music Park (before it potentially goes under). We were both pretty surprised at how nice the park actually was, but the fatal flaw remains: its location. If it were closer (if not on) the beach, it would have a better chance. More likely, if it were in a better city in general, it would have a better chance.

 

I do have to give Freestyle a good deal of credit for rebranding the park in the way they did, considering they amount of time and resources they had to deal with in order to reopen on time. That being said, there only seems to be one truly out-of-place attraction in the park, but I'll get to that soon.

 

Here is a breakdown of our experience...

 

We got to the park, ready to get our $5 tickets thanks to the Jackson 5 promotion in memory of Michael Jackson, only to find that we were among a handful of guests present for the opening. It didn't get much better from there with the park remaining virtually empty until the afternoon.

 

We started out by riding The Time Machine. Formerly Led Zeppelin: The Ride, this B&M is decent--nothing special but nothing terrible. There was a little bit of B&M rattle, but nothing to complain about. The one plus I found in the ride (and in the other audio-plussed coasters in the park) was that the audio for each circuit varied by one of five decades (60's thru 00's), though we only got to experience the 70's and the 90's. I'll echo what others have said (even back when the park was still under the Hard Rock banner) that the ride's loading scheme is horribly confusing for the general public and makes for a very awkward situation. Lets just say that Andrew and I were cheated out of our assigned seats in the back row several times by guests that felt that the numbers meant nothing.

 

Following The Time Machine we moved Across the Pond to ride Round About (formerly Maximum R.P.M.). The Premier first features a ferris wheel lift, audio-enabled six-seater cars and a drop that makes the rest of the terribly dull second half worth the wait. Considering the wait was non-existent, we had no reason to complain. Surprisingly enough, this ride ended up being my favorite (and I believe it was Andrew's as well) of the park, all because of the first drop, the commodity of the lift and the wonderful selections of music matched to the ride. It seems as if this ride received the most attention when being reworked as we counted over seven different audio sets for the ride with each ride featuring a new mix. This was definitely a highlight of the visit.

 

Onto Monstars of Rock... The "monstrosity" takes place in a graveyard where it should truly belong. I hate to be so negative, but there isn't too much to be said here. I can appreciate that the park's owners tried to start over with this one, but the minimal budget (and even smaller effort) that went into creating the Nights in White Satin killer bleeds mediocrity on a level I'd not experienced. The weakest attraction in the park, I would have rather seen the building sealed off with the promise of a new attraction for the next season, considering that these cardboard cutouts and neutered show scenes can't possibly earn the attraction the honor of being considered a dark ride. At best, this can be considered a comic on wheels devoid of any of the unique effects, show scenes or overall appeal that its predecessor or any other existing dark ride carries. Words can't describe how disappointed I was with this one.

 

From that letdown we moved to Kids in America, the new children-focused area that the park seems to have pitched itself around for its rebirth. Hang Ten is a standard roller skater. There isn't too much more to be said here.

 

Soak'd (Slippery When Wet) was my second suspended "water coaster" but unlike Rollersoaker, this one lacked the rider-controlled drop systems to soak the guests that were soaking you. Sitting back-facing on the ride yields a less-wet experience, but a more jarring one.

 

The last coaster of the park was Iron Horse, formerly Life in the Fast Lane (or Midnight Rider, depending on how you look at it). This Vekoma mine train was my first, and I was surprised at how jerky it ran for us. You'll see in the video for yourself, but my camera stuttered several times as a result of the jolts that came from this interesting ride. Like the other music-enabled rides, this one featured varying audio tracks, which was a plus--especially being able to see the few riders present rocking out to The Devil went down to Georgia.

 

We took the time to see the park's ice show (the original anchor of the Waccamaw Outlet redevelopment project)--it was nice, but again, nothing special. Its production values reminded Andrew of Katonga at Busch Gardens Tampa.

 

We left the park by the mid afternoon to visit Family Kingdom and Broadway at the Beach (those photos will come later) returning that evening to catch the much-hyped fireworks show, Kiss the Sky as well as a few additional runs on Round About and Time Machine. The park had actually picked up a decent number of guests, filling the entire Time Machine pre-show room, bringing the wait time to about 20 minutes. The fireworks show was well edited and made use of some unique pyrotechnics that caught us both off guard. There was a nice selection of music (even a brief section of Bohemian Rhapsody) and a nice mix of lasers, fireworks and light effects. My only gripe was that unlike Bohemian Rhapsody's show last year, the Gibson guitar's strings didn't light up individually to correspond with the song; they only lit up in a sweeping motion to the music.

 

Overall, our park experience was a good one with the visit surprising us in a good way. The fatal flaw remains, location. I'm still holding out for the park's survival, but my expectations aren't high.

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=FSMP_ggcg[/coastertube]

Somehow Freestyle convinced Gibson to stay with the park after Hard Rock was removed. The Gibson Guitar store isn't open yet, but the guitar remains as the main icon of the park as well as the focal point of the Kiss the Sky fireworks show.

Nothing to look at. Move along.

The park's new area, Kids in America has absorbed the roller skater, the water coaster and the former concert venue.

Strategic bench placement always helps to bring attention to a park sign.

*Insert tumbleweed in Rock Garden photo*

These used to be in Nights in White Satin: The Trip. Now they are outside.

 

Oohs and awws can start now.

Time for some Park Index love!

Shame!

As does Iron Horse!

This park officially has my approval!

What have we here?

But like Monstars of Rock, 120 minute wait times scare me!

Andrew likes to see dark rides with insane wait times...

Even the green car was working today!

No more karaoke...

I believe the text was changed here.

At night, the water effects originally intending for the car wash were turned on... The mist was pretty refreshing!

Premier must be gunning for my heart!

At least Abbey Road remains.

No more Codpiece Fish and Chips...

Apparently the park is missing a troll...

 

Call and find out what I mean. (843)-646-6166

Another renamed location.

Across the Pond was empty.

The ride looks good and rides well too.

The zeppelin is now a Time Machine.

Polynesian's Splash Bash is actually a pretty nice water fortress.

Adrenaline Rush is the park's skate show. We passed on this one.

I'm sure a brick for Michael Jackson will be added to this memorial ring eventually.

You've seen this before, right?

Formerly "Rock and Roll Heaven"

Beware HRP Creative Services! I've found the free air guitars. Ready your lawyers!

The Beale Street Theater was showing a tribute video documenting Michael Jackson's career.

We later found out that this wasn't the only Rockaccino in Myrtle Beach.

It works. No complaints here.

I love the song. The shop didn't do anything for me, but it certainly wasn't a bad idea...

And we earned it!

We wore white gloves to get our Jackson 5 tickets.

A nice touch at the entrance.

I'm all thumbs for Freestyle Music Park!

Excited to be here much?

I will admit. The logo has definitely grown on me!

One of Freestyle Music Park's ways to honor Michael Jackson.

Too bad none of the ticket booths were open. Not a great sign.

A Universal-esque entrance, right?

Our fellow guests are few.

Only one booth was open, even in the busier evening.

Welcome!

Freestyle Music Park is now a part of the Fantasy Harbor District.

Our hotel hasn't gotten with the picture yet.

The morning view from our hotel room brought an interesting flashback to Waccamaw.

(Continued)

 

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KisstheSky_mh2t[/coastertube]

Freestyle Music Park: We're watching you!

Freestyle Music Park now offers jet ski and kayak rides with the dolphins in its lagoon.

Our hotel had a high-quality advertising agreement with the park.

That about sums it up.

Soak'd

Get off of my Cloud

Some more index love.

The old picture was replaced with this one. It works.

"Meh. It exists."

 

-TPDave

They actually have a low-ropes course in this park!

No longer the grEAT MEals Diner.

Now its busy... Bad for us. Better for the park.

The ride actually has a story!

I'm excited to be here! Can't you tell?

Whee!

Woosh!

While this stone guitar is still here, it is not really interactive anymore. Now it just randomly plays audio clips (none of which are associated to Led Zeppelin or Stairway to Heaven).

I like it better than Reggae River Falls.

This place had the best quick service theme park burgers I've ever had!

A trace of the Banana Splits after Hard Rock Park.

The repurposed Waccamaw Outlet buildings that were acquired as a part of the park have received a new Freestyle paint scheme to help associate it with the park.

I really do like the park's logo...

Get with the picture Myrtle Beach!

The living statue is a nice touch.

A name sign in the wild!

"Ah! Its funny because it is parody of Rolling Stone!"

We passed on this as well.

Curvy Premier goodness!

A short but really fun ride.

The former path to the now demolished Phonehenge.

I'm not sure what the point of this was/is.

Shockingly enough, there was a line for Soak'd!

During our break from Freestyle Music Park, Andrew and I went over to Broadway at the Beach to give MagiQuest a try, visit the Pavilion Nostalgia Park and to visit Family Kingdom to grab our Swamp Fox credit.

 

MagiQuest was a fun little experience, though I felt a little childish running around the facility waving a wand at inanimate objects. For the most part, the wands work great, but the RFID tags can be a bit tempermental, making the experience a little more frustrating at times. The scenery and the system's interactive features are well integrated in a medieval scenario that can't help but evoke the magi in you.

 

The Pavilion Nostalgia park was credit-less (a disappointment for me), so we breezed through the place, taking just enough time to grab some photos.

 

Family Kingdom wasn't anything major, and wasn't particularly cheap for what we wanted to do, so rather than opting for a ride wristband ($21 for the day)for our 25 minute visit, we just paid the one-ride ticket price for a ride on Swamp Fox. Please note, we were both too big to ride on the kiddie coaster. Swamp Fox, supposedly rated the #8 best wooden roller coaster in the US, was decent. It wasn't terribly rough, but wasn't smooth either. It was a pretty simple coaster, except for some ridiculous mini hills thrown in at high speeds. It was a credit that we grabbed and left. Simple enough.

At least they were smart enough to advertise...

Anyone catch the humor in this?

An overview of the park thanks to the park's courtesy map.

The park also features an older-style wooden log flume.

As much as I love Tilt-a-Whirls, we skipped this one.

Swamp Fox towers over the rest of the park's assets.

Thunder Bolt.

The old school braking system is still in place, though not in use.

Buzz bars aplenty on Swamp Fox.

Somehow, I have to question who rated this #8...

Index worthy? You decide.

Family Kingdom's Shock Drop tower greets us at the entrance.

I loves me some Fjunnel Cakes!

The world will never have enough Pirate Ships.

The Pavilion Band Organ was on display for all to see and hear.

One of several flats from the former park.

Old teacups.

Time for the Pavilion Nostalgia Park!

I really wonder if that Bermuda Triangle film is the one that played at Seaworld before Wild Arctic was installed...

Hey Mike and Dave!

I leave you with this midly humorous throwback to Tyler!

Kiss got it first!

Senor Frogs. I hear it is amazing but we didn't get to go.

Hard Rock in Myrtle Beach... An interesting pair, don't you think?

Woah, that fire works display has to be one of the best I have ever seen. This park is pretty much an Orlando type of attraction, Unfourtunatly its not in Orlando.

It's so cute that the repeat guest stars of my trip reports have teamed up. It's like they're their own people!

 

Keep on truckin', guys!

+100 points for having Charlie Daniels Band accompany you on Iron Horse.

I finally was able to read this! Great trip report! And this...OMG!

 

LMAO!

 

It's so great when you can later laugh about it, isn't it?

 

--Robb

Awesome report & videos Adam! It looks like you had a fun time at Myrtle Beach. Does the Iron Horse still have the fire effect at the end of the ride? I couldn't tell from the POV.

Looks like I'll never get to go to this park! Nice to see them waste more and more money on a losing effort

 

The best part of this tr for me was getting a flashback the time when Joey was molested by a Mexican woman at Senor Frogs in Mexico..

Those lines were SHOCKING.

^^^^I can't ever look at one of those platforms or anything that looks remotely similar without chuckling... But I guess you haven't seen the photos of me sitting in the actual "wheelchair seat" on Jurassic Park. That was sheer Karma at work!

 

^^Sadly enough, the sculpture didn't seem to be shooting off any pyro during our visit, though I have seen videos online showing that it is still being used.

 

The more that I read about the park, the more I find that certain aspects like ride audio and certain effects aren't running 100% of the time. I've been told that Iron Horse and Round About have both been experiencing audio cutouts that have prevented the rides from providing the full experience. I guess in this case, Iron Horse wasn't utilizing the fire effect.

All the TR's of Freestyle Music Park tend to creep me out. As much as I love to go to a theme park with no crowds, the lack of attendance just comes off as creepy. Great TRs though. Your overly excited facial expressions just make the pictures just jump off the screen .