Hard Rock Park
Encyclopedia
Freestyle Music Park, formerly Hard Rock Park, was a music theme park located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
that opened on April 15, 2008, that temporarily closed on September 24, 2008 due to financial issues, reopened May 23, 2009 under the Freestyle brand, and closed yet again after its 2009 season. It was built on 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) on a 140 acre (0.57-km²) property between Highway 501 and the Intracoastal Waterway
on a site that includes part of the former Waccamaw Factory Shoppes in Fantasy Harbour.
The park's roller-coasters offered lockers located next to major rides, initially free short-term as Hard Rock Park, and for $.50 per single use as Freestyle Park.
. The park opened to "awesome" reviews. Times of London
writer Chris Haslam concluded that America’s newest theme park brought the genre "from the preschool plastic of Disney to a new age of insubordinate adolescence through a combination of nerdy attention to detail, startling irreverence and sly wit." Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press travel editor, declared Nights in White Satin: The Trip
as one of her all-time favorite rides from any park, right up there with Disney's popular Soarin' Over California ride.
–owned Hard Rock International, current owners/operators of the Hard Rock Cafe
brand, to HRP Myrtle Beach Operations, LLC, which designed and built the park, for a fee of $2.5 million per year.
Changes were made to operating hours and planned operating days. The original closing time of 1 a.m. was moved up to 10 p.m. in August and the park moved to weekend-only operations after Labor Day. And with an earlier end-of-season planned on November 2, the park scheduled no concerts past August 30.
In September, HRP investor Africa Israel Investments
decided to write off its entire $10 million investment in the park "due to liquidity difficulties the park is experiencing". Hard Rock Park then announced that they were ending the 2008 season over a month early, laying off most of the employees, and had filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection. At the time of the filing, the park expressed hopes of reopening in 2009; the following 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 declined to force an auction and approved the sale of the park to FPI MB Entertainment (FPI) for $25 million.
On April 2, 2009, the new owners announced that the Hard Rock name would be dropped, despite efforts to obtain permission from Hard Rock International, which had been willing to continue use of the name if conditions could be met. The bankruptcy court required all Hard Rock merchandise to be destroyed as a result. Changing the name would give the park a more positive image since the old name was connected with the bankruptcy, and it was not considered family-oriented, which the new owners wanted the park to be.
In an unrelated development, a Delaware federal judge said on March 30 that some of the previous owners still owned intellectual property
rights relating to the original theme. The original owners then sued FPI, claiming they had not done enough to change the park, and that the new owners were using intellectual property that was not theirs. This action threatened to delay the reopening.
In May, HRP Creative Services Co. wanted to make certain attractions separate from the park the new owners planned. Prior to the March 30 ruling, former park CEO Steven Goodwin wanted the new owners to pay royalties
.
of FPI US LLC, a company incorporated in Delaware
, and MB Entertainment. The partners included Roundbox Advisors, Freestyle Park International, Baker Leisure Group, and two of the park's original owners — Thomas M. Hiles and D. Tim Duncan. Baker Leisure Group managed the day-to-day park operations.
, 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 addition, Freestyle Music Park will be the prototype and launching point for potential future parks under the same brand; one is planned in Russia
.
On April 22, FPI introduced Kids in America, a 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) children's section with four rides named after hit songs and purchased from Zamperla
of Italy
. The rides are named "Get Off My Cloud
," "Fly Like an Eagle
," "Wheels in the Sky" and "Life Is a Highway
." On May 4, "Led Zeppelin - The Ride" became "The Time Machine", with plans to play a song from each decade from the 1960s to the present with each run. The blimp-style station was later painted red to resemble a time machine
. Also at that time, Stine said FPI planned no concerts during 2009.
On May 14, FPI announced their last new shows. "CSI: Live", previously performed at Six Flags Magic Mountain
near Los Angeles
, is based on the CSI
TV series. The park also had a fireworks
and laser
show when it closed. "Adrenaline Rush" is a stunt show
with skateboard
s, bicycle
s and rollerblade
s, and "Ice Cold Country" (formerly "Country on the Rocks"). Sections of the park also got new names; "Myrtle's Beach" (previously "Rock 'N' Roll Heaven") became a "tongue-in-cheek
celebration of all things Polynesian
." "Born in the USA" became "Kids in America." "British Invasion
" became "Across the Pond." "Cool Country" became "Country USA." The entrance changed names from "All Access Entry Plaza" to "VIP Plaza". Other new names included "Iron Horse" (formerly known as "Midnight Rider" and "Eagles - Life in the Fast Lane"), Soak'd, formerly "Slippery When Wet". "Hang Ten", previously "Shake, Rattle 'n' Rollercoaster". "Round About" was called "Maximum RPM!". The "Nights in White Satin" ride still goes through a blacklit
building and has been re-themed "Monstars of Rock". Other kids' attractions changed names--"Reggae River Falls" became "Poly Nesian's Splash Bash", "Garage Jam!" became "Grunge Station", and "Kids Rock! State Park" became "Fantasy Harbour State Park".
On June 22, the county planning commission agreed to change the name of Hard Rock Parkway to Fantasy Harbour Boulevard. FPI agreed to pay part of the cost for new signs. Businesses located on the road would have to pay their own expenses as the road, once called Outlet Boulevard, received its second name change in two years. By mid-September, five of the seven signs on the street itself had been changed.
As the park prepared to close at the end of the summer, FPI President Steve Baker said, "Overall, I'm real happy," despite the fact that the economy
and the park's past problems contributed to a less than spectacular first season. The park also made less money than hoped because of the discounts needed to attract more people, and lawsuit
s added to the park's woes.
Many amusement parks were also having difficulties, said David Mandt of International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
The lawsuits were filed by Brandon Advertising (for $1.4 million) on August 5 and Roundbox Advisors LLC (for $360,000) on August 17. Baker explained that FPI MB would pay both creditors, saying that Freestyle Park had fewer problems than Hard Rock Park, but people were assuming the difficulties would continue, meaning that they were less patient.
As for 2009, Baker said, "We're doing our best, and we're here to stay."
Tetra Financial Group filed another lawsuit in September for lease payments, taxes and fees.
In October, FPI announced that they had lined up some new investors to help the park pay its debts. They signed a memorandum of understanding with the investors.
In February, 2010, FPI attorney Tobey Daluz announced that the park would not open in March as planned. She said when or if the park opened depended on actions of investors who have not been identified.
On March 29, 2010, lawyer David Slough said the park would not reopen unless investors allowed FPI to pay Hard Rock Park's debt by the deadline of April 1. He would not say how close investors were to a deal.
Consultant Dennis Speigel, who had no connection to the park, said, "It's probably the largest catastrophe in our industry. Quite frankly the park shouldn't reopen." He said for the price FPI paid, they should have been able to make the park succeed. Speigel said the park was too far from the beach.
On April 1, 2010, Slough said, "Currently, the park has no ability to make the payment." Foreclosure
and even bankruptcy are now possibilities, but the park could still find investors and reopen, according to attorney Allen Jeffcoat.
Court documents filed April 13, 2010 in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware say a court ruling will create a lien
; the next step will likely be a Horry County court action leading to the park's sale.
On June 29, 2010, a federal court awarded Tetra $14 million after Freestyle failed to answer the lawsuit. On June 30, Baker said the park was "aggressively" seeking new investors. Jeffcoat, who had no connection to the case, said Tetra would only be repaid after other creditors who already had claims.
On August 9, 2010, foreclosure proceedings were filed against Freestyle Music Park. Mortgage holder FPI US LLC seeks over $25 million from park owner FPI MB Entertainment LLC. Loan documents identify the general manager of FPI US LLC as Alexey (Alexei in most documents) Sidnev; Sidnev is a former partner in Moscow
-based MT Development, an investor in Freestyle Park that had 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, admitting the amount of debt is correct and that it cannot pay. Four out of five creditors responding to the foreclosure claimed FPI US and FPI MB are the same company and that FPI US should not have first claim to park assets. FPI MB attorney Nate Fata denied this.
In an August 24 interview, Baker said the park's entire board had resigned, except for one member appointed by Russian investors who will work to sell the park. Baker, who continued to head Baker Leisure Group, believed the park could succeed under new owners.
VenCore Solutions, which leased items such as radios and shelves to Hard Rock Park, continued its agreement with Freestyle Park. On September 8, VenCore, claiming FPI MB owes the company $1,074,738, was granted the right to repossess
the property. FPI MB stated in a letter that VenCore was correct that the property "is currently uninsured and not subject to a hurricane contingency plan."
Despite rumors, Baker has no plans to move the Freestyle rides to a park he plans in Orlando, Florida
.
On January 12, 2011, a judge may appoint a receiver for the park property; FPI US wants Gregory Maloney of Jones, Lang, LaSalle Americas Inc. Theme park consultant Michael Jenkins said the park could reopen, but a different theme might be necessary A month later, FPI MB attorney Nate Fata said a sale appeared more likely due to the improving real estate market.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
that opened on April 15, 2008, that temporarily closed on September 24, 2008 due to financial issues, reopened May 23, 2009 under the Freestyle brand, and closed yet again after its 2009 season. It was built on 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) on a 140 acre (0.57-km²) property between Highway 501 and the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
on a site that includes part of the former Waccamaw Factory Shoppes in Fantasy Harbour.
Shows
- Ice Cold Country - An ice show set to country and southern rock music. Sited in a former Fantasy Harbour-era ice skating theater subsumed into the present-day park.
- Adrenaline Rush - a stunt showStunt showKnott's Berry Farm's Wild West Stunt Show debuted on October 7, 1974. The show was written by Gary Salisbury and was only scheduled to run Monday through Friday during the Winter season in the Wagon Camp Theatre...
with skateboardSkateboardA skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
s, bicycleBicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s and rollerbladeRollerbladeRollerblade is a brand of inline skates owned by Nordica, part of the Tecnica Group of Trevignano, Treviso, Italy.The company was started by Scott Olsen and Brennan Olson in Minneapolis as Ole's Innovative Sports; when they sold the company, it became Rollerblade, Inc...
s. On May 14, the park announced its last new shows. - CSI: Live - based on the TV series, with investigators trying to determine who committed a murder at a magic show, with audience members considered suspects.
- Kiss the Sky - a nightly FireworksFireworksFireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
and LaserLaserA laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
show in the park's lagoon.
Roller Coasters
- The Time Machine (Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
) - A steel roller coaster set to the music of the 1960s to the 2000s. The coaster stands 150 feet (45.7 m) tall, and has a top speed of 65 mi/h. Other features include six inversions, a spiral over the existing lagoon, a zeppelin-shaped load/unload area which is now the "time machine" which was re-themed & completed by Sundance Architectural Products the company that designed & completed the original Blimp. An additional-fee rider-experience take-home video system. Visible from outside the park along the George Bishop Parkway. - Round About (Premier RidesPremier RidesPremier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996....
)- A convertible car-coaster that races to 1980s hits, particularly Gary Numan's CarsCars (song)Fear Factory, an American industrial metal band, recorded a version of "Cars" and released it as the second single from their third studio album, Obsolete. The song was only included as a bonus track on the limited edition digipak re-release of Obsolete and would be instrumental in breaking Fear...
. Riders go for a "test drive" through a mock factory in British sports cars. The coaster features a first-of-its-kind Ferris Wheel lift hillLift hillA lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
, where the coaster trains are rolled from the bottom of the track onto a Ferris wheel-like contraption and then pushed off at the top into a high speed adventure. Located in the "Across the Pond" area of the park. The ride building resembles Battersea Power StationBattersea Power StationBattersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
with an inflatable pig, in reference to the cover of Pink Floyd's Animals album. Automaker BMW sued the park in 2010 over the similarity of the attraction's ride vehicle to the plaintiff's Mini Cooper. - Iron Horse (VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
)- Located in the "Country USA" section of the park, the coaster is themed as a mine train which take riders through a creepy abandoned lumber mill. - Soak'd (Premier Rides)- A suspended roller coaster located in the "Kids of America" section of the park, it features an interactive experience permitting non-riders to fire water cannons as the roller-coaster trains pass by, at the risk of themselves being drenched by overhead showers that fired at random.
- Hang Ten (Vekoma)- A white kiddie coaster in the "Kids of America" section.
The park's roller-coasters offered lockers located next to major rides, initially free short-term as Hard Rock Park, and for $.50 per single use as Freestyle Park.
Other rides
- Monstars of Rock, a dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
which goes through a blacklitBlack lightA black light, also referred to as a UV light, ultraviolet light, or Wood's lamp, is a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation in the long-wave range, and little visible light...
building.
Kids' play areas
- Poly Nesian's Splash Bash - a water play area set to a Jamaican theme. Kids can bring their swim suits and get very wet.
- Grunge Station - a very large, indoor, foam ball play area where kids and adults could play together.
- Fantasy Harbour State Park - a large outdoor play area themed like a state park. Rock climbing walls, pop jet water fountains and a large wooden fort for kids to play in.
Opening
The grand opening celebration as Hard Rock Park on June 2, 2008, featured a concert by The Eagles and The Moody BluesThe Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
. The park opened to "awesome" reviews. Times of London
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
writer Chris Haslam concluded that America’s newest theme park brought the genre "from the preschool plastic of Disney to a new age of insubordinate adolescence through a combination of nerdy attention to detail, startling irreverence and sly wit." Beth J. Harpaz, Associated Press travel editor, declared Nights in White Satin: The Trip
Nights in White Satin: The Trip
Nights in White Satin: The Trip was a theme park ride located at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is based on the song Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues. It is a dark ride that incorporates visual effects, digital CGI, and special effects installed by Attraction Design...
as one of her all-time favorite rides from any park, right up there with Disney's popular Soarin' Over California ride.
Name
The Hard Rock name was licensed from Seminole NationSeminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
–owned Hard Rock International, current owners/operators of the Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
brand, to HRP Myrtle Beach Operations, LLC, which designed and built the park, for a fee of $2.5 million per year.
Park areas
The park featured six "rock environs" celebrating rock's culture, lifestyle, legends and irreverence. These rock environs included the All Access Entry Plaza, Rock & Roll Heaven, British Invasion, Lost in the 70's, Born in the USA and Cool Country.Attractions
At opening, the park had amusement rides, live shows, interactive elements, kids play areas, gardens, shopping and dining attractions. The main attractions of the park were roller coasters and live shows set to music. The park included an amphitheater with 10,000-person capacity featuring live daily shows and special performances. Other amusements included a carousel, a water play structure and swings. Most attractions prominently featured music, bands, and rock memorabilia like its cafe counterpart.Shows
- Origins - A film presentation showing the history of rock n roll and how it is intertwined with theme parks. The Origins theater was located in the front, entrance area, of the park.
- Malibu Beach Party - A live-action comedy show set to all the great beach classics and some modern day pop songs. A cast of dancers and swimmers danced, dove, performed stunts on motorcycles and interacted with the crowd in a lakefront/poolside amphitheater.
- Roadies Stunt Show - A twist on the popular stunt show concept with rock and roll 'roadies' as characters. This show featured many 'cirque'-type elements and numerous pyrotechnic effects.
- Country on the Rocks - A rock themed ice show.
- Bohemian Rhapsody - A nighttime show held over the lagoon, set to the classic song by QueenQueen (band)Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. The show featured fountains, fireworks and a laser-light show displayed from the top of the giant Gibson Guitar icon.
Roller Coasters
- Led Zeppelin - The Ride (Bolliger & MabillardBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
)- While waiting for their ride, guests used to be treated to a unique multimedia Led Zeppelin live-concert experience. The ride was most notable for active participation of surviving Led Zeppelin band members Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
and John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones (musician)John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
, who contributed to all aspects of the ride, including the ride name, logo and overall look and feel of the vehicles. The Led Zeppelin properties were licensed from C + P Eighty-Six Ltd. - Maximum RPM! (Premier Rides)- Located in the "British Invasion" area of the park. There was a popular 80s karaoke to entertain people waiting in line to ride.
- Eagles-Life in the Fast Lane (Vekoma)- Formerly known as Midnight Rider, the coaster was renamed after it was announced that the soundtrack would be set to The Eagles located in the "Cool Country" area of the park.
- Slippery When Wet (Premier Rides)-Located in the "Born in the USA" section'.
- Shake Rattle 'n' Rollercoaster (Vekoma), A classic boardwalk themed kiddie coaster.
Other rides
- All the King's Horses - A classic Merry Go Round.
- Nights in White Satin: The TripNights in White Satin: The TripNights in White Satin: The Trip was a theme park ride located at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is based on the song Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues. It is a dark ride that incorporates visual effects, digital CGI, and special effects installed by Attraction Design...
(Sally Corp.) - Was a dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
based on The Moody BluesThe Moody BluesThe Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
' "Nights in White SatinNights in White Satin"Nights in White Satin" is a 1967 single by The Moody Blues, written by Justin Hayward and first featured on the album Days of Future Passed.It is in the key of E minor Aeolian.-Single releases:...
". The ride incorporated sights, sounds, smells and tactile effects, onboard ride vehicle audio, a purpose-made movie written to the spoken word section of the song, and a re-orchestrated version of the iconic song by Justin Hayward. Guests entered through a bead curtain and wore chroma-depth 3-D glasses during the ride. Nights was voted in the top three new attractions of 2008 in a themeparkinsider.com annual poll. - Magic Mushroom Garden (Huss Rides) - A Scrambler-style ride featuring the "World's largest blacklight poster."
- Muddin' Monster Race (Huss Rides) - A spinning, swinging monster-truck-themed ride.
- London Cab Ride (Huss Rides) -A heavily themed scrambler-type Huss Break Dance IV.
- Just a Swingin' - A Wave Swinger-type ride.
Other attractions
- Banana Splitsville - a large outdoor play area, featuring a performance stage where the Banana SplitsBanana SplitsThe Banana Splits were four comedic animal characters who featured in a late 1960s children's variety show made for television. The costumed hosts of the show were Fleegle , Bingo , Drooper and Snork .The Banana Splits Adventure Hour was an hour-long, packaged television program that featured both...
played live shows; there was also a collection of small rides for toddlers, like the Sole Train ride, and bouncing Dune Buggies. - Live Amphitheater - the main stage used for a series of headline acts, specialty musicians, high school bands as well as being the location of the opening-day Eagles/Moody Blues concerts. Bowling for SoupBowling for SoupBowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
were the first band to play at the venue. - Phonehenge - A performance area equipped with red British-style phone boxes arranged to resemble Stonehenge. Featured Fireeater/sword-swallower/juggler Lukas Dudek.
- Alice's Restaurant - The park's only full-service restaurant themed to the Arlo Guthrie song Alice's Restaurant Massacree, containing Guthrie memorabilia and a unique circular table whose psychedelic artwork yielded hidden images viewable in the reflection of a polished metal cylinder. Mr. Guthrie visited the restaurant May 5, 2008, and inaugurated the adjacent graffiti wall.
Closure and Sale
Hard Rock Park had stated the park could accommodate up to 30,000 visitors a day. However, in light of the frozen credit markets the park could not secure sufficient finance to underwrite its planned advertising campaign. As the 2008 economic downturn deepened during the summer, high gas and hotel prices coupled with limited advertising by the park led to lower-than-expected attendance. The park cited “macroeconomic conditions that significantly depressed overall demand in the travel and leisure industry” and a lack of cash to advertise.Changes were made to operating hours and planned operating days. The original closing time of 1 a.m. was moved up to 10 p.m. in August and the park moved to weekend-only operations after Labor Day. And with an earlier end-of-season planned on November 2, the park scheduled no concerts past August 30.
In September, HRP investor Africa Israel Investments
Africa Israel Investments
Africa Israel Investments Ltd. - AFI GROUP - is an international holding and investment company based in Yehud, Israel.AFI Group consists of several private and public companies active in areas such as real estate, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism and leisure.The company’s...
decided to write off its entire $10 million investment in the park "due to liquidity difficulties the park is experiencing". Hard Rock Park then announced that they were ending the 2008 season over a month early, laying off most of the employees, and had filed for Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy protection. At the time of the filing, the park expressed hopes of reopening in 2009; the following month the company announced plans to sell the park.
In January 2009, the company converted to Chapter 7
Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 7 of the Title 11 of the United States Code governs the process of liquidation under the bankruptcy laws of the United States...
. In February 2009, the Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
bankruptcy court declined to force an auction and approved the sale of the park to FPI MB Entertainment (FPI) for $25 million.
On April 2, 2009, the new owners announced that the Hard Rock name would be dropped, despite efforts to obtain permission from Hard Rock International, which had been willing to continue use of the name if conditions could be met. The bankruptcy court required all Hard Rock merchandise to be destroyed as a result. Changing the name would give the park a more positive image since the old name was connected with the bankruptcy, and it was not considered family-oriented, which the new owners wanted the park to be.
In an unrelated development, a Delaware federal judge said on March 30 that some of the previous owners still owned intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
rights relating to the original theme. The original owners then sued FPI, claiming they had not done enough to change the park, and that the new owners were using intellectual property that was not theirs. This action threatened to delay the reopening.
In May, HRP Creative Services Co. wanted to make certain attractions separate from the park the new owners planned. Prior to the March 30 ruling, former park CEO Steven Goodwin wanted the new owners to pay royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
.
New Owners
FPI MB Entertainment LLC was a joint ventureJoint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
of FPI US LLC, a company incorporated in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, and MB Entertainment. The partners included Roundbox Advisors, Freestyle Park International, Baker Leisure Group, and two of the park's original owners — Thomas M. Hiles and D. Tim Duncan. Baker Leisure Group managed the day-to-day park operations.
New Name and Changes Announced
FPI had to completely re-skin and overhaul the park to comply with court rulings. In April 2009 FPI unveiled a new name for the park: Freestyle Music Park, stating that it will pay homage to a variety of musical genres, including rock n' roll, countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, beach music
Beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, R&B, alternative, Christian
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
and disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
. The name does not refer to the Latin music genre
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
, according to sales and marketing director John Stine. In addition, Freestyle Music Park will be the prototype and launching point for potential future parks under the same brand; one is planned in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
On April 22, FPI introduced Kids in America, a 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) children's section with four rides named after hit songs and purchased from Zamperla
Zamperla
Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls....
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The rides are named "Get Off My Cloud
Get off of My Cloud
"Get Off of My Cloud" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones. It was written as a follow-up single to the successful " Satisfaction"...
," "Fly Like an Eagle
Fly Like an Eagle (song)
"Fly Like an Eagle" is a song written by Steve Miller and by Steve Miller Band guitarist Steve McCarty on the album Fly Like an Eagle. The song went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of January 8, 1977. The single edit can be found on Greatest Hits . The song has an...
," "Wheels in the Sky" and "Life Is a Highway
Life Is a Highway
"Life Is a Highway" is a song written by Tom Cochrane, from his 1991 album Mad Mad World. The song was Cochrane's most famous song, as it was a number one hit in his native Canada. The song also peaked at number six on the Billboard charts in the United States in 1992...
." On May 4, "Led Zeppelin - The Ride" became "The Time Machine", with plans to play a song from each decade from the 1960s to the present with each run. The blimp-style station was later painted red to resemble a time machine
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
. Also at that time, Stine said FPI planned no concerts during 2009.
On May 14, FPI announced their last new shows. "CSI: Live", previously performed at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
near Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, is based on the CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
TV series. The park also had a fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
and laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
show when it closed. "Adrenaline Rush" is a stunt show
Stunt show
Knott's Berry Farm's Wild West Stunt Show debuted on October 7, 1974. The show was written by Gary Salisbury and was only scheduled to run Monday through Friday during the Winter season in the Wagon Camp Theatre...
with skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
s, bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s and rollerblade
Rollerblade
Rollerblade is a brand of inline skates owned by Nordica, part of the Tecnica Group of Trevignano, Treviso, Italy.The company was started by Scott Olsen and Brennan Olson in Minneapolis as Ole's Innovative Sports; when they sold the company, it became Rollerblade, Inc...
s, and "Ice Cold Country" (formerly "Country on the Rocks"). Sections of the park also got new names; "Myrtle's Beach" (previously "Rock 'N' Roll Heaven") became a "tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
celebration of all things Polynesian
Polynesian culture
Polynesian culture refers to the indigenous peoples' culture of Polynesia who share common traits in language, customs and society. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras:...
." "Born in the USA" became "Kids in America." "British Invasion
British Invasion
The British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
" became "Across the Pond." "Cool Country" became "Country USA." The entrance changed names from "All Access Entry Plaza" to "VIP Plaza". Other new names included "Iron Horse" (formerly known as "Midnight Rider" and "Eagles - Life in the Fast Lane"), Soak'd, formerly "Slippery When Wet". "Hang Ten", previously "Shake, Rattle 'n' Rollercoaster". "Round About" was called "Maximum RPM!". The "Nights in White Satin" ride still goes through a blacklit
Black light
A black light, also referred to as a UV light, ultraviolet light, or Wood's lamp, is a lamp that emits ultraviolet radiation in the long-wave range, and little visible light...
building and has been re-themed "Monstars of Rock". Other kids' attractions changed names--"Reggae River Falls" became "Poly Nesian's Splash Bash", "Garage Jam!" became "Grunge Station", and "Kids Rock! State Park" became "Fantasy Harbour State Park".
On June 22, the county planning commission agreed to change the name of Hard Rock Parkway to Fantasy Harbour Boulevard. FPI agreed to pay part of the cost for new signs. Businesses located on the road would have to pay their own expenses as the road, once called Outlet Boulevard, received its second name change in two years. By mid-September, five of the seven signs on the street itself had been changed.
2009 Freestyle Operating Season
The park reopened May 23, with adult admission reduced to $39.95 ($29.95 for children) and annual passes to $64.95 ($39.95 for children). Additionally, the park has offered 3 separate promotions during the 2009 summer season. $10 off for SC residents, $17.76 for 2 admission tickets before 4pm and most recently $19.99 for 2 tickets prior to 4pm.As the park prepared to close at the end of the summer, FPI President Steve Baker said, "Overall, I'm real happy," despite the fact that the economy
Late 2000s recession
The late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
and the park's past problems contributed to a less than spectacular first season. The park also made less money than hoped because of the discounts needed to attract more people, and lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
s added to the park's woes.
Many amusement parks were also having difficulties, said David Mandt of International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
The lawsuits were filed by Brandon Advertising (for $1.4 million) on August 5 and Roundbox Advisors LLC (for $360,000) on August 17. Baker explained that FPI MB would pay both creditors, saying that Freestyle Park had fewer problems than Hard Rock Park, but people were assuming the difficulties would continue, meaning that they were less patient.
As for 2009, Baker said, "We're doing our best, and we're here to stay."
Tetra Financial Group filed another lawsuit in September for lease payments, taxes and fees.
In October, FPI announced that they had lined up some new investors to help the park pay its debts. They signed a memorandum of understanding with the investors.
Further problems
The agreement to purchase Hard Rock Park included paying $570,000 the former park owners owed. In January, the attorney for Hard Rock Park's trustee allowed an extension on that payment as the park searched for new investors. Court documents said the economic situation caused difficulties in making the payments. The park laid off 30 employees early in January, 2010.In February, 2010, FPI attorney Tobey Daluz announced that the park would not open in March as planned. She said when or if the park opened depended on actions of investors who have not been identified.
On March 29, 2010, lawyer David Slough said the park would not reopen unless investors allowed FPI to pay Hard Rock Park's debt by the deadline of April 1. He would not say how close investors were to a deal.
Consultant Dennis Speigel, who had no connection to the park, said, "It's probably the largest catastrophe in our industry. Quite frankly the park shouldn't reopen." He said for the price FPI paid, they should have been able to make the park succeed. Speigel said the park was too far from the beach.
On April 1, 2010, Slough said, "Currently, the park has no ability to make the payment." Foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
and even bankruptcy are now possibilities, but the park could still find investors and reopen, according to attorney Allen Jeffcoat.
Court documents filed April 13, 2010 in federal bankruptcy court in Delaware say a court ruling will create a lien
Lien
In law, a lien is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation...
; the next step will likely be a Horry County court action leading to the park's sale.
On June 29, 2010, a federal court awarded Tetra $14 million after Freestyle failed to answer the lawsuit. On June 30, Baker said the park was "aggressively" seeking new investors. Jeffcoat, who had no connection to the case, said Tetra would only be repaid after other creditors who already had claims.
On August 9, 2010, foreclosure proceedings were filed against Freestyle Music Park. Mortgage holder FPI US LLC seeks over $25 million from park owner FPI MB Entertainment LLC. Loan documents identify the general manager of FPI US LLC as Alexey (Alexei in most documents) Sidnev; Sidnev is a former partner in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
-based MT Development, an investor in Freestyle Park that had 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, admitting the amount of debt is correct and that it cannot pay. Four out of five creditors responding to the foreclosure claimed FPI US and FPI MB are the same company and that FPI US should not have first claim to park assets. FPI MB attorney Nate Fata denied this.
In an August 24 interview, Baker said the park's entire board had resigned, except for one member appointed by Russian investors who will work to sell the park. Baker, who continued to head Baker Leisure Group, believed the park could succeed under new owners.
VenCore Solutions, which leased items such as radios and shelves to Hard Rock Park, continued its agreement with Freestyle Park. On September 8, VenCore, claiming FPI MB owes the company $1,074,738, was granted the right to repossess
Repossession
Repossession is generally used to refer to a financial institution taking back an object that was either used as collateral or rented or leased in a transaction. Repossession is a "self-help" type of action in which the party having right of ownership of the property in question takes the property...
the property. FPI MB stated in a letter that VenCore was correct that the property "is currently uninsured and not subject to a hurricane contingency plan."
Despite rumors, Baker has no plans to move the Freestyle rides to a park he plans in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
On January 12, 2011, a judge may appoint a receiver for the park property; FPI US wants Gregory Maloney of Jones, Lang, LaSalle Americas Inc. Theme park consultant Michael Jenkins said the park could reopen, but a different theme might be necessary A month later, FPI MB attorney Nate Fata said a sale appeared more likely due to the improving real estate market.
