Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2009

Breaking It Down: The 411 on Rides at Freestyle Music Park

By Ashley Morris -

Freestyle Music Park, formerly Hard Rock Park, is a colossal concert of more than 55 rides and attractions screaming through 55 acres in sunny Myrtle Beach. The following is a break-down of the rides and different themed areas featured at the attraction:

Myrtle Beach (tropical, beach, "behind the music" style)

• The Time Machine (formerly Led Zeppelin: The Ride) - The park's signature roller coaster and the tallest and fastest in the Carolinas seats 32 brave rock 'n' roll souls (four wide over eight rows) in each train for a length of 3,738 feet, partially over water, at a maximum 155 feet high (13 inches below the Federal Aviation Administration envelope) through six inversions at a maximum speed of 65 mph. Each train is equipped with 64 speakers playing separate audio music tracks from the 1960s to today.

• Polly Nesian's Splash Bash - Guests can cool off to a reggae beat and a water island adventure that features swings, rope pulls, hoses, water blasters and huge water dump bucket.

Across the Pond (British-inspired)

• Monstars of Rock (formerly Nights in White Satin - The Trip) - One of the park's spookiest dark rides blends 14 different scenes, the sounds of ghoulish music, smells, and interactive and special effect techniques. Ride time is 4.5 minutes and ride length is 720 feet for six passengers in 20 cars.

• Carnaby Carousel - A traditional carousel with a 1980s music twist, featuring armored English knights.

• McGillivray's Cab Company - This roundabout ride whisks passengers in true rock star fashion in a speeding London taxi cab past screaming fans and London traffic.

• The Faerie Glen - Ride cars resembling garden baskets spin, tilt and rise into the air to British anthems within what's claimed to be the world's largest black light poster, a secret garden occupied by gnomes and fairies.

• The Round About - A convertible car-coaster - set to the tune of British rock - that travels through a brick-and-steel manufacturing plant. Riders are seated in a British mini-sports car, take a test spin above the plant; and then catapult into a high-speed test track around steep banked turns.

• Whirligigs - Children's area likened to a vintage English playground.

• The Grunge Station - Designated for children and tweens, this multilevel playground/band rehearsal space features an interactive musical play area and a foam ball pit attached to vacuum hoses.

• The Arcade - Retro pinball machines and video games mix and mingle with modern interactive stations and dance machines.

• Jump - A custom-designed bounce house featuring two screened-in, inflatable play areas for children and older kids.

Kids in America (kid-friendly)

• Ring My Bell - Carnival-style games galore invade this block party atmosphere that celebrates the 1970s to today.

• Fantasy Harbour State Park - All the action takes place here, with rock wall climbing, rock music, log forts with ramps, nets, rope bridges and refreshing water fountains.

• Soak'd - The treetop roller coaster suspended above Fantasy Harbour State Park that rocks from side to side as riders' legs dangle within reach of water-blasting cannons below.

• Hang Ten - Roller coaster that recalls beach music on the Grand Strand.

• Life is a Highway - Flat-track ride that accommodates two children and two adults in an 18-wheeler through Kids in America.

• Fly Like an Eagle - Traditional kite flyer ride for parents and children to soar through the clouds over Kids in America.

• Get off of My Cloud - Eight colorful balloon baskets holding four children and adults rise into the sky to the soundtrack of music.

• Wheels in the Sky - Hang glider carts lift in flight as guests pedal through the clouds and take in the sound of music.

• Cuckoo-Ka-ChooChoo - Kid-sized train

• Doo Wop Dune Buggies - Pint-sized vehicles that go up and down, and around and around.

Country USA (Southern-inspired country music genres)

• Iron Horse Roller Coaster (formerly Life In the Fast Lane) - For two minutes (the longest coaster ride at the park), 22-24 coaster-goers per train (four coaches per train, six people per coach) careen through a maze that's 2,234 feet long and includes a double lift height of 39 and 46 feet while tunes blast from a high-fidelity digital audio system. Maximum speed is 50 mph, with two turns that pull G-forces.

• The Texas Swing - A giant, old-fashioned, front porch-like swing ride programmed to country music.

• Big Ol' Trucks - Mud-soaked trucks maneuver through a mud and dirt-road course to the tune of good ol' guitar-pickin' country music.