A bumpy ride for Hard Rock Park
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | Hopes of 30,000 visitors a day haven't materialized
What goes up, must come down.
That's the memorable line from the Blood, Sweat and Tears hit "Spinning Wheel" as well as the mantra of the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
(AP)
It's been a rough summer at the world's first rock 'n' roll theme park that opened June 2 and was profiled in my Detours column of July 6. The park has since reduced operating hours, lowered ticket prices and laid off between 25 and 30 employees, according to published news reports. The $400 million theme park has failed to reach its lofty projections of 30,000 visitors a day.
The park's steep $50 admission was the most consistent complaint posted at my Scratch Crib blog, coasterbuzz.com and other sites. That fee has been reduced to $45, company spokesperson Jim Olecki said. Children ages 4 through 9 can get in for $30.
Park hours have been cut back to 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Previous daily hours started as early as 10 a.m. and went until 1 a.m., depending on the day of the week.
Olecki said the park anticipated reducing its hours after the initial summer season. "Being the first year we were just going to see how it went and set the hours appropriately," Olecki said. "Now we're setting hours to meet the demands. The employee cutback was primarily seasonal."
He said concerts at the park's 10,000-seat pavilion "went well." The Eagles opened the park, and K.C. and the Sunshine Band headlined an Aug. 30 "End of Summer Bash" that was free with park admission.
"It's the first year," Olecki said. "You throw that together with the economy and we're making adjustments as we go.
"We don't disclose numbers, but it is not meeting our expectations. You have higher fuel costs and credit issues. People are either postponing or downsizing their travel plans. It's been a rough start, but we're very optimistic."