Hard Rock Theme Park?

by Fat Ass March 27, 2007

I’m up for any new theme park, but i’m not exactly sure who felt the need for this to exist…

MYRTLE BEACH (The Sun News) â€“- Future parkgoers, nearby residents and tourists will get their first glimpse of the world’s first Hard Rock-branded theme park in late April, when a “preview center” opens.

It will be in the park’s office just off George Bishop Parkway, the old Bugle Boy building. Meanwhile, park developers are keeping a tight lid on the details. “Hang tight, give it a couple of weeks and you can come in and check it out [at the preview center],” said Becky Senkerik, the park’s sales director. “The secrets will be revealed.” The $400 million theme park, the largest tourism project in the state, is on track to open as scheduled in April 2008, Senkerik said. Behind the scenes, officials have started hiring for some of the 3,000 jobs the park will create and seeking tax credits from the state on ride purchases that could save the developers as much as $3 million. Most of the hiring now is for administrative jobs. Hiring for the bulk of the park jobs won’t start until late this year or in early 2008. The park will have 40 attractions in six custom-designed zones, including an amphitheater for concerts, restaurants, stores and a children’s play area. It will tap Hard Rock’s massive memorabilia collection to give the park the rock ‘n’ roll feel, and already has landed the The Magical Mystery Tour bus, a psychedelic relic that toted the Beatles around Liverpool in the 1967 film by the same name. Hard Rock, recently bought by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is only lending its name to the project. Most of the park’s funding came from private investors and by issuing bonds. The lineup of ride builders includes six big names in the industry that specialize in roller coasters, dark rides and other gadgets that have found homes in places such as Carowinds, Six Flags theme parks, malls, Universal Studios and other attractions around the world.