Freestyle Music Park begins foreclosure proceedings

Yeah, I'm talking MonStars of Rock. Sadly, I never got to see the Moody Blues ride.

Yeah, This is what we had to deal with. And note, that I was there weekend after opening day of the season, and they hadn't even completed the ride yet so some of the stuff in that video wasn't even there, it was just dead space.

I'm still sorry I didn't get down there for NIWS's brief tenure. Seeing that video again makes me wish someone would build a Willy Wonka dark ride -- but based on the original film adaptation, not the Johnny Depp also-ran (though I can't imagine Roald Dahl's widow approving anything like it).

Tekwardo said:
Yeah, This is what we had to deal with. And note, that I was there weekend after opening day of the season, and they hadn't even completed the ride yet so some of the stuff in that video wasn't even there, it was just dead space.

Gaaah! That looks freaking awful.

Mike Gallagher said:

Tek/Gator....you guys ARE dissing the FREESTYLE version of the dark ride, right? Because I thought Nights In White Satin was one of the most enjoyable rides of its type I ever had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of.

Oh, yes. And trust me, everyone was well informed about what a great ride NiWS was. Made MonStars all the MORE disappointing (if that was even possible). Ack, I wish I could just erase the memory of that ride. Anyone who's ridden the Spongebob at Funtown Pier *might* have a comparably bad dark ride on their track record...not sure I've been on another one as bad as either of those.

What (other than the Beemer) do I *really* want out of this park? Slippery When Wet. Where do I want it? Schlitterbahn's new Kansas City park. ;)

rollergator said:
Anyone who's ridden the Spongebob at Funtown Pier *might* have a comparably bad dark ride on their track record...not sure I've been on another one as bad as either of those.

This one at Jolly Roger in Ocean City is on par with Spongebob at Funtown. Must be something about the shore.

Iron Horse was one of the best mine trains that I have been on.

Wanting some existing park operator who has some sort of clue to come buy the place is wishful thinking, I suspect. Think about it, if any of them thought they could make a go of it at the bargain basement price of $30 million, don't you think they would have?

Did anyone think it would have gone so cheap the first time around? I wonder how many companies would have considered it if they had known that they could have gotten the park for a little over $25 mil.

I think I'll side with Jeff on this one. If I were employed at one of the players in the industry, I'd be more tempted to try and buy a "barely used" ride at auction than to try and make this place a going concern. Losing money every season isn't a good way to make money no matter how cheaply you can get the park. The "return on investment" ;) - would probably always be in the red....

But their may be ways to fix the park and make it profitable. I like the suggestion some people have been saying here to open the gates to a free admission situation. Promote it as a unique shopping center with rides and food. Have awesome live concerts to get the crowds coming.

Maybe a lot of us CoasterBuzzers should pool our money together and attempt to run the place ourselves. I've got 35 bucks. Anyone else? ;)

I am a lifetime rocker, but I never was one to really "get" this park. The collection of rides just didn't really stand out as interesting.

LostKause said:
I've got 35 bucks.

Then you only need about a million more takers. :)

I've never seen, nor do I know much about the park but is the general consensus that the park is a pretty poor collection of rides that was likely to fail, or is it that it's a pretty decent collection of rides in a good location that wasn't marketed right first (or second?) time round?

If the latter, you'd think that the big chains would take a pretty decent look at it.

Lord Gonchar said:

LostKause said:
I've got 35 bucks.

Then you only need about a million more takers. :)

Hey, Jeff..how many members and/or participants does CoasterBuzz have? :)

Rick, While it's collection of rides is not stellar it was decent. The issue is bad location in the Myrtle area that is away from the beach and horrendous marketing.

Half way through last season they were giving the gate away with 4 admissions for under $20. This still did not bring the people. I think that 90% of those visiting Myrtle had no idea that there was a park in the area. Of those 10% that did, most of those didn't care.

We had a blast at the park, but it did feel as though it was phase I of III with more empty space then full.

It was a unique multi-use style layout that was never sold to the public correctly.

If you went expecting an amusement park, you were going to be sorely disappointed and it seems like most people who visited did expect that.

Had they sold it as a day of one-of-a-kind shows, shopping, entertainment, live music, rides, information and fun in a unique music-themed setting it would have gone a long way.

It almost seems like they didn't even understand the thing they had built and accomplished.

ApolloAndy said:
That is the exact opposite of what I would do. I'm sure they have the numbers and info., but if my park were already too crowded, I'd raise the price, not lower it.

I guess a huge drop in attendance wouldn't look great for them? Also the income to be had from food and merch when people are spending less to enter the park is too much to turn away.

Also, the park (AT) is great value when compared to other parks in the area/country - during the last few years most of the parks have offered a discount on entrance fee, so it's difficult to be at the top end of entry costs - with most other competition within a three hour drive being at the lower end.