[DiscoverMB]

After covering the construction of Hard Rock Park for over a year, and going aboard as a team member, I'm happy to say..."The day has finally come! It's Time To Rock"

Today is the Grand Opening extravaganza for Hard Rock Park, the world's first rock & roll theme park. Guests started lining up out front about 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, CEO Steven Goodwin, CCO Jon Binkowski and Moody Blues band member, Justin Hayward have been doing live interviews with news stations around the country. The national news stations have been picking up the feeds, so you may catch Hard Rock on various stations.

The park will be closing tonight at 6pm. At 7pm there will be a ceremony at the front gate, which will be blown open and the party will get started! Food stations will be scattered around the entire park. Guests will enjoy a complimentary photo and game coupon, as well as vouchures for two drinks. The Eagles concert will begin at 9pm and desserts will be made available after the show. Bohemian Rhapsody will launch at 12 mindight.

Look for more udpates throughout the day.

[jarmor]

Is RPM open??

[DiscoverMB]

Update from Hard Rock Park:

There's a nice steady stream of guests coming in this afternoon. It is fantastic to see the park getting a nice crowd. If you're coming out for the event, here's a run down of what to expect:

Tues. June 2nd, 2008
10am - 9pm - Hard Rock Park Free Time
6:30pm - 7:15pm - Front Gate GRand OPening Press EVent
9pm - Live Amphithaeter - Eagles
10:30pm - 1:00am - Hard Rock Park Free Time
12:00am - Lagoon - Bohemian Rhapsody

Wed, June 3rd, 2008
10am-9pm - Hard Rock Park Free Time
9:00pm - Live Amphitheater - Moody Blues
10:30pm - 1:00am - Hard Rock Park Free Time
12:00am - Lagoon - Bohemian Rhapsody

Each ticket gives you:

1 Game Voucher
2 Drink Vocuhers
1 Kodak Photo Coupon
$10 Tuesday Meal Voucher

June 2, 2008

During the evening food is everywhere. Hard Rock Park recommends eating your way to the LIVE Amphitheater by grazing clockwise around the lagoon.

Taste Stations:

A Taste of Paradise Grill
Stuffed Shrimp with Crab and Cocktail Sauce, Pot Stickers with port and shrimp with Ponzu Sauce, Dim Sum Canapes

The Kitchen Below
Beed Wellington with Horseradish Blue Cheese Sauce (Hard Rock Sauce), Fried Ravoli with Marinara Sauce, Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese dressing and Celery Stix, Parmesan Encrusted Artichoke Hearts with Putanesca Sauce

The Cod Piece Fish-n-Chips
Tempura Chicken Bites with honey garlic sauce and veggie tempura garnish, Southern Fried Hush Puppies, Parmesan Encrusted Artichoke Hearts with Putanesca Sauce, Beer Batter Fried Atlantic Code Bites with Malt Vinegar

Carnaby Street Cafe
2 Steam Ship Rounds with Hard Rock Sauce and Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Mini Assorted Quiche Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites with Tarragon Mustard Cream Sauce, Spanakopita with Tzatziki Sauce

Love Shack Snacks
Veggie Egg Roll with Sweet and Sour Sauce, Shrimp Egg Roll with Ponzu Sauce, Crab Rangoon with Roasted Pepper, Coulis Asiago Olive Cheese Bites

Wheel House Canteen
Jalapeno Poppers with Roasted Pepper Coulis, Mini Empanasas with Queso Blanco Sauce, Chicken Quesadilla with Salsa, Swedish Meatballs

Main Street Gas 'n Gifts
Deep Dish Pizza, Swedish Meatballs, Tempura Chicken Bites with honey garlic sauce and veggie tempura garnish, Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites with Tarragon Mustard Cream Sauce

11:00pm - 12:30am: Coffee and Dessert (at Taste Stations)
Don't forget to pick up your awesom sawg bag at th eend of the evening

This is a killer line up of food, fun and entertainment. We hope to see you all there!

[jarmor]

AGAIN...I ask, is RPM operating. If it isnt then I feel, and this is my honest opinion, this is piss poor. I would feel different if the park would just come out and say "something is wrong with the ride" instead of saying nothing. At this point I feel the park just doesnt care and had plenty of time to get the ride up and running but for them not speaking on the ride is just as bad, if not worst, as them saying oops there is a problem with the coaster.

GEESH how hard is to admit it!

[Raider]

AGAIN...I ask, is RPM operating. If it isnt then I feel, and this is my honest opinion, this is piss poor. I would feel different if the park would just come out and say "something is wrong with the ride" instead of saying nothing. At this point I feel the park just doesnt care and had plenty of time to get the ride up and running but for them not speaking on the ride is just as bad, if not worst, as them saying oops there is a problem with the coaster.

GEESH how hard is to admit it!

No it was not open and yes it was BIG disappointment! It still looks like they were working on it today, with a huge blue lift working on the section on the wheel where the cars are loaded. For more updates that I noticed around the park check out http://hardrockparkblog.com/

[jarmor]

Now what if this ride had an artist linked to it...I wonder if would be up by now...

[DiscoverMB]

Good morning, all! We're actually up! It was a very late night for us as we left the park at 12:45 am. So bare with us on the groggy details.

The Grand Opening Extravaganza was an amazing event. We were perked above in the press risers for an awesome view of all the cool moments.

Thousands turned out for the gate blowing ceremony. An extremely long red carpet marked it's way from the parking lot area, right up to the front gate, which was flanked by a seating area and lots of speakers.

Among the attendees were South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford, State Senator, Luke Rankin, Rev Run, members of the Horry County Council, Hard Rock Int'l, leaders of the Seminole Tribe (Hard Rock Int'l Owners), the park owners and investors.

All the park's performers and characters from the Malibu, Roadies & Country Show to the Royal Guards, Winston and the Bear Metal Family danced and greeted the crowd. New park additions, the Banana Splits were also part of the celebration.

Jon Binkowski took to the podium to MC the celebration and welcome everyone but turned to Steven Goodwin to do the many thanks. At that point, Binkowski pointed to the sky in the distance. At that moment, "Rock You Like a Hurricane" begans as a helicopter flew in from over the Interacoastal Waterway. The chopper landed in the parking lot and Steven Goodwin emerged with Sister Hazel guitarist, Ryan Newell. Goodwin and Newell walked the red carpet and Steven took the mic at the podium.

Goodwin thanks the all the investors by name, the county, Hard Rock, the Seminole tribe and all involved. He then asked the the head of the Semoli tribe to come up to the mic and say a few words. His comments were brief yet on the money. Aside from stating that Amusement Parks and music go hand in hand, he finished up with say, "Growing old mandatory. Growing up is optional. Rock on."

Governor Mark Sanford to took the stage next and thanks several people and hit a bit of a rough spot when he admitted how uncool he was and didn't know what Sister Hazel was "Is is a new movie or a new ice cream flavor", he joked, but his gaff came when he still didn't even know Ryan Newell's name.

Steven then turned the mic back over to Jon Binkowski how had Rayn Newell sign a special Hard Rock Park guitar , which he then handed Newell to play and blow the gate open. Newell began to wail on the guitar to the cheer of the entire crowd. Binkowski then asked Goodwin to turn up the volume to blow the gates open. Goodwin walked over to a large volume control button as the guitar solo blarred and speakers began to pop. With that, a big explosion sounded at the gates swung open. High above, fireworks cracked open the clear blue sky.

Hard Rock Park is open!

The crowd streamed in through the open gate. The crowds filed in and the party began. Moments later, The Moody Blues arrived and walked the red carpet and everyone headed inside.

It was an awesome site to see thousands of people throughout thepark. I made a point of watching the guests and it appears everyone was having a gerat time. The free food stations were set up along around the park, and I must say, it was quite good. There was a great Chicken dish which I must find out if it is on the regular menu.

The Eagles Concert:

The concert took off at nine sharp. The crowd streamed out into the Born in the USA pathway, Great Meals Diner and beyond. The crowd was pumped and when Hotel California started the crowd only got louder. People were dancing the back viewing area and sing-a-longs quickly broke out. The Eagles played for an hour and a half and did an encore which consisted of "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Desperado".

More Entertainment:

Another band played at the Whammy bar after the concert and the crowd started to mix it up in the park and were treated to coffee and desserts. Many took up spots around the lagoon and waited for Bohemian Rhapsody, which started at Midnight. Even after the show, the band at the Whammy bar continued and the park went until 1:00 am.

All in all, it was a great night. I'm thrilled to be part of the opening and look forward to today's ceremony for Moody Blues (with the band) and the concert tonight. Performing with The Moody Blues on stage will be the Long Bay Symphony. For anyone who knows this local organization, you're sure to know this will be a specatular performance.

More updates and photos to come.

[DiscoverMB]

Here are photos from the celebration:

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[jarmor]

Thats all well and everything...but how did the crowd react to RPM not being open??? Especially paying that huge price for the grand event?

[DiscoverMB]

Honestly, there wasn't anything more that just some minor disappointment. Everyone's just very anxious to get aboard so I can definately understand. But all in all, everyone was having a great time.

[MyrtleFreak]

Sounds like it was a great time. I know they had lots of seats for VIPs. How was the standing room?

[Raider]

Thats all well and everything...but how did the crowd react to RPM not being open??? Especially paying that huge price for the grand event?

Jarmor, I just had a funny mental image when you posted this, look at the first picture and imagine the crowd going crazy that Max RPM wasn't open, it looks like it could be a riot.

I know I was disapointed that it still wasn't open.