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Phil
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9268
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Uh oh. I really don't see these guys as being capable of turning things around based on how poorly planned the park was from the start.
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| 9/24/2008 11:34 PM |
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LuvChyld79
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 281
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I think the only park to close quicker than this one was Wild West World - could be wrong, but it seems like it. A big "whoops" on their part.
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| 9/24/2008 11:37 PM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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I believe a big admission cut to $30.00 and new marketing could save the park. We'll just have to see what happens in 2009.
New rides would help alot but filing Chapter 11 this early i would almost bet the park will not get anything new for several years.
If they even re-open at all.
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| 9/24/2008 11:49 PM |
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Nitro Luvr
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 451
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OK, I'm feeling lazy today so I just copied and pasted what I said in the forum that is now closed.lol
Well I don't care what their website may say or how much they may try to doctor it up, filing for Chapter 11 is NEVER a good sign. And it especially isn't good when you are filing for it MONTHS after opening up your business. I sure hope the place can be saved, but if they continue to function in the same fashion or anything close to it (i.e. high prices, lack of rides, marketing), they will be doing liquidation next year.
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| 9/25/2008 12:35 AM |
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lryboy
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17
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I don't see this park reopening, especially with the economic crisis going on. What a waste of money.
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| 9/25/2008 12:45 AM |
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James
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10932
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Ahahaha, who didn't see this coming?
At least they wanna try to have a 2009 season. Although I think Wild West Worm said the same thing after they closed.
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| 9/25/2008 1:12 AM |
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Wes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11378
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I think the park will reopen. Chapter 11 just means they want to stop paying on their debt basically.
Surely someone in Myrtle Beach will want to keep this thing going.
It's also likely it will get bought in the offseason by an investment group. Cedar Fair sure ain't gonna take on anymore debt.
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| 9/25/2008 7:44 AM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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I think it will open in 2009 weather Hard Rock is the owner or not. The park will sell quickly since the park and all the rides are only a year old and very nice looking.
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| 9/25/2008 10:11 AM |
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James
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10932
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Wild West World was only like.. 2 months old.. And it didn't sell.
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| 9/25/2008 11:51 AM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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That could have been because they didn't have any unique or major coasters or maybe the market it was in. I think HRP would sell. Just depends if anyone's buying.
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| 9/25/2008 12:08 PM |
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PANTSFREE
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1428
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I'm glad I got to visit this place and get all the credits in... I hope they can turn it around in 2009. My first recommendation is getting guests informed about this place BEFORE they visit. Get advertising on web sites like the hotel chains where people start planning their trips by making reservations. Get a bus running from Ocean blvd. to the park maybe. Make them aware of the place BEFORE arriving. Make it a destination for tourists essentially.
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| 9/25/2008 3:35 PM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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Couldn't have said it any better myself. I also got all the credits in case it does not open next year but if i think they will open.
Sadly they are going to have to spend millions on a new and much bigger marketing but they don't have the money to now so it will be intresting to see what happens between now and march of 09.
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| 9/25/2008 3:50 PM |
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 549
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I hope I can get up to Myrtle Beach next year... if the park re-opens.
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| 9/25/2008 4:36 PM |
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bk2004
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7743
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Is this serious? I am surprised to hear this. I thought the park was doing better. But as far as next year......I mean come on, the parks nice and in a good location. Its just gonna take a while for it to build its own brand. Like said above, if hard rock isn't the owner, someone will buy it.
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| 9/25/2008 7:09 PM |
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Nitro Luvr
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 451
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^^One look at the parking lot on days that are SUPPOSED to be busy and you would not be surprised by this. Like I said before in another thread, was there for 4th of July weekend and the place was empty. HRP needs something they can't possibly afford right now. A GOOD marketing plan and a good 10 more major rides and not just fillers. They face liquidation, folks are just afraid to admit this. So anyone still think a $600 million amusement park in Arizona is a good idea now? lol Case and point, $400 million wasted in a matter of months in SC. And SC is actually in a better marketing area than AZ will ever be.
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| 9/25/2008 7:38 PM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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I went on a weekday shortly after July 4th and the place was a ghost town.
Seriously i think the park had about 500 people or maybe even less. I just know i rode Led Zepplin about 8 times in the front row without getting off. Everything else was a walk on for the front as well.
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| 9/25/2008 9:08 PM |
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Nitro Luvr
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 451
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That's pretty much how it was for 4th of July weekend too. None of the lines were long. It was a walk on for everything except LZ: TR because the ride ops were making the process difficult even though there wasn't a line at all for the thing. I hate to be pessimistic, but how do you improve from this drastically? Everyone wants to hold onto hope that it will survive, but the forecast is looking bleak. They have one mediocre roller coaster, a pretty good mine train, and a hodge podge of other things not even worth mentioning.
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| 9/25/2008 10:56 PM |
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Carowinds 73-03
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12417
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I honestly don't think they can survive. To do so they would have to add atleast 2-3 major flats, a new coaster and a flume or some water slides.
I think we all know that's not going to happen but i think they could survive another year or two if the drop the entry fee to $25-$30. Plus maybe the economy will be alot better next year.
I would love to see them try another year with less addmission and see how it goes from there. If not then close and sell.
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| 9/25/2008 11:44 PM |
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steelerman
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5
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Really too bad. I'm glad I got a chance to go. The park designers did so many little things right, it's a shame there were some big mistakes. I knew going in there weren't many rides, but I was very impressed with the fun details all over that made it an enjoyable day nonetheless.
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| 10/5/2008 1:03 PM |
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More about News
Sep. 24th, 2008 -- Hard Rock Park announced on its Web site that it is closed for the season "to allow management to focus on restructuring efforts."