An amusement park could be coming to Myrtle Beach in 2021. Here’s what we know
Tourists and residents could have a new destination to enjoy as a developer looks to open an amusement park along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach next spring.
Plans submitted this week by Myrtle Beach engineering firm Development Resource Group call for the construction of an amusement destination called The Funplex of Myrtle Beach, which would consist of a collection of rides and eateries on 14th Avenue North between Ocean Boulevard and Chester Street.
The building site, which is currently a parking lot adjacent to THEBLVD and Olympic Flame Pancake House, would also include ticket booths, some maintenance storage, lighting, and perimeter fencing and landscaping. There are currently two Funplex locations in New Jersey.
Funplex CEO Brian Williams told The Sun News his company has been looking for opportunities to expand outside of New Jersey and felt they could provide an amusement experience Myrtle Beach doesn’t currently have.
“It’ll be a small amusement park that you can stay in for a few hours and keep yourself busy,” Williams said. “It’s a tight footprint, but we’re trying to provide the best experience we can by trying to reach as many people with the rides.”
The proposed park would include a roller coaster that will surround the perimeter of the property, which Williams said has two “decent” drops. He said the ride won’t be a thrill coaster, but something geared toward family enjoy.
Other attractions will include ground-level family and kiddie rides and a roughly 65-foot free fall twist and drop ride. Williams added the park will also feature a unique tall tower ride that would be the first of its kind in the country. He couldn’t specify any details with plans still being processed.
“We’ve been operating for 23 years, and we’ve developed our parks in a really, really thoughtful way,” Williams said. “It’s a small piece of land, but we’re going to do a really nice job with it.”
If approved, Williams said he’s looking to start construction in September with the project completed and ready to open by April. The proposal is scheduled to go before the Community Appearance Board next week, nearly one year after a request to rezone the property was approved.
Last July, Brian Macho, of CPC Oceanfront Delaware, LLC, which also developed the three-story entertainment complex THEBLVD on Ocean Boulevard, requested the building site be rezoned from mixed-use high density to an amusement zone for the purpose of housing luxury single-family vacation rentals, a multi-level parking garage and an outdoor amusement area.
While the site was approved and rezoned by City Council, Macho couldn’t specify what the rides would be due to a confidentiality agreement with the operator of the amusement company. Macho had urged the attraction wouldn’t be a roller coaster or something “tremendously high.” He said it would be something that doesn’t currently exist in Myrtle Beach.
Currently, no plans have been submitted to construct the vacation rentals or parking garage, though it is unknown whether those plans will come to fruition.
The application is scheduled to go before the Community Appearance Board on May 21. The board will meet via conference call that will be live streamed on Myrtle Beach’s city government Facebook page.
