Family Kingdom Amusement Park

Last updated
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
Previously known as Grand Strand Amusement Park (1966 – 1991) [1]
Family Kingdom Logo.png
Family Kingdom Amusement Park 3.jpg
Family Kingdom Amusement Park
Location300 Ocean Blvd
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577, United States
Coordinates 33°40′54″N78°53′35″W / 33.68167°N 78.89306°W / 33.68167; -78.89306
StatusOperating
Opened1966
General managerDonald Sipes (since 1993) [1]
Operating seasonEarly April through Early October
Area13 acres (5.3 ha)
Attractions
Total37
Roller coasters3
Website www.familykingdomfun.com

Family Kingdom Amusement Park is a seaside amusement park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Located on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, the amusement park has 37 rides for adults and children of all ages, including thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides and go karts. In 2008 TripAdvisor ranked it at number five on its list of the top 10 amusement parks outside Orlando. [2]

Contents

In business for more than 40 years, the park has the 2,400 foot, figure eight Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster, which is one of roughly one hundred wooden roller coasters still operating in North America [3] and ranked number 10 on About.com's list of the top 10 most underrated roller coasters in North America. [4] In 2016, American Coaster Enthusiasts marked the 50th anniversary of the Swamp Fox by adding a historical marker. [5] The Swamp Fox was also declared a historic structure by the city in March 2017. [6]

Other signature rides include O.D. Hopkins Log Flume, Great Pistolero Round-up and the Giant Wheel.

Family Kingdom's "Giant Wheel" Ferris wheel has round open gondolas that give a 100-foot-high view of Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. For 19 years, until 2011, it reigned as the highest Ferris wheel in the state [7] [ unreliable source? ]

There is no admission price to enter the open park. [8] Ride tickets can be purchased independently. Wristbands that entitle patrons to ride all day are available. The park provides free entertainment such as clowns, magicians, jugglers, stilt walkers, face painters and balloon sculptors. Family Kingdom Amusement Park is located on both banks of historic Withers Swash. The swash is a point where a natural stream meets the beach and ocean, and through which tides flow. Much of the surrounding area was part of a 66,000-acre king's grant to Robert Francis Withers in the early 1700s, who operated it as an indigo plantation overlooking the swash.

Family Kingdom Amusement Park is approximately 13 acres. [9]

History

Family Kingdom Amusement Park opened as Grand Strand Amusement Park in 1966. The park was purchased by the Ammons family in 1992 and renamed “Family Kingdom Amusement Park”. [10]

Country music star Kenny Chesney shot part of his "Anything but Mine" music video at Family Kingdom in 2005. [11]

Splashes Oceanfront Water Park

Splashes Oceanfront Water Park
Splashes Oceanfront Water Park.jpg
Location Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Operating seasonGenerally Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
Website www.familykingdomfun.com
An area of Splashes Oceanfront Water Park Splashes Oceanfront Water Park 2.jpg
An area of Splashes Oceanfront Water Park

Splashes Oceanfront Water Park, originally known as Wild Rapids, was a water park attraction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A two-acre facility with 500 feet of Atlantic Ocean frontage, it was located across Ocean Boulevard from Family Kingdom Amusement Park. [12]

The park's attractions included a lazy river with waterfalls, water flumes, [13] and eight kiddie slides. [14] In 2007, TripAdvisor named Family Kingdom and Splashes number five on its list of the top 10 amusement parks outside Orlando. [15]

The park was located at 300 South Ocean Boulevard. It had 18 attractions, including two enclosed body waterslides, two speed slides, two open flume slides, and an enclosed flume slide; a children's area that includes splash pools, eight kiddie slides, two rain trees, and a play pool with a multi-tiered waterfall.

History

The park first opened under the name "Wild Rapids" in 1977. [16] In 1997, Family Kingdom Amusement Park purchased the water park, expanded the water attractions, and renamed it "Family Kingdom Water Park". In 2013, the water park was renamed "Splashes Oceanfront Water Park".

In 2022, the waterpark was permanently closed and demolished after Family Kingdom was purchased by new owners.

Current rides

Roller coasters

Family Kingdom features four different roller coasters. The oldest is Swamp Fox.

NameManufacturerTypeDesignYear OpenedDescription
Swamp Fox Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters; Designed by John Allen WoodenSitdown1966The oldest roller coaster in the park, which features 2,400 foot, figure eight wooden roller coaster, which is one of only 122 wooden roller coasters operating in North America. [3] and ranked number 10 on About.com's list of the top 10 most underrated roller coasters in North America. [4]
Twist ‘n’ Shout Zamperla SteelSitdown2014A steel roller coaster with several sharp turns and big dips. Previously operated at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls as Twist ‘n’ Shout from 2000 to 2012 and First opened at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier as Wild Wonder.
Kiddie CoasterD.P.V. RidesSteelSitdown1994A tame coaster meant for small children with a small drop, hill, and a few non-banked turns.
Dragon CoasterJung-Max RidesSteelSitdown2023A small dragon themed roller coaster meant for children with a small drop, a few hills, and a few non-banked turns.

Other rides

NameYear OpenedManufacturerModelDescription
Sling Shot2003 Chance Rides SlingshotA 100 ft (30 m) drop tower. SBNO since 2019.
F52023 KMG Freakout A 69 ft (21 m) pendulum ride that swings around on am arm reaching 240- degrees at its maximum while riders sit in suspended seats while the ride vehicle spins while the arms swings.
Dodgems Bumper Cars2000DuceBumper CarsA classic bumper cars attraction
Galleon1998 Zamperla GalleonThis is a boat suspended from a giant "A" frame structure. The boat swings back and forth until it achieves a height of 40 feet (12 m) and is at a 75-degree angle with its initial resting position, giving riders the sensation of weightlessness.
Hurricane1990 Moser's Rides Music ExpressA quick circular ride that travels clockwise around an undulating track.
Tilt-A-Whirl1993LarsonTilt-A-WhirlThe ride consists of seven freely-spinning cars that hold three or four riders each, which are attached at fixed pivot points on a rotating platform. As the platform rotates, parts of the platform are raised and lowered, with the resulting centrifugal and gravitational forces on the revolving cars causing them to spin in different directions and at variable speeds.
Thunderbolt1995 Chance Rides Flying BobsSimilar to "Hurricane" but with suspended vehicles.
Yo-Yo1980 Chance Rides Chair-O-PlaneThis ride is a swing ride that is a variation on the carousel in which the seats are suspended from the rotating top of the carousel.
Log Flume Water Ride1998 Hopkins Log FlumeA log flume water ride and a water roller coaster, built in 1998 and consisting of two lifts, a spillway that is 20-feet (6 m), and a roller coaster track section.
Antique Cars1969 Arrow Development Electric CarsAn antique car ride. Features Electric- powered cars that go along a track.
Bumper Boats1969 Arrow Development Bumper BoatsA water-based bumper ride. The small boats can hold one or two people and have oversized fenders that resemble a large tractor tire inner tube
Carousel1923 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel An antique carousel from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.
Kite Flyer2001 Zamperla Kite FlyerThis is a ride with vehicles in the shape of hang gliders that spins and tilts at a 50 degree angle.
Pistolero Round-up2000 Sally Corporation Great Pistolero Round-upA western themed dark ride where riders sit in four-person vehicles that go along a track.
Train1970 Crown Metal Products TrainA train ride that takes riders around the park.
Ferris Wheel1990 Chance Rides Ferris Wheel A 100-foot tall ferris wheel ride where riders can get a panoramic view of the park.

Children’s rides

NameYear OpenedManufacturerModelDescription
4 x 4 Big Trucks2000 Zamperla ConvoyA kiddie ride with Truck-like carts and an oval track.
Canoes1966 Allan Herschell Company Canoe
Cycles1990Hampton AmusementsMotorcycle JumpRiders sit on little motorcycles that go around a small oval.
Flight School1998 Zamperla Flying TigersThis ride features 16 tiger shaped cars that travel along an oblong track and "whip" as they go around the bend at either end.
Frog Hopper2001Frog HopperA small drop tower meant for children.
Hampton Combo1988Hampton AmusementsUmbrella rideA kiddie ride with Firetruck shaped carts and an oval track.
Jump Around2005 Zamperla Jump AroundThis family ride has vehicles rotating around a core that features a colorful design theme.
Kiddie Speedway1990 Allan Herschell Company Kiddie SpeedwaySmall race cars that travel on an oval track.
Kiddie Swing1990 Zamperla Kiddie SwingA small version of the Yo-Yo, although this ride does not lift or undulate.
Kiddie Wheel1999 Zamperla Mini Ferris WheelA children's version of the Giant Wheel.
Magic Bikes2005 Zamperla Magic BikesThis hot air balloon-themed ride has colorful vehicles with elevated seats and bicycle pedals.
Mini Bumper Cars2008 Zamperla Mini Bumper CarsA miniature bumper cars ride with cat-and-mouse–themed cars.
Mini Enterprise2009 Zamperla Mini EnterpriseRiders steer a rocket ship.
Red Baron1966 Allan Herschell Company AeroplaneA small airplane type ride with 2 person vehicles.
Wet Boats1975 Allan Herschell Company Boat ride

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  11. Anything but Mine
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