Freestyle Music Park , formerly Hard Rock Park , is a music park located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that opened on April 15, 2008, then temporarily closed on September 24, 2008, due to financial problems, then reopened on May 23, 2009, under the Freestyle brand, and closed again after the 2009 season. Built on 55 acres (22 ha) on a 140-acre (57 ha) property at the intersection of Highway 501 and Intracoastal Waterway at a site that includes part of the former Waccamaw Factory Shoppes at Fantasy Harbor, and uses Mall 3. as its headquarters.
Video Freestyle Music Park
History
Hard Rock Park Development
Plans for Hard Rock theme parks were released in 2003, but at the time, financing and licensing agreements were not yet finalized. AVX Corporation CEO Dick Rosen and other investors, including Bar Harbor's managing partner, Amnon Bar-Tur, founded two companies. Myrtle Property Owners I, who invested in the proposed theme park. Property Owner Myrtle II bought the land from Rosen, with a view to building a hotel along the Intracoastal Waterway in October 2005. A feasibility study shows that developers estimate 3 million visitors a year in the first year of the park, with a growth of nine percent of the second year and lower growth rates afterwards.
In 2006, a license agreement with the Hard Rock franchise was reached. The name Hard Rock is licensed from Seminole Nation-owned Hard Rock International, owner/operator of the current Hard Rock Cafe brand, to HRP Myrtle Beach Operations, LLC, which designed and built the park, for $ 2.5 million per year. Investors include Tim Duncan and CEO of AVX Corporation, Dick Rosen. The financing also includes a loan of $ 385 million, though the park only cost $ 225 million to build. The starting theme is the four seasons of summer, spring, winter and autumn.
Hard Rock Park was officially announced in early 2007. Construction for the park took place in 2007.
season 2008: Hard Rock Park
The celebration of the grand opening as Hard Rock Park on June 2, 2008, featuring concerts by Eagles and The Moody Blues. The park features six "rock environments" that celebrate rock culture, lifestyle, legend, and dislike. This rock environment includes All Access Entry Plaza, Rock & amp; Heaven Scrolls, British Invasion, Lost in the 70s, Born in the US and the Cool Country. Upon opening, the park has entertainment rides, live shows, interactive elements, children's play areas, parks, shopping and dining areas. The main attractions of the park are the roller coasters and live performances that are set to the music. The park includes an amphitheater with a capacity of 10,000 people featuring live daily shows and special shows. Other entertainment includes carousel, water play structure and swing. Most attractions feature prominently rock music, bands and memorabilia like their cafeterias.
The park opened for "awesome" reviews. The Times of London writer Chris Haslam concludes that America's latest amusement park brings the genre "of Disney's preschool plastics into a new era of disobedient teenagers through a combination of nerdy attention to detail, shocking and cunning dislike.. " Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press travel editor, declared Night on White Satin: The Trip as one of her all-time favorite rides from any park, over there with the popular Soarin 'Over California Disney rides. However, Hard Rock Park says the park can hold up to 30,000 visitors a day, and given the frozen credit market, the park can not secure enough finances to bear its advertising campaign plans. As the economic downturn in 2008 deepened during the summer, high gas and hotel prices coupled with limited advertisements by parks led to a lower-than-expected presence. The park cited "macroeconomic conditions that significantly suppressed overall demand in the travel and leisure industry" and lack of cash to advertise. The park borrows a lot of money and can not convince investors to give more help to keep the park running.
Changes are made to working hours and days of operation are planned. The original closing time of 1 am moved to 10pm. in August and the garden was moved to weekend operation just after Labor Day. And with the planned end of the season on November 2, the park no concerts scheduled before August 30.
Early Closure, bankruptcy and a new owner
In September 2008, HRP Africa Israel Investments investors decided to wipe out all of the $ 10 million investment in the park "due to liquidity difficulties experienced by the park". Hard Rock Park then announced that they ended the 2008 season more than a month early, laying off most of its employees, and had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the time of archiving, the park expressed the hope of reopening in 2009; the next month the company announced plans to sell the park. In January 2009, the company converted to Chapter 7.
In February 2009, the Delaware bankruptcy court refused to force the auction and approved the sale of the park to FPI MB Entertainment (FPI) for $ 25 million. FPI MB Entertainment is a joint venture of FPI US LLC, a company incorporated in Delaware, and MB Entertainment. The partners include Roundbox Advisors, Freestyle Park International, Baker Leisure Group, and two original park owners - Thomas M. Hiles and D. Tim Duncan. Baker Leisure Group manages daily garden operations. FPI should completely skin and reform the park to comply with court decisions.
On 2 April 2009, the new owners announced that the name Hard Rock would be dropped, despite attempts to obtain permission from Hard Rock International, who had been willing to continue using the name if conditions could be met. The bankruptcy court requires that all Hard Rock items be destroyed as a result. Changing the name will give the park a more positive image because the old name is connected with bankruptcy, and it is not considered to be family-oriented, which the new owner wants the park to be. Later that month, FPI launched a new name for the park: Freestyle Music Park, which stated that it would pay homage to various genres of music, including rock n 'roll, country, reggae, beach music, pop, R & B, alternative, Christian and disco. The name does not refer to the Latin music genre, according to sales and marketing director John Stine.
In May 2009, HRP Creative Services Co. wants to create a separate tourist attraction separate from the park planned by the new owner, with former park CEO Steven Goodwin wanting new owners to pay royalties. However, a federal Delaware judge said on March 30 that some previous owners still had intellectual property rights related to the original theme. The original owners then sued the FPI, claiming that they did not do enough to change the park, and that new owners use intellectual property that is not theirs. This action threatens to delay the reopening.
On June 22, 2009, the local planning commission agreed to rename the Hard Rock Parkway to Fantasy Harbor Boulevard. FPI agrees to pay part of the fee for new signs. Businesses located on the street have to pay for their own expenses because the road, formerly called Outlet Boulevard, received a second name change in two years. By mid September, five of the seven signs on the road itself had been altered.
season 2009: Freestyle Music Park
The park reopened on May 23, 2009, with adult admission reduced to $ 39.95 ($ 29.95 for children) and an annual ticket to $ 64.95 ($ 39.95 for children). In addition, the park offers three separate promotions during the summer of 2009: $ 10 for SC residents, $ 17.76 for two admission tickets before 4pm and $ 19.99 for two admission tickets before 4pm. As a result of this discount, the park also generates less money than expected because of this need to attract more people.
In addition to changing the name of the park as a whole, the garden section also got a new name; "Myrtle's Beach" (formerly "Rock 'N' Roll Heaven") became "a festive celebration of all things Polynesian." "Born in the US" to "Children in America." "British Invasion" became "Across the Pond." "Cool Country" to "US State." The entrance changed the name of "All Access Entry Plaza" to "VIP Plaza". FPI also introduced Kids in America, a 17,000 square foot (1,600m 2 ) children's section with four rides named after hit songs purchased from Zamperla from Italy. The rides are named "Lower My Cloud," "Fly Like a Hawk," "Wheel in the Sky" and "Life Is a Highway." "CSI: Live", previously performed at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles, was added to the park and is based on the CSI TV series.
When the park is set to close at the end of the summer, FPI President Steve Baker says, "Overall, I'm really happy," and that "we did our best, and we're here to stay." Baker made this comment despite the fact that the economy and past park problems contributed to the first season being less spectacular. Many amusement parks are also experiencing difficulties, said David Mandt of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Consultant Dennis Speigel, who does not have a connection to the park, said, "This is probably the biggest disaster in our industry, and it should not be reopened." He said for the price FPI paid, they should be able to make the park work. Speigel says the park is too far from the beach.
Further issues and subsequent closures
Throughout the season, a series of lawsuits filed against the park, adding to park woes. The lawsuit was filed by Brandon Advertising (for $ 1.4 million) on August 5, 2009, and Roundbox Advisors LLC (for $ 360,000) on August 17, 2009. Baker explained that FPI MB will pay both creditors, saying that Freestyle Park has more problems a bit more than Hard Rock Park, but people find it difficult to continue, which means that they are less patient. Tetra Financial Group also filed a lawsuit in September for lease payments, taxes and fees. In October 2009, FPI announced that it has established several new investors to help park its debts. They signed a memorandum of understanding with investors.
The deal to buy Hard Rock Park includes paying $ 570,000 belonging to previous park owners. In January 2010, a lawyer for Hard Rock Park guardian allowed the extension of the payment as the park sought new investors. Court documents say the economic situation causes difficulties in making payments. The park laid off 30 employees in early January 2010.
In February 2010, FPI lawyer Tobey Daluz announced that the park would not open in March 2010 as planned. He said when or if the park is opened depends on the actions of the unidentified investor. On March 29, 2010, lawyer David Slough said that the park will not reopen unless investors allow FPI to pay Hard Rock Park debts on the deadline of April 1, 2010. He will not say how close investors are to an agreement. On April 1, 2010, Slough said, "Currently, the park does not have the ability to make payments." Foreclosure and even bankruptcy are now possible, but the park can still find investors and reopen, according to lawyer Allen Jeffcoat. Court documents filed April 13, 2010, in a federal bankruptcy court in Delaware said a court ruling would create a liens; the next step would likely be a Horry County court action leading to the sale of the park. On June 29, 2010, a federal court granted Tetra $ 14 million after Freestyle failed to answer the lawsuit. On June 30, 2010, Baker said the park was "aggressive" looking for new investors. Jeffcoat, who has no connection with the case, said Tetra will only be paid back after other creditors who already have a claim.
On August 9, 2010, the foreclosure process was filed against Freestyle Music Park. The mortgage holder of FPI US LLC is looking for more than $ 25 million from FPI entertainment park owner MB Entertainment LLC. Loan documents identify general manager of FPI US LLC as Alexey (Alexei in most documents) Sidnev; Sidnev is a former partner at MT Development based in Moscow, an investor in Freestyle Park who has planned a similar park in Europe. Court filings show FPI US LLC is a division of MT Development. On August 20, FPI MB Entertainment responded to the foreclosure action, acknowledging the true amount of debt and can not pay. Four of the five creditors who responded to the foreclosure claimed FPI AS and FPI MB were the same company and that the US FPI should have no first claim for parking assets. FP FP MB lawyer Nate Fata denied this. In an August 24, 2010, interview, Baker said the entire park board had resigned, except for one member appointed by a Russian investor who would work to sell the park. Baker, who continues to lead the Baker Leisure Group, believes the park can succeed under the new owner.
VenCore Solutions, which rents items such as radio and shelving to Hard Rock Park, continues its deal with Freestyle Park. On September 8, VenCore, claiming FPI MB owed the company over $ 1 million was granted the right to take back the property. FPI MB stated in the letter that VenCore is correct that the property "is currently uninsured and not exposed to a storm contingency plan."
In December 2011, the US FPI who received the property in an August foreclosure auction, filed a letter indicating it had mortgaged the property for $ 20 million, the money that the firm's lawyer needed for maintenance and other expenses up to the sale. The land for the proposed hotel that was never built was then sold in a foreclosure auction on July 2, 2012.
Three months before the summer of 2012, Alain Wizman of Keller Williams, who has been looking for a buyer, says Freestyle seems unlikely to return before 2013. However, on April 18, 2013, local Myrtle Beach newspaper My Horry News reported that Abiding Village which is an art group a local Christian nonprofit launches a campaign in the hopes of making enough money to buy a used Freestyle Music Park minus a $ 10 million rides and turn an old park into an educational and entertainment complex. An official with Freestyle gave the group three weeks to come up with the resources to buy land and buildings, according to Abiding Village officials. On May 7th it was announced via The Sun News that Abiding Village is a far cry from their $ 10 million goal and with 5 days to go they still need $ 9 million. On May 13, WBTW and WMBF-TV reported Abiding Village will not be calling the old amusement parks for now at least. The group held a sales page on May 12, 2013 and later that night the group's website was listed totaling as $ 155,789.82. The neighboring village elders say they hope that however they will still be able to buy land in the future.
On November 12, 2013, local media reported that Freestyle Music Park is currently trying to sell many rides from the company. This is despite the previous rumors that Baker has plans to move Freestyle rides to the park he plans to open in Orlando, Florida. The dozens of rides are now listed for sale with Ital International, a Nashville-based company. All the park rides were listed for sale, with the exception of Wave Swinger and Balloon Race, which were previously sold to Seabreeze Amusement Park.
Martin Durham, former vice president of the amusement park said "It was the most embarrassing of all that" and "It will go and I drive myself maybe 50 times, an old man like me and it's so fun, it really is." Durham says that many factors lead to the death of the park, but the biggest cause is the recession that struck just as it opened.
On December 20, 2013, The Sun News reported that some of the rides on sale have found a new home in the Family Kingdom Amusement Park. The Magic Bikes and Jump Around Dunebuggies, which are two interactive family rides that are the right size to be added to the 13 acre Garden Family Kingdom, are purchased from Freestyle Music Park.
On February 20, 2014, The Sun News reported that Medieval Times Dinner & amp; The tournament has bought about four hectares of parks used before 2008 for horses to exercise and graze.
At the end of July 2014, all the rides in the park began to be dismantled and eliminated.
On August 11, 2014, it was reported that the rides of the former Freestyle Music Park that were not acquired by the Royal Family were reportedly sent out of the US, possibly to Vietnam. It is a roller coaster known as The Eagles' Life In The Fast Lane. Other vehicles from the park are already sold. Ital International has listed a number of Freestyle rides for sale on their website, but the rides are no longer listed there on August 11th.
In February 2015, Freestyle Music Park has unraveled all the rides. They are now gathering in Asia Park in Da Nang, Vietnam with the exception of Led Zeppelin/Time Machine coaster. The track has appeared in Ha Long, Vietnam in a new park called Dragon Park Ha Long. Both parks have the same owner.
Local government officials visited China in February 2016 and have reported that investors have plans for a $ 100 million construction on the site.
Maps Freestyle Music Park
Attractions
Roller coaster
Other attractions
Show
Flip 5 Live! -Stars Theater-Kids In America This is "high energy, interactive performance that shakes home." The 11 characters are named Kira, Kimmy, Dot, Spin, Chase, Bounce, Trip, Jive, Jam, Cali and Zach. They sang original songs and covers from the past and present.
The story of fiction
On October 26th, 2010, the book Grand Strand by former Reid Barwick park employee, became available for purchase online. Lots of details from the fictional "Rocktime Amusement Park" that match the true story of Hard Rock and Freestyle Music Parks. However, this book contains fraudulent transactions Baker rejected.
In popular culture
The park is used as a set on the episode of the TV Series Revolution . Some of the rides and the park itself are used as a post-apocalyptic landscape park scene.
References
External links
- Freestyle Music Park in DataBase's Roller Coaster
- Hard Rock Park Photo Gallery
- podcast 2013 with developer Jon Binkowski
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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