Myrtle Beach Pavilion - Closure

Closure

The owners of the Pavilion, Burroughs & Chapin, announced shortly before its 2006 opening that that would be its final season. The 2006 season ended for the public on September 24, 2006, although a select number of people were able to participate in a "Last Ride" event held on September 30, 2006. The farewell season proved extremely popular and the park enjoyed record attendance and profits. Several local citizens wrote songs expressing their feelings about the closing of the old park with names like "It's Hard to Say Goodbye" and "Why Do You Want to Tear the Pavilion Down?". Several online petitions were circulated in hopes of saving the Pavilion, but Burroughs & Chapin stated that financial instability would force them to shut down park operations. At about the time the closing was announced, construction on the Hard Rock Park (now Freestyle Music Park and also in Myrtle Beach) was set to begin.

The park's historic carousel and the Baden Band Organ were subsequently relocated to Broadway at the Beach, also in Myrtle Beach.; however, the Haunted Hotel and the multi-million dollar Hurricane were demolished. Hurricane's trains were sold to Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, and are now used on Son of Beast.

A new, smaller "mini-park" called the Pavilion Nostalgia Park has been created, featuring a few of the old rides and attractions, including the carousel and organ. This park, located at Broadway at the Beach, opened July 4, 2007.

The ocean-front Pavilion and the amusement park area were demolished between December 2006 and summer 2007. Since that time, the 11-acre (45,000 m2) lot has been unused and empty. Although there is no longer a Pavilion, tourists still visit the area, attracted by the local businesses such as the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove which remain in operation. A historical marker commemorating the Pavilion has been placed on the northeast corner of the ocean-front lot, along the new boardwalk.