[DiscoverMB]

Updated: 12/18/2008 @ 3:41pm

There is no winning bidder! This according to County Council Chairperson, Liz Gilland. Gilland was informed this morning that there was no successful bidder. Gilland is quoted as saying, "No one now owns the park. Now it's in the hands of the court."

We are following this story and will bring you any details available. Stay tuned...

MORE INFORMATION BELOW....

[DiscoverMB]

It appears that there was no winning bidder for Hard Rock Park. But, a meeting this morning, involving Horry County Council & city officials, PARC Management, has asked for a way to work out a deal to save the park. We can confirm that PARC Management, who purchased Myrtle Waves and NASCAR SPeedpark this past summer in Myrtle Beach, asked the county and the city to each give $5 million to put the park back together. Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes said, "There is no way it can be done."

More details are coming in. Stay tuned to Discover Myrtle Beach for breaking details...

[RANGERMAN]

Updated: 12/18/2008 @ 3:41pm

There is no winning bidder! This according to County Council Chairperson, Liz Gilland. Gilland was informed this morning that there was no successful bidder. Gilland is quoted as saying, "No one now owns the park. Now it's in the hands of the court."

We are following this story and will bring you any details available. Stay tuned...

SO THERE IS NO BUYER SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN NOW!!!!!!!!

[MyrtleFreak]

WOW! So no one even bid on the park? How is that possible?

[randy]

I am guessing that there was a minumum bid and that minimum bid was not met.

Randy

[DiscoverMB]

Representatives were unavailable for comments at the law offices of Paul Hastings in New york and the Horry County Council. More news coming...

[gary2beach]

Amazing, I figured at $35 Mil as the min bid it would be a no brainer.
It cost hundreds of Mil's to build this place and there was no way they were going to get 30,000
people a day during the season, especially at $50 each.

Now I see no problem in bringing in 6-7,000 per day for the season and prime weekends and at
700,000 people a year at $35 each that's 24.5 Mil min per year. Even with retrofitting the park
for a name change and overheads this becomes a money maker.

It's a winner for sure, I would have to say that whoever was pitching did not do a good job.

jgf

[DiscoverMB]

UPDATE!!!

It seems that there were no bidders who could meet the $35 million price tag. So, after a failed attempt to find a new owner for Hard Rock Park, lawyers for the park contacted PARC Management. PARC did not submit a formal bid, but opted to send a letter of interest. Discussions began to find other ways to operate the park. This appears to be where the city and county council come in and were approached.

However, with both the city and county not willing to take the risk, the park is now in the hands of the courts. We have heard that there is now talks of an extention to find a new owner for the park by the end of January.

[Greg McLeese]

.........PARC Management, who purchased Myrtle Waves and NASCAR SPeedpark this past summer in Myrtle Beach, asked the county and the city to each give $5 million to put the park back together. Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes said, "There is no way it can be done."

Interesting that John Rhodes was the first to comment publically on the deal....

Keep in mind that this is the same idiot that wants the Bike Rallies banned forever, and the same person that with the swish of a pen, OK'd a tax increase on residential property owners to offset the income generated by the rallies.

***This is not meant to derail this thread about new owners of HRP, by the way***

It's my humble opinion that county voters need to vote him out of office next term, and replace him with someone that is a forward thinker, and one that is willing to work "with" all business owners that want Horry County to make money year round, and in different capacities.

Sure Mytle Beach will always have the distinction of being a "summertime beach destination", but it has so much to offer year round now, that it can become more than that.

Tourist dollars have always been the driving force behind Horry county's economy. That's not bound to change overnight, although it seems to be the thought process of those in power at this time.

I'm sorry folks, but with the way the economy is right now, you would think, and it would stand to reason, that every resident, business owner, condo owner, and anyone else that has any sort of "business/income" interest in the Grand Strand area, would be doing anything and everything in their power to promote tourism, and that means jumping in to help find new owners for Hard Rock Park.

I think we all understand that theme parks are the kind of thing we spend money on in warm weather months. The majority of them do close in October or November. BUT - if it were promoted correctly, Hard Rock Park has the potential to offer "indoor" entertainment all year. I'm talking about pushing the Rock n Roll theme to the limit with indoor concerts, indoor laser shows set to Rock music, etc.

Think seriously for a moment - do music artists take off for the winter? NO! They continue their tours in larger indoor arenas. This should be something that whomever has an interest in the park should consider for the future.

Does Disney or Universal shut down in winter months? NO! They find unique vehicles to bring in tourists. Currently, Universal Theme Park is offering visitors a special deal on "The Blue Man Group" in concert. This is an indoor show. (You see where I'm going with this reply now?)

As for promotion, I've been in the media business all my life, and I've learned that there are ways around spending money - it's called bartering - the exchange of goods and or services in lieu of money for broadcast visibility in one form or another.

In closing, The greater Myrtle Beach/Horry County area CAN NOT survive by itself on the tax revenue generated by residents. It MUST HAVE the income from businesses that are supported by tourism. THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THIS FACT!

It is my sincere hope that those in public office will realize this fact before it is too late to retrieve the tourists that have decided to spend their money at other destinations and locales.

Stepping down off my soapbox now.........

[DiscoverMB]

Hey, Greg! Where ya been lurking?

More information is still coming in. We'll sort through all the rumors and mumbo-jumbo as we learn more.

[Greg McLeese]

I've been around. Just not posting much since my duties have changed at work. Looking forward to hearing how things shake out with the park.

[jarmor]

when it gets to it I will formally submit my bid...im holding out to 25mil

[phroggy]

It should not be the county, city, state or any government body's responsibility to save Hard Rock Park. This was a doomed project from the start. Private investors were fools, so why should tax payers foot the bill? Myrtle Beach doesn't need Hard Rock Park or whatever its new name will be. Myrtle survived for years before it came along. It's the same thing with the bike rally. Though I think the area will suffer without the rally for a few years, something will take its place. And no, this new park isn't the answer. The park STILL doesn't make Myrtle Beach a year round tourist destination. It would need much much more to bring in guests through the winter months. More parks or more shopping; many more entertainment establishments. I say let the park sit for a year or two. Then, someone with a brain will purchase it and turn it into what it SHOULD be. Cheers!

[sewerratt007]

Thats to bad it was not bid on, to complete a ownership turnover. However I think most people reading this forum may have had a little inking that it would not sale. The ecomony is in tough times and about to get worse. It will be shame that the park may sit two or three years empty, lack of operation will erode the place faster than a busy season. Myrtle Beach is not the place it used to be twenty or thirty years ago. It is not the destination it once was. Younger crowds are going to the Jersey shores or gulf areas more than ever. Myrtle may be a local vacation spot, but the local crowds it pulls in from around state or immeadiate surrounding states are not spending the cash to replace the traveler who travels farther. Thus being, the investors in a venture such as a theme park see it as a losing senerio. Locals tend to skip higher dollar activities, since they are conviently living near by and can come back anytime, or when they finally decide they have extra money to spend. A traveler who comes over from Arkansas will see and do everything they can because they may not be back for a while. If you went to Hawaii, you would spare no expense because what are the odds you will travel that far again. The bidders or lack thereof do not foresee locals dollars supporting the park or alot of the local activites. Again a no win situation for the park. It has to have outside people who bring the cash to spend. The same goes for the city which will begin to cut services due to lack of funds. I find it hard to believe that the citizens of Myrtle Beach wish to pay higher income taxes. A true tourtist destination attracts people, not send them packing. I truely believe that the next elections in Myrtle Beach will shake up city council, if not than people like higher taxes. I think the people will finally say enough is enough. Enough of my blabbering, Thank You for listening, AGAIN MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Roomfr2]

It should not be the county, city, state or any government body's responsibility to save Hard Rock Park. This was a doomed project from the start. Private investors were fools, so why should tax payers foot the bill? Myrtle Beach doesn't need Hard Rock Park or whatever its new name will be. Myrtle survived for years before it came along. It's the same thing with the bike rally. Though I think the area will suffer without the rally for a few years, something will take its place. And no, this new park isn't the answer. The park STILL doesn't make Myrtle Beach a year round tourist destination. It would need much much more to bring in guests through the winter months. More parks or more shopping; many more entertainment establishments. I say let the park sit for a year or two. Then, someone with a brain will purchase it and turn it into what it SHOULD be. Cheers!

Well said ...but you left out "The Banks and Auto Industry "

[Greg McLeese]

Well said ...but you left out "The Banks and Auto Industry "

And I wonder how phroggy would feel if the auto industry lost out on it's bailout money?

**he works in the auto industry folks**

[Roomfr2]

And I wonder how phroggy would feel if the auto industry lost out on it's bailout money?

**he works in the auto industry folks**

Humm ... They dug themselves into that mess let them climb out . Its too bad the union cant see how they have destroyed the auto industry .

[DiscoverMB]

The next week or so will be very interesting. That's all I'm saying.

[philly girl]

Interesting that John Rhodes was the first to comment publically on the deal....

Keep in mind that this is the same idiot that wants the Bike Rallies banned forever, and the same person that with the swish of a pen, OK'd a tax increase on residential property owners to offset the income generated by the rallies.

***This is not meant to derail this thread about new owners of HRP, by the way***

It's my humble opinion that county voters need to vote him out of office next term, and replace him with someone that is a forward thinker, and one that is willing to work "with" all business owners that want Horry County to make money year round, and in different capacities.

Sure Mytle Beach will always have the distinction of being a "summertime beach destination", but it has so much to offer year round now, that it can become more than that.

Tourist dollars have always been the driving force behind Horry county's economy. That's not bound to change overnight, although it seems to be the thought process of those in power at this time.

I'm sorry folks, but with the way the economy is right now, you would think, and it would stand to reason, that every resident, business owner, condo owner, and anyone else that has any sort of "business/income" interest in the Grand Strand area, would be doing anything and everything in their power to promote tourism, and that means jumping in to help find new owners for Hard Rock Park.

I think we all understand that theme parks are the kind of thing we spend money on in warm weather months. The majority of them do close in October or November. BUT - if it were promoted correctly, Hard Rock Park has the potential to offer "indoor" entertainment all year. I'm talking about pushing the Rock n Roll theme to the limit with indoor concerts, indoor laser shows set to Rock music, etc.

Think seriously for a moment - do music artists take off for the winter? NO! They continue their tours in larger indoor arenas. This should be something that whomever has an interest in the park should consider for the future.

Does Disney or Universal shut down in winter months? NO! They find unique vehicles to bring in tourists. Currently, Universal Theme Park is offering visitors a special deal on "The Blue Man Group" in concert. This is an indoor show. (You see where I'm going with this reply now?)

As for promotion, I've been in the media business all my life, and I've learned that there are ways around spending money - it's called bartering - the exchange of goods and or services in lieu of money for broadcast visibility in one form or another.

In closing, The greater Myrtle Beach/Horry County area CAN NOT survive by itself on the tax revenue generated by residents. It MUST HAVE the income from businesses that are supported by tourism. THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THIS FACT!

It is my sincere hope that those in public office will realize this fact before it is too late to retrieve the tourists that have decided to spend their money at other destinations and locales.

Stepping down off my soapbox now.........

Frankley I could not agree with you more. I was once a worker there and believe me I could see this happening. I met all kinds of people at the front gate and at the exits. They were constantly telling us that the prices were rediculous not to mention the parking fee as well. People are trying to get a bang for their buck but it just did not happen.

I have just moved down here from up in Pa. and I must say that if the park did nothing else for me I certainly did meet alot of wonderful people.

It is just a shame the park had to go down the way it did. I must say that it did not pay well like some of my jobs in the north but it was really an experience I had and enjoyed very much what I did. I just hope that Myrtle Beach can come back the way it used to be when I first started coming down here but you have to have the right political people, and the locals to help make that happen.
I do wish the new owners if any all the luck in the world and hope to be part of that team again. I HAD A BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jarmor]

The next week or so will be very interesting. That's all I'm saying.

So when does that tell all book come out?

Jarvis" feels NO should be bailed out heck, im already broke its time I get some folks to join me " Morant!