Abandoned - Hard Rock Park

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After nearly a decade of trying to get a theme park built in the beach town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Hard Rock officially opened their very own licensed theme park. The cleverly crafted amusement enterprise was the brain child of ultra creative professionals and by all marks, it was poised to be a successful entry into the popular tourism city. However after unbelievable poor timing, the park was thrusted into bankruptcy and closed after only a few months of operation. Join me as I find out how this all happened and what ultimately happened to this promising, rock and roll theme park.
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BrightSunFilms 2021
Presented in 4K

[@the_ottoman2012]

I'm one of the people who built Hard Rock Park, and was employee #13, so I was there from the beginning in a tiny two office/ one conference room set up in downtown Orlando, all the way until the very, very end. This video is pretty well done, and is one of the most accurate retelling's of the story of Hard Rock Park, and any quibbles I have are very minor. My time building the park helped me grow professionally, and I can say that with few exceptions, every day I was amazed that I was doing this. The end of the park was very emotional for a lot of us, and there was a lot of drama and horribleness. It's only recently that I've been able to reflect on my time there and not focus strictly on the demise of the park. If anyone has questions about the park, specifically how it was built, the origins, any additional stories or whatever, I'll be happy to try and answer them.

[@markk3453]

Hi. Thanks for sharing . It's sad to see such a nice place go under. In ur opinion what could of helped save the park ?

[@the_ottoman2012]

@@kateskye So I came in after Jon and Steven pitched to MGM, and I can't remember a lot, but there were a lot of Monsters and I think a James Bond stunt show. Fun fact: the board that Jon and Steven used to pitch was the exact same board that they used to pitch to Hard Rock. They just printed out new names and scotch taped them over all the MGM things.

[@the_ottoman2012]

@@markk3453 That's really a difficult question, as there were a lot of contributors to the failure. If I could pick something that could have been *fixed* it would be that there needed to be a lot more money devoted to advertising nationally (the marketing budget was very small compared to the size of the park), as the majority of people who come to MB do so by driving (often as far away as Michigan), so the I-95 and I-75 corridors needed a lot of advertisement. Obviously, the economy is the number one contributor to the failure of the park. If the majority of the people who are going to come to the park were going to drive, no one is going to drive when gas was $4 a gallon in that part of the country.

[@dalton9834]

With the tweaks that you’ve mentioned for advertising and what not. Do you think if Hard Rock Park were to reopen after covid is settled down and gas prices fall back to normal that it could succeed?

[@the_ottoman2012]

@@dalton9834 The park can never come back or reopen. All of the rides are gone and the property itself is in a horrible condition.

[@existinginaspace8347]

The fact they finished all that early and under budget in itself is a massive achievement in itself

[@BrightSunFilms]

Oh absolutely!

[@Hectics184]

Could have been an overestimate of cost and time required too, who knows.

[@the_ottoman2012]

@@BrightSunFilms This was one of the minor quibbles I had with the video. It finished under budget only because HRP got another infusion of cash because it was originally over budget then everything that could possibly be found got moved from capital costs to operating costs.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Ahhh, Jon seemed to leave that note out of his presentation lol

[@jimfaustjr8602]

Indeed. Absolutely insane.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

"The foundations were laid in 2007" Oh No, this ain't gonna last long

[@AFoxGuy]

2008-2010: *Time to kill fun things*

[@aregularperson7573]

@@AFoxGuy and 2020-?:LETS DO IT AGAIN

[@MoreColtraneChanges]

When I heard it open in 2008, I was like “Yep, that’s gonna get your park on Abandoned.”

[@hungrehsden3808]

When you watched so much of this the second you hear 2007 you know s###'s gonna hit the fan.

[@themspspotter593]

2019-2020 is gonna be the next killer

[@steveanderson5260]

I was the stage manager for the “live” amphitheater where all the big concerts took place. Kid rock,the eagles, George Clinton,Charlie Daniels, along with many more. This park was a great place to work and lots of great memories. Some of the best times in my life and entertainment career took place in that park.

[@rachaeltapes7555]

i bet u have some stories!

[@lakeshiamcgee3385]

Really dude the park was only open under a year ..

[@thefourmoodgroups2589]

Great acts in a short time. Sounds like the live shows weren't the problem.

[@thelifeofroro]

Um who ?

[@brianomer7864]

I played guitar in an Ozzy tribute band called Crazy Train that played like an audition party thing there. It was so much fun. You don't remember it by any chance?? We really hoped to play there for the whole summer when it opened. This video explained a lot of the reason why for me now.

[@urbandecay3319]

I was a construction worker that built tons of the aesthics iand framework inside this park. Even during building process there was an underlying sense that this project was doomed despite all the hard hours of determination and care we put into its creation. I remember feeling proud of our hard work once thinking that thousands of families might enjoy and take in the visuals we put in place over many long hot days. It's such a shame . Seeing these images of this place again is very eerie indeed. Thanks for doing this video and not letting our story and labors fade into obscurity...

[@kolonarulez5222]

I would have loved to have seen this park! I'll bet it was a true sight to behold

[@scottzinn6326]

Those of us who got to go to the park absolutely loved it. Thank you for putting the time in to build it.

[@Rexdrinkredbull]

This show has taught me that anytime a sentence starts with "in 2008", I should expect some stuff is about to go down

[@arielsea9087]

Uh President.

[@StudeSteve62]

@@arielsea9087 Yay! Partisan politics!

[@StudeSteve62]

Way down, yes.

[@ualdayan]

@@StudeSteve62 Quick! Somebody throw a shoe at this guy!

[@zachariah74]

*in 2008* Mario Kart Wii released

[@MrRed_2205]

The fact that so many former employees of the park are down in the comments shows you how beloved this park was to the team.. crazy how you managed to make me emotional about a park i didn't know existed just an hour ago, kudos to you man!

[@topaz7462]

Hard Rock Park is such a great idea! It's so unfortunate that the recession basically killed the park 3 months in, I would've loved this place

[@DieselRamcharger]

it didnt. the park sucked.

[@noreenelizabeth6617]

I was looking at the history and honestly, the lack of advertisement and really the park did not come across as a family friendly park. Disney had increased patronage that year, and National Parks did not have a huge drop in patronage either. So gas and recession does not seem like the biggest problem.

[@cartoon-o-rama]

The recession killed Hard Rock Park when it was just born! That's sad! 😢

[@mitchwright]

Why am I here about to cry about an amusement park I didn't even know existed until 25 minutes ago...

[@lorireed9781]

Same 😔

[@wendysavvy4351]

Nice... 😇👍🏻

[@NPGLAMB]

the comments are doing it for me. all the former employees and visitors :'I

[@aprilmorris8279]

Yes same here!

[@Heretbg]

here, have a drink of soylent

[@Duncaster]

Honestly a shame that this flopped. This seems like the kind of place I would’ve loved

[@rdlsamuels2494]

Fr. It feels like if they would have opened 2-3 years later this is probably the attraction everyone is talking about and known across America.

[@WillHarville92]

I went in '09 after they reopened as Freestyle but it was a really nice park. It's a true shame how it turned out.

[@lokisg3]

@@rdlsamuels2494 Even if it open 2-3 year later, let say open on 2011. 2020 will surely kill this small park, not even Disneyland survive this long without other mean of funding like media or merchandise. Right now, most parks in the world that almost resemble Hard Rock Park probably died out or barely survive.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

I'm the 200th like!

[@aphoticphoton]

Dude easily......Hell i think if this park was still around, I could see a group like insomniac (They run EDC and beyond wonderland) want in on this like imagine keeping the themed lands but a section to edm music and that genre too.

[@AwkwardKidAdventures]

Three months. I can't even imagine the level of shock and disappointment. To have spent so long planning, to have put so much of your soul into something, only to watch it all die practically as soon as it opened... What a perfect storm of bad events. :\ (Also, that graffiti'd "Don't go in he will kill you" did its job and freaked me out, lol)

[@jordanarruda4108]

I went to both Hard Rock Park and Freestyle Music Park as a kid. Hard Rock Park was so well themed, there was so much attention to detail. As someone who loves classic rock, there was so much to appreciate here. The dark ride that was set to the song "Knights in White Satin" was the best dark ride I'd ever been on. Each ride would also play classic rock tunes themed to the area of the park you were in. When I went back a year later to Freestyle, all of the charm felt removed. The theming felt very generic even though the rides were essentially the same. It's a shame the park is just sitting there now, decaying. If the park opened outside of a recession, I bet it would still be open today.

[@FoxyWolfMeerkat]

The story of this park really does break my heart. They cared a lot about what they were doing and it shows. They deserved success, and honestly had they opened at some other time, I feel like they would've gotten it.

[@fenceyhen4249]

??? Lol

[@steverherb]

If this park was built in Florida it would have been a huge success. I was fortunate enough to visit twice in 2008 and it was a very high quality operation

[@2005StangMan]

100%! The Park was outstanding and only would have gotten better. An enormous shame for sure.

[@richardburchett]

Nah. Maybe in Vegas or somewhere, but Myrtle Beach? What were they thinking?

[@BilisNegra]

@@steverherb I'm glad to read a comment by somebody who's got first hand experience. You must have felt all the sadder to see it go and to watch this episode.

[@tayzonday]

These episodes are so well-done.

[@bibblyboing]

CHOCOLATE FUCKINN RAAAAIIIN

[@RayDms]

cool

[@jojoboy16]

I did not he like abandoned

[@andreachewiwie8273]

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! Haha welcome Tay

[@ugoboom]

And we are live

[@atlasslayer2102]

I was SO lucky to be able to visit HRP during the 3 months that it was open. This will always be my favorite park of all time. This place will always have a special place in my heart. I will never forget riding "Life in the Fast Lane" and feeling the heat coming off of the giant fire eagle statue at the end! For everyone that helped work on this park, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for an unforgettable experience that I still talk about regularly!

[@BexStep121]

Freestyle Music Park feels like the Kidz Bop version of a classic rock album.

[@cartoon-o-rama]

Yeah, TRASH! 😂

[@cadenok9792]

The “freestyle music park” logo over the hard rock guitar is so laughable ...... like they really made that logo in Microsoft paint and said let’s go for it

[@steverherb]

It sure did look cheesy

[@BilisNegra]

Jake stated it's terrible only in the final wrapup, but I was horrorized since the very first second it appeared in the video.

[@alexah3256]

It's like they don't know what "freestyle" means in music. I was like, Where's the hip hop?

[@YTjennifer]

When the Freestyle Music Park people took over (which was likely a shell game, if the paper trail is followed enough), they were required by the court system to remove all HRP branding from the park - which they didn't. I have thousands of photographs from the park over the past ten years as it slowly decays into the ground which show quite a bit of stuff still displaying the HRP branding or the HRP proprietary marks.

[@ReezeePeezy]

They could've easily made it look decent on there, say maybe a curved logo on the side of the guitar.

[@kenjisakaie6028]

"2008 was not a great year for new development" I'd say that just about sums it up.

[@WarbirdPhoenix]

2020: Hold my Covid

[@Hovercraftltd]

Too true there are glorious ruins of exciting projects all over the World from the 2008 crash. After Lehman's imploded government printed monster money to save the Elite - But that monster is a little puppy compared to the money printing today - What could possibly go wrong!

[@kenjisakaie6028]

@@Hovercraftltd I'll remind you that the money printing didn't have any negative effects

[@Hovercraftltd]

@@kenjisakaie6028Well that is good news - Lets hope the Trillions being spewed today has no bad effect - It could herald the end of all taxation and the monster beaurocracy and coercion involved because you can just print the money, as much as you want, no problem, that would be excellent.

[@tomassanchez6443]

yup the bush administration

[@MrMoejayjoe]

I went to this park as a kid with my dad when it was "hard rock park" an important aspect of the rides I feel should be mentioned is they blasted the song they were named after from speakers on the cars and the dips and turns matched the music. It was truly and incredible experience. Also got to pull "Axecaliber" from the stone, I still love that pun.

[@charlesintune]

I went to this park that fateful summer! I had so much fun! It rivaled Disneyland to my teenage brain. No complaints. Met some "groovy" 70s hippie characters and the Hard Rock bear meet-n-greet characters. Loved all the rides with very little wait. Nights in White Satin was trippy. What a lovely day and we really thought it would stay around for years. Looking back it was an honor to have lived through such a short-lived relic

[@slashleighz]

this was the first abandoned episode that was actually heartbreaking to me. i would’ve absolutely loved this place if it were open today, and it’s so extremely unfortunate that it was bad luck that killed the place.

[@0.-.0]

This place seemed amazing :(

[@Hoopa234]

Myrtle Beach is one of the fastest growing cities in the country the should try again with something similar

[@ckilbarger01]

I feel like this park would have done better in a different time. So sad.

[@AaronShenghao]

Not in 2008 nor 2020.

[@sentientarugula2884]

@@AaronShenghao maybe 1989 doe

[@dannydaw59]

If it opened in 2003 in the same way things would have been different. They could've built up liquidity for the 2008 recession.

[@MrNeptunebob]

Or a different place? PA has a lot of successful amusement parks even though they are not open all year and there's not much to do here. HRP might have been a success up here even though it can be cold.

[@MegCazalet]

Imagine the nightly Black Parade in Emo Land!

[@floor_tank_shanks4194]

I would have KILLED to see this place had it been successful. I’ve been to Broadway on the beach quite a few times, and all I could think of was ‘Man, Hard rock cafe’s restaurant here is pretty dope. Imagine that being a whole theme park’. Funny enough, seeing this now, kinda hits me harder, not knowing about it AND finding out it’s now defunct. I would have loved to see it for myself

[@medea27]

This one really hurts.... there was a definite audience for this park but extraordinarily bad timing meant we never got a chance to make it a success 😞 When I saw a video about Hard Rock Park about a year ago I was devastated I'd never get to go, because it had that wry anti-establishment sensibility that every rock & roll fan appreciates, regardless of age. It wasn't a kids park, it wasn't Disney... _and it wasn't trying to be._ By the 2000's you had a whole new generation of rock fans with grunge & alternative... had HRP made it to a 2nd season & done some widespread advertising (and not opened in the worst year possible!) I have no doubt it would have got the crowds. 🤘😎

[@shadowplay29]

Agreed with all of this! Imagine if Hard Rock Park had survived. Perhaps in 2024, they'd be planning a park expansion for a Classic Alternative-themed land.

[@ian8lisle572]

It’s not an episode of abandoned without the iconic line “then 2008 came.”

[@RalphInRalphWorld]

Soon it will be "then 2020 came"

[@jaysmith179]

Thanks Obama. Now Biden is destroying America.

[@ooheeh2264]

Jay Smith Obama wasn’t president when the depression began, you dolt. Now it’s Biden, but even then, Trump was president for 70% of the pandemic.

[@charlesintune]

LMAO it's also not a Disney Parks history video without taking a drink when they say Michael Eisner..

[@izzybigenouf5497]

@@ooheeh2264 maybe Biden could use the park to house the millions of aliens coming up from Central America and over from Africa.

[@stephancox9105]

After the park permanently closed, but while the coasters were still intact, the park was used in the filming of an episode of NBC's "Revolution". Since the series had a post-apocalyptic setting, Freestyle Music Park played the part well.

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

That show was terrible but I still loved it

[@ducknorris233]

@@ReineDeLaSeine14 agreed and they so left us hanging. The preview of the next season that we never got to see still haunts me.

[@darrenmurphy_98]

@@ducknorris233 omg is that the one when the cars all stop and the planes fall from the sky and all the electricity is gone and it left us wondering what happened when they pressed the button?

[@ducknorris233]

@@darrenmurphy_98 yes, anything electrical stops and it brings things back to a feudal system is most places. Spoilers ahead The twist of sorts is that the family we follow at the beginning are responsible for it all and could fix it but it would cost the life of one of their children. If I’m remembering the details correctly. A second twist is the cause was from nanotechnology that is everywhere and becomes sentient.

[@SoCalFreelance]

Unfortunately, a lot of places in the U.S. could be apocalyptic sets now

[@eliminator0074]

We go past it a couple times every summer. This year it has been turned into a dirt patch. Everything has been leveled and even the concrete has been removed.

[@c.johnweir182]

As it sits right now, It's now completely demolished and ready for development. Nothing's left of the park.

[@fernandoalvaradopikachu7916]

It’s currently being developed to a FedEx as I remember

[@rebeccageiger9110]

Bummer

[@furrymessiah]

I Worked at the park for our one and only season, as one of the photography managers. (You can actually see some of my coworkers in their orange and gray shirts in the footage in this video.) I still have all my HRP t-shirts as well as my lanyard and employee pass. (About 18 months before the park opened, Jon put together a little welcome center/gift shop to let people come in and see the plans for the park, with interactive displays. I bought a pint glass from there commemorating Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2007 that I still use to this very day.) God, what a sad story that place turned out to be. It still hurts to this very day. Every single coworker I had loved working there. You had a feeling that you were on the ground floor of something that was going to be magical and spectacular, and it all fell apart so fast it left your head spinning. Looking at this video was like watching an old movie of a loved one that had passed away. So bittersweet. While the recession is the main reason why it went under, another factor that came into play that isn't discussed in the video is the fact that the park initially gave a rather chilly reception to locals. There was no locals' discount until it was far too late, and a lot of the residents were upset by that. So much so, that they never attended, even after the admission prices were reduced. Another thing that rubbed people the wrong way was that you had to pay to enter the park, and ALSO had to pay for tickets to see any of the high profile concerts. There were four altogether: the Eagles, the Moody Blues, Kid Rock (who I got to meet), and Parliament. The third hidden nail in the coffin, I feel, was the actual SIZE of the park. Looking down from above on Google Maps, the area looks fairly big, but looks are deceiving. A person could make an entire circuit of the park in half an hour if they didn't stop for any of the attractions, a walk I made at least twice a day every day I worked. In the end, yes, financial woes killed the park, but it was a death by a thousand cuts.

[@henryvandeventer2457]

I was part of the opening team from the Prague HRC. Still have Myrtle Beach pins on my old lanyard and have a few in my pin case. I still a HRP sling bag as well.

[@almostclintnewton8478]

It so interesting to see the insight of people that were actually there. "Death by a thousand cuts" seems unfortunately very fitting

[@fzed30]

I was part of a tactical space team stationed on the moon. What a story. Loved every member of the team, and it provided such good memories of low gravity and extraterrestrial beings.

[@VideoZion]

@@fzed30 LOL ok, you got us.

[@peterdupuis9238]

Lol I loved when I went there were empty guitar stands that said “free air guitars” amazing.

[@2005StangMan]

That was one of my favorite things, I played one hardcore!

[@NidgeOSullivan]

As a world class air guitarist myself i would have loved that lol

[@victoriastark3672]

Use to go there with my sister, and looking back it was definitely always empty. We would get straight onto rides with little to no wait. Also one ride we went in had speakers that played rock music and it started sparking and smoking while we were stuck in our restraints 🫠

[@spencersand2754]

The fact that they did so well in the couple months that were opened and had so many more attractions planned is just sad

[@ZacharyRoozenChannel]

I remember being in that park when it operated. I had a great time! But even when I visited there was a sense of "Where the hell are the people'??? Kind of shocking being in there to be honest.

[@sophierobinson2738]

My favorite kind of park--mostly empty. People give me heebie-jeebies.

[@fields1]

It was a really great place. I do remember not having to wait in lines for any of the rides, including the awesome Led Zeppelin ride.

[@Jshaw6614]

I used to go to Myrtle ALL THE TIME but I dont remember this at ALL.

[@fields1]

@@Jshaw6614 if you didn’t go the one season it was open, you missed it. It was really sad to see it go.

[@willybones3890]

@@fields1 Sounds like really poor planning. Like someone spending everthing they own to open a new restaurant without money for advertising, food, salaries and utilities.

[@MrBcardinal35]

That "Hard Rock not family oriented enough" and changing it to "Freestyle Music Park" made me cringe. They were failing to be "hip with the fellow kids" years before it was cool.

[@Taladar2003]

Yeah, the first thing I thought when I saw that new logo was "What a crappy generic look".

[@ryano.5149]

What they gave up was brand recognition. Clearly giving that up was a corporate bean-counter mistake. I trust a park associated with the Hard Rock Cafe. Whereas, who the hell is Freestyle? I don't know if giving up the branding was the only nail in the coffin, but it was definitely a big one!

[@greatvalue2448]

They were both terrible ideas. Hard Rock is corny and largely irrelevant to non boomers, Freestyle was generic and the branding didn’t match the architecture style of the park.

[@ryano.5149]

@@greatvalue2448 But at least Hard Rock is "A" brand that people recognize. Also, corny works for the theme park industry if they lean into it. Was it going to be the next Disney? No. I don't think anyone would try to argue that. At least with Hard Rock, the park had some identity!

[@ac300]

@@greatvalue2448 70s and 80s music takes a fat dump on zoomer 'music'

[@willbarnhill]

When he said that construction started in 2007, I literally said out loud “oh god. Was it the recession that did it??”

[@jackthorton10]

Never again

[@Automedon2]

Isn't it a shame that banks and creditor, knowing that the recession would eventually be over, as they always are, didn't give them a two year grace period to get established. As it stood with the bankruptcy, they ended up getting nothing.

[@cartoon-o-rama]

Yup.

[@smitty16s]

The last time I went to Myrtle Beach was September 2008, one last guy’s trip in the military before all my buddies got married. This is literally the first time I’ve ever heard of this park. Goes to show how little they advertised this thing. My buddies and I would have definitely gone to this if we had known.

[@scrambled5948]

As a classic rock fan, this park looked like a masterpiece. If I had a tardis, I’d go there.

[@anglecado]

Same, it seems like a rock fan’s paradise.

[@AndroidSunner]

Just absolutely same man.

[@bryanwood8334]

It wasn't good

[@jaydenchavis6335]

It does look cool

[@medea27]

Ditto. Everything in the park was a nod to something or taking the piss out of it.... like an empty rack with a sign _"FREE AIR GUITARS! Please take one!"_ Apparently the Led Zep rollercoaster played 'Whole Lotta Love' through on-board speakers which was timed to the track's turns, etc. .... where's that Doctor when you need him??!

[@SIUMoose]

"A theme park based around music, which had never been done before" *Cough* Opryland! *Cough*

[@charlenedalrymple7739]

I came looking for this comment!

[@tinymittensdesign]

Hahaha I was thinking *opryland crying in the distance*

[@ddl3718]

Didn’t Disney also try to do that music through the ages thing?

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Right! Also Fiesta Texas b 4 six Flags bought it. It was "heavy" on music + live shows in the beginning. It's still a great park, just not what it started out as. No reason at all to destroy Opryland or AstroWorld.

[@dannydaw59]

Good point. I'm thinking of Dollywood but it's debatable whether that's music themed.

[@ryanz2547]

this is seriously heartbreaking. I would literally have visited this park if it had lasted. I can SEE the passion in the park just from your video unbelievable

[@brianomer7864]

I played guitar in an Ozzy tribute band called Crazy Train that actually played there. We did this kind of outdoor audition party I guess you could call it before it officially opened. It was so much fun and we all wanted to stay there and do it for somewhat of a living I guess or whatever it entitled. I always thought our performance went well and we were a shoe in. This explains everything now.

[@1983horizons1]

So glad you mentioned the wit and humor of the park. It was the most meta and self-aware theme park I’ve ever experienced. The shows were great and the rides were so-so, but the experience of being there was unlike anything else. There was a joke or reference hidden everywhere. It opened a few years too early. It was built for Instagram. Also, the voice of the park was distinctly British. It wasn’t Hard Rock Park. It was Hawd Rawk Pock.

[@funnybunnymichelle]

As someone who’s apart of this new generation of young adults, this park could’ve had so much potential. I could think of a million ways for it to cater towards different age groups. It’s a shame.

[@ShannaFarley]

Haha just left a comment about the fact this park would have thrived in the era of selfie museums.

[@stephaniestavropoulos1639]

This theme park sounded like it was ahead of its time.

[@davidkonevky7372]

It could have been a theme park version of coachella

[@LawrenceofNGU]

As a Myrtle Beach local, I can vouch that MB was VERY excited to add a theme park to the area. If 2008 didn't cause financial issues, HRP would have been very successful. For decades there was an oceanfront theme park in the heart of MB called the Pavillion. It was taken away in 2006 (locals still cite this closure as the end of "the good days of MB"). Since the Pavillion's closure, there is a gap in family entertainment attractions.* HRP was a great idea and beautifully executed. I wish there was a way to have overcome the financial issues. *Family Kingdom is an oceanfront theme park currently open, but does not have the draw of the Pavillion or HRP. As seen in the video, the inside of the park is in terrible condition. Despite large fences and a security presence, people are constantly breaking in. Homeless people tend to live there. And the rumor is that the area is used for human trafficking (MB has a huge trafficking problem, and there are a large amount of strip clubs around the former park). Personally, I hope the area sells and someone creates something great! The drone footage doesn't show this, but the property is beside the Intracoastal Waterway, and just a few minutes from the ocean.

[@nettaP]

I miss the pavillion!

[@mutmutt8294]

Ocean Boulevard just don't have that magic energy no more. The oldest wooden roller coaster was a right of passage. All good things come to a end 😞

[@jillianonline]

Thank you for preserving the history of Hard Rock/Freestyle so well and even teaching me more about it. Having lived in the Myrtle Beach area, I visited the park multiple times and even was present for a pre-opening promotional event for Hard Rock. I was pretty young at the time, so my memories blur a little and I didn't understand how tragic the closure was then. I still miss the rides and how distinct the park was from any other theme park I know. Since there's no more hope of another revamp or reopening, I'm grateful this video can bring my memories of it back to life.

[@youfallharder]

Crazy to think my family actually got to enjoy this park when it was around for such a short time. We only went because I was complaining there was nothing to do, and someone at the hotel told my dad about the park. He took us even though it was overpriced. Hard Rock Park was fun, but there weren't enough rides and theme, while on brand, wasn't exactly exciting. The Led Zeppelin coaster was amazing tho, 10/10 would ride again. They were advertising a new coaster, the one that drops you onto the track but it was closed when we visited. Kinda crazy a park couldn't survive in Myrtle Beach, but it was a really far drive out from everything else.

[@smarkmalark]

As a huge Led Zeppelin fan I’m surprised I never heard of this. I would have loved this place. 2008 was a terrible year that has taken away many amazing places that could have been made great. Just devastating. Not even a few years

[@sio3439]

Not going to lie, I rolled my eyes so hard when the part was renamed "Freestyle theme park" because hard rock wasn't "family friendly"

[@YTjennifer]

It wasn't renamed because the former name was not family friendly. It was renamed because the Hard Rock corporation was not going to relicense use of their name for another amusement park, since the first and only amusement park ever built under their brand had flopped after two months.

[@megaascension2748]

I live in the Myrtle Beach area. This is the only area around Myrtle Beach where nothing makes it. This is where all the businesses go to die, and then the businesses get converted into churches.

[@NidgeOSullivan]

Except Medieval times it seems

[@kevindavis2315]

@@NidgeOSullivan Dolly can do no wrong

[@NidgeOSullivan]

@@kevindavis2315 Dolly Parton owns Medieval Tomes?

[@ducciboi]

There's an abandoned Burger King there where two employees were shot in the freezer execution style by a fired employee. That whole area is cursed yet Medieval Times seems to survive through it all.

[@charlottehanna4339]

Medieval survives. That's it.

[@sed6657]

This story makes me sad. It seems like everyone involved loved their work and were so proud of it. I wish this place could have gotten a second chance, I think the vibe would have been a better fit today. I think the edgy humor would have been better received, and the kids back then who are adults now would definitely go - I remember hearing about this in middle school and wanting so badly to visit, and I know I wasn’t the only one.

[@cam4894]

I learned about Hard Rock park in a hospitality class in college, so when my parents and I went to Myrtle Beach I was sad that it was closed, but we were lucky enough to go in when it was Freestyle park before it failed and closed permanently.

[@Russia1815]

I'm legit happy I was able to experience Hard Rock park when I did. I was only 13 years old, but MAN this was honestly something else. The Led Zeppelin Coaster was so smooth, honestly one of B&M's best works. Everything else was just so thoughtful and the staff were all nice, and to my recollection the food was pretty good. Such a sad end for a great park.

[@oliviaa_howell]

i was only 9 and i thought it was a great park

[@jimmyward1804]

I was about 15 or 16 at the time when I visited the park with my family and we rode the Led Zeppelin roller coaster about 3 or 4 times that day. Me, my brother, and my cousin visited the park again that evening and rode the roller coaster a few more times and stayed at the park until they closed for the night. I had a really fun time there and I didn't even know they had closed down until this video showed up in my feed. The roller coaster is also the reason Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" song is permanently burned into my brain.

[@psychotophatcat]

@@jimmyward1804 Same! I knew the song before the coaster but I can't NOT get mild vertigo when the guitar riffs in the chorus when I listen to it now; my brain flashes back to the corkscrew in the coaster that was timed perfectly with it.

[@2005StangMan]

That coaster was amazing, especially with Led playing during the ride. What an absolute shame it was to close up. Tons of fun jokes throughout, the design was clean and smart, they even had free air guitars for everyone to play!

[@nicholasfield6127]

That coaster is in Vietnam now.

[@captaintalon4485]

Jake: In 2007/8…. Everyone who has watched Abandoned before: Aw shit here we go again

[@brittanirosier887]

I got to go to Hard Rock Park and it was such a great experience. It's the only reason I know all the words to "Nights in White Satin." I still think of it every time I hear "Whole Lotta Love" too. The intro to that ride was AMAZING. I've always wondered why no one talked about Hard Rock Park. I had no idea it was only open as Hard Rock for 3 months. I feel lucky to have gotten to experience it and must have just been at the right place at the right time. To the people who worked on it, it was a great memory from my teen years. You all did a great job.

[@FreshmenThesis]

I can’t believe this video came across my fyp. I worked at the HRP Backstage tour before the park opened and then for a few days in one of the ride gift stores right before opening. The backstage tour was a preview building near the park which let the public come through and have a mini tour of mock ups of the 4 lands for free then buy merch. Even as a very entry level employee, you could tell how much the founders all really cared about the park.

[@henryhealy]

You’re telling me the first licensed Hard Rock theme park didn’t have its own Hard Rock Cafe?

[@gmkairi]

There was a hard rock Cafe down the road at Broadway at the beach. It was a giant pyramid.

[@YTjennifer]

There was already a Hard Rock Cafe in Myrtle Beach, at Broadway at the Beach (outdoor, circular strip mall location).

[@laceycampbell2086]

There was one but it was a couple miles away.

[@Rabbitlord108]

Meanwhile I'm shocked Hard Rock hasn't tried making any other hotels with casinos.

[@tonycrabtree3416]

@@Rabbitlord108 The novelty has worn off. It was pretty much worn off in 2007.

[@glenhayman8722]

The way you showed your empathy towards those that created this park is wonderful thank you

[@erincollier9984]

I wish it was still open. Loved taking my kids there.

[@robbie9723]

I grew up in Myrtle beach and spent a ton of time in the abandoned park w friends, it’s so surreal to see a massive video covering it

[@RandomAmerican3000]

Moral of the story, never take out a loan with a variable interest rate.

[@ge2719]

Especially not right now.

[@eolsunder]

exactly . For many people this is the only way to maybe get a loan so i can see if you HAVE to do it with no other way, but really most fall into this problem with variable loans, which basically mean hey! your taking out a loan where your loan numbers aren't fixed, we can change it when ever we want lol. Who does that ! Why would you do that! Its called loan sharking.

[@mkite715]

Don’t borrow money period.

[@dday9257]

@@mkite715 There are a lot of businesses that were successful after borrowing money.Depends on what it is and who’s running the deal.

[@rosebyanyname]

As Tony Goldmark pointed out, missed opportunity to not have a This is Spinal Tap ride where it's just one long queue as you get lost on your way to the stage

[@fyrfyter33]

I went to this as both HRP and FMP. It was enjoyable and lots of fun both times, but ultimately the place was empty. Repeating rides was no big deal because the lines were so short. They built a huge stage and there might have been 30 people sitting and watching a group perform. I still have a Hard Rock Park T shirt in my closet.

[@mattd1645]

I was lucky enough to go there near when it was first opened. Im sad that some of the rides never opened up specifically the ride in the British Invasion area(Can't remember the name). 'Life in the Fast Lane' and Led Zepplin the ride were incredible.

[@chasecoyote3099]

As a person who lives in Myrtle Beach, I am really sad that I was too young to really experience the park, when it closed I was about 5-6 years old, but as a person who loves theme parks, it hurts a lot that it’s gone, and seeing how good it is, and the fact that I live like a mile away from it. Really really sucks.

[@TSL73]

I was at the right age but never have been to Myrtle Beach

[@Queendreamer]

I was 17 when they closed but i never been to myrtle beach

[@allieknorr5917]

I remember when they were trying to sell people on this. Someone started talking about it with my parents at NASCAR Speedpark when I went one year

[@MechaMyth]

Im so sad NASCAR Speedpark is gone. I went every year when i visited my dad in MB. It was really fun. Im glad Hard Rock/Freestyle isnt totally forgotten. It had potential.

[@coastergoth]

Nights in White Satin was one of the coolest dark rides I’ve ever ridden. I’m so glad I got to go there, though the only coasters open when I went (Labor Day weekend 2008) were Led Zeppelin and the mine train with the fire. Not enough shade, not enough rides, too expensive to visit, not a good location, but a really unique park that I wish would have survived.

[@morenofranco9235]

Okay, JAKE! Now I am binge-watching all your "Abandoned" videos. They are so absorbing and interesting. As well as eye-opening. Thanks for all your excellent hard work.

[@beachie]

While watching, I couldn't help but think that if it was built in a place like Vegas, it would have worked. What a rad concept.

[@kathleenmcintosh3315]

Unfortunately that was not the issue

[@caitlingill]

It could have worked in LA or Anaheim or just Southern California in general

[@rylienicole]

cant wait to see closed for the storm, I've lived in louisiana all my life but have never really gotten to see six flags in depth, so excited!

[@BrightSunFilms]

Oh you’re going to love it!

[@silhouettoofaman2935]

I would've LOVED to go to this park as a kid! I was (and still am) a huge music enthusiast, especially rock n roll, so while I may not have gotten all the references as a little boy, I still would've loved bring surrounded by all things rock. It would've been fun as a kid, and absolute paradise as an adult today!

[@lugarthecougar]

I remember going to this park with my family, grandparents, and uncle. It was a great time! You've now sent me on a search for pictures from that trip.

[@giannabruce7174]

Ah yes the four music genres: classic rock, cool country, world rhythms, and born in the USA

[@spuddoright1970]

Was doomed when they had the "Born in the USA" painted all over a foreign (VW) car.

[@runlarryrun77]

We got both kinds of music, Country AND Western!

[@PhlyDaily]

Jake!!! Love the uploads :) thanks!!

[@johnblon1536]

Yeah they’re always amazing

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanks!

[@mr.spuddy7062]

oh hey phloppy woppy

[@nyarlathotep4889]

Plane man

[@richardhouston736]

Isint this guy awsome?!?

[@Striljr]

This park had so much potential to become a next Six Flags or Disney or Universal and to especially fill the void for Myrtle Beach after the Pavilion was torn down, but sadly because it barely had any rides and with an insane entrance fee and opening up during a recession that obviously couldn't happen. The park just seemed so unfinished. RIP

[@divine_intervention]

Out of everyone at the local schools, hardly any of my classmates went to this place. It was so expensive and there wasn't much to do there. In comparison, we always went to carowinds or six flags instead. The place stayed vacant for ages and it was weird watching the structures come down over time. Really sad, since they also got rid of the other old pavilion park in dirty myrtle that people loved. Hard Rock Park was just so stashed away near a busy highway with little else back there. Our hard rock cafe nearby is gone too.

[@rileydunevent7831]

It’s never been confirmed but supposedly when the owners of the pavilion found out this was being built just a few miles away it was the final nail in the coffin for them and they decided to shut down. They gave reasons for the closing but this was never a confirmed one. I also think the history of the Myrtle Beach pavilion would be a good episode also.

[@singsingsing22]

oh I miss the Pavilion so much :'(

[@NikkiDocherty74]

There needs to be a Pavillion reconstruction as close to the original as possible. This would be the best move for the area.

[@tower401ladder]

there is another factor in the failure of the park: lack of advertising in in-state markets and around the Myrtle Beach area because I was in high school at the time and went up to Myrtle Beach 3 or 4 times both summers and had never heard of this place until today. I wish I had know, I would have gone, at least under the Hard Rock branding.

[@rodbal12]

I live in Charlotte. I’ve been to Myrtle Beach 20 times. I’ve never heard of this place until it was closed.

[@rhettfife4983]

I can chime in as a local. None of the locals would give the park word of mouth because of the ridiculous cost coupled with the lack of local incentives. I was done when they charged me $12 for parking on the pothole ridden chunk of asphalt that hadn't been paved since I was a kiddo. As stated in the video they wanted way too much money for what they had to offer across the board. Had the park come to it's full realization it wouldn't have been an issue. Charging Orlando theme park prices for an incomplete concept is never going to work.

[@VideoZion]

@@rhettfife4983 I went to college a few minutes away and would concur, this park was off the beaten path, off a heavily congested highway, away from the beach.. it made no sense.

[@chandie5604]

I got a season pass and loved going on my days off. It was so unique with the music on the rides. I miss it very much.

[@pauls6320]

This is a fantastic channel with content you can't find anywhere else. (I didn't even know I liked this kind of content until this channel 😂) Everyone is doing these urban explorer type vids but the (excellently researched) stories behind your vids are bizarrely captivating. Appreciate what is clearly a ton of work you are doing for us here!

[@alialger6937]

thank *god* you mentioned how bad the logo of freestyle music park was - who thought neon green and pink was okay to put on a red/orange guitar??

[@BrightSunFilms]

Haha oh god it’s awful

[@constructivecousins2755]

At the end of the video was The only sponsor I actually sat through and enjoyed it

[@JM06261996]

Oh my god I’ve been here. I went on vacation to Myrtle Beach exactly in the time frame when this existed.

[@gailrobinson2688]

That was an amazing story ‼️ I live in South Carolina, 3 hours from Myrtle Beach, and this is the first time I have ever heard about Hard Rock Park ‼️Thank you for the sympathetic take on one man's big dream that for a few shining moments in time came true. Rock on ‼️🎸🎶🎶

[@TehBellcarl]

I’m sorry but “Freestyle Music Park” is just one of the worst names I’ve ever heard.

[@CaptRobertApril]

I can't help but think that if there'd been a Hard Rock Café on site from the get-go, they might have at least been able to hold on a bit longer.

[@karensherwood7994]

There was already Hard Rock Cafe just a couple miles down the Road across the street from Broadway.

[@Tracert-mc1hu]

@@karensherwood7994 Still, having to go off site to get to one defeats the purpose.

[@karensherwood7994]

But, as a business stand point it would have been costly. I do a agree if they had a small scaled replica the size of fast food restaurant it would have given the illusion.

[@Tracert-mc1hu]

@@karensherwood7994 Or just move the offsite location to the theme park, with it being divided for theme park guests, and regular customers.

[@the_ottoman2012]

@@Tracert-mc1hu The original plan was in year two to take the mall across the street to the north (across the street from the existing mall), and turn that into a Retail and Dinning location with a hotel.

[@cjbell423]

I went here for a family reunion back in august 2008 when I was a teen and to think it closed a whole month later and I didn’t even know till like last year. I thought the park would be successful because it’s Hard Rock but to see it just had bad luck makes me a little sad.

[@urbaxvibes]

Glad we’ve got to see this !! Such a cool place to explore for sure !

[@k4rgd]

The location wasn't good. I understand the reasoning, but the farther one gets from the ocean in Myrtle Beach, the less attractive it gets. Medieval Times survives because it's a dinner destination. HRP/FMP would have been better as a concert venue with a park attached (likely what was planned, but just never solidified). Go for the concert, enjoy the park before/after.

[@stephenking9114]

I actually have a relative who was offered a job at the park to help manage it. He turned down the offer for the very reason you stated. Maybe a new owner will pick up the land and develop it into a more sustainable venture.

[@eolsunder]

location doesn't matter if your product is good enough. Location is important sure, but isn't the deciding factor. Plenty of great areas were developed in bad locations but grew into spectacular areas.

[@k4rgd]

@@eolsunder Agreed... location was only one of the many factors in the failure of HRP. I think the true killer was the price of admission to a park that wasn't complete (still under construction at the time of its closing), but the fact that one had to drive a maze to get there didn't help. This park also roughly coincided with the closing of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion... a free-to-enter carnival-style theme park practically on the sand of the beach. Locals were looking to HRP to become a replacement of sorts to that, and it was never intended to be.

[@roserocksrapidly]

That poor mall got double abandoned lol

[@maxh2883]

What mall is that?

[@fields1]

OH MY GOD. I LOVED HARD ROCK MUSIC PARK. They had the best rides. There was this trippy hallucinogenic ride themed after Nights in White Satin, then they had the Led Zeppelin ride with a huge Zeppelin reproduction that you walked into to board the ride. It was an amazing roller coaster. I’ll never forget it. It blared Whole Lotta Love as you rode the ride. I only got to go once, while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, but it was unforgettable. It briefly reopened as “Freestyle Music Park” but I never went there.

[@witchofwillow1206]

My heart! This place seemed like so much fun!

[@vonadi5285]

3:44 I'd like to just take a minute to praise whoever insisted that the Hard Rock Park have a "Hard Rock Candy" store.

[@AUM_-po9sc]

Sounds like a drugstore, lol. (Well, suitable name)

[@danesqualitycontent8991]

All the names are pretty cool if you understand what they are referencing

[@vonadi5285]

@@danesqualitycontent8991 I mean yeah a lot of them are song names but "rock candy" "Hard Rock" "Hard rock candy" that's just too good

[@danesqualitycontent8991]

@@vonadi5285 I agree

[@larrywt656]

I literally laughed out loud at those two subtle little Closed For Storm promos you snuck into the main body of the video! NICE JOB!

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

There were two?

[@larrywt656]

@@ReineDeLaSeine14 The second one was when he mentioned Jazzland.

[@JarrettHucksPhoto]

I work for the church next door to the Hard Rock Park. Starting a few weeks ago, demolition has taken place and it's close to being completely flattened now. I truly wish it would have worked out. I loved the idea of HRP and made a few things for them in my first job out of high school. Honestly Im glad its being torn down. Maybe something else can be developed to bring more to the area

[@thomshere]

Great video as always. You really do a great job on all the research and editing and the narration is really good too. This should be turned into a television show for sure.

[@csfarrand]

After watching this, I researched the park and even watched the TEA video you tagged. Everything in this park was done to such detail and perfection. I hurt to see the former CCO give that presentation and see what passion he had. My heart hurts for him and everyone involved.

[@lazor222]

I'm lucky and glad I was able to visit this park with it only being open for so little time. I went during the 2nd season in 2009, when it was Freestyle Music Park. I'm sure I missed out on a lot of what made Hard Rock Park good and Freestyle weren't the best owners, but it didn't matter, I was young and I very much enjoyed my visit. To this day Time Machine/Led Zeppelin is still one of my all time favorites. It was a fairly straightforward b&m but I remember every element being near perfect including the best zero g roll I've experienced, and the on board Music worked well. I followed the fate of the park for many years after in hopes of it one day coming back to life but it was tough to see the coasters and rides sitting there rotting away. I was glad to see everything sold off when the fate became clearer instead of falling farther into disrepair, but it's sad that a unique ride like maximum rpm never reopened, at least Time Machine lives on somewhere in Vietnam I believe!

[@poindextertunes]

these are great. imo way more informative than other channels centered around the same content

[@fusetunes]

watched adam the woo's video today (sad to see the mall is gone now) and was reminded of this one. this is still one of my favorite bsf episodes... something about the atmosphere just gets me. i remember even having a vivid dream about being inside the monster dark ride area after i watched it for the first time! thanks for the work you put into these

[@joaquinhernandez6940]

I cannot wait to watch "Closed For Storm", on whichever streaming service it will be on.

[@superpiktwo5933]

2007 and 2008 is the main protagonist of the Abandoned series by this point

[@pokeyt9241]

I have become utterly fascinated with your abandoned videos. They take you back in time to what used to be...and reminds us how time does not stand still and continues to march forward.

[@theredheadedgeek1143]

Okay, I’ve made it my goal in life to be rich enough that I can revive abandoned places like this. I honestly feel like I need to experience that place at least once in my life