Magic Harbor was an amusement park located south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that operated from 1954 until the mid-1990s. Hello to all the people who worked with me during those four wonderful summers. Trust me, we didnt like them there any more than anyone else. From teen and adult dance clubs to rowdy country music venues and raunchy dives, the old Myrtle Beach bars and nightclubs played host to many coming-of-age tales. The parking lot was leased out to the carneys to try and bring in some revenue to offset the legal fees. The carousel loved it. turned to tragedy as a worker at the park, broke into the park managers office shooting I was friends with Sherri DePew the girl who died in the Black Witch. Though the law changed on New Years Day in 2006, the blurry memories remain for quite a few visitors. Same color of teal blue and everything. Oh well, such is life for the new to overtake the old. the bottom fell out of was similar to The Gravitron. The park originated as a Wild, Wild West Theme Park in the 1960,s complete with Cowboys, Indians, gunfights. Facts. I have a terrible memory, hence why I am always searching for things to remind me. Myrtle Beach Pavilion: 1948-2006 - History Of The Pavilion Your email address will not be published. Who would know better than someone who has lived right next door to the property since birth? It was novel at first, and attendance was high. Wild, Wild West Theme Even with the addition of many highways over the past several decades, getting from place to place can still be a dicey proposition during the busy season. The ride is scrapped except for the trains, which are sold to Kings Island Amusement Park in Ohio. When it was open, Magic Harbor was a wonderful park. Again, the park changed hands and the company that owned Blackpool Pleasure Beach bought into the park. I was 19 years old. 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. Whew! The new owners did not change the park at all. Vintage look with soft distressing. My hubby and I rode the rides on our honeymoon! A lot of money was spent turning the old grounds into a Great, New European Themed British Amusement Park. Once again, a dark cloud appeared as a young women stood-up on the Black Witch coaster and was nearly decapitated, she died. The Thompsons packed up and left town. As a lifelong resident of the MB area, I also have to question the original poster as to the veracity of his claims. PirateLand & Magic Harbor: Theme parks open from mid 1960s to early 1990s at 4901 S. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach (Now PirateLand Campground) KISS Coffeehouse: Rock-themed coffee shop at 1320 Celebrity Square at Broadway at the Beach (Now Rooster's Restaurant & Bar) I would like to correct some of the mistakes you actually made in your comments, which were quite hurtful to me and my family. Thanks to all for sharing! And to be honest he hated Myrtle Beach and all the local beaurocracy on which it ran at that time. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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. My father ran that amusement park and waterslide with compassion and honesty and fairness to his employees. Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Date: 1980. He continued to work there because he had no other choice for his family. Want to remember it first-hand? Contribute a coaster for this park! A longtime favorite, the Galaxi roller coaster shuts down after the 1997 season and is moved to the NASCAR Speedpark in Myrtle Beach. Growing up and first few years going to Myrtle, I remembered seeing another 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. Beginning in 1951, the annual Sun Fun Festival held in downtown Myrtle Beach was a fundraising event and a celebration of all things beachy about our area. These days, the dinner-and-a-show entertainment continues nightly, but was re-themed in 2011 as Pirates Voyage. While much of the specific early timeline of the park is unknown, the park went through several owners, including the ownership group behind Blackpool Pleasure Beach, who turned Magic Harbor into a British themed amusement park. Located 4 miles south of Myrtle Beach on the old Magic Harbor, Surfside Beach | Myrtle beach, Surfside beach, Broadway Shows included dancing, singing, and comedy wrapped up in one big, modern-day Wild West revue. 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. But the grounds I had the biggest crush on one of the other performers. Blayne, I hope you can correct your inaccuracies. He did keep Magic Mountain open, as my father successfully ran on Mr. Thompsons behalf and I worked for him for a few summers myself. Some years after the park had closed we were staying a this friends and were awoken in the middle of the night to a fire on the Magic Harbor property. My dad made the best attempt to keep Magic Harbor and Magic Mountain running, but it was by NO fault of his that it closed. 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. The four-day festival featured A-list country music acts, including Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Eric Church and drew more than 10,000 attendees in its inaugural year. The grounds began to take on a sinister look for several years. The parking lot was leased out to the carneys to try and bring in some revenue to offset the legal fees. This focal point of the mall was claimed to be the worlds largest. I would like to correct some of the mistakes you actually made in your comments, which were quite hurtful to me and my family. While were remembering nights at Mother Fletchers and other popular nightlife spots, you might recall the drinks being stronger in Myrtle Beach than anywhere elseand youre right. Ocean Forest Hotel: Myrtle Beachs first luxury hotel built in 1930 and demolished in 1974. I was just trying to clarify Bret Malones misinformed recounting of the Parks history. From its origins as a turn-of-the-century gathering place to its early days as a bowling alley, shooting range and dancehall to its six-decade run as the areas premier oceanfront amusement park, The Pavilion is a sure source of memories for most any Myrtle Beach fan. I seem to remember being very afraid of that. The indoor ice rink was located there as well, only, its wasnt real ice. 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. Demolition begins on the Pavilion and several of the parks rides, including the Hurricane. The rides across the street were great too. I had a dream that it broke free and rolled across the street once, lol. You write: We used the nickname Tragic Harbor ALL the time (referring mostly to our treatment by the Blackpool ownership) but I never heard the phrase haunted harbor. Four-Day/Three-Night Stay at Crown Reef Beach Resort & Waterpark, 4 Tickets to the new Iconic show at Alabama Theatre.