My best friend and I skipped college in 1986 and went there for 2 days !! Was in the Wild Rapids days ! He's past now ! This video brings back good memories
I can remember riding by there in the backseat with my parents. Early 80's Going to the pavilion. Phil Collins in the Air Tonight playing on the radio and lightning flashing in the air. Never went there but everytime I hear that song I think of that. Weird memories! I think we made it inside the arcade before the storm hit. Thanks for the vid!
Makes me sad. We always stayed at The Longview Motel (The Sandy Beach resort now) and we grew up going here. So many good memories are being torn down and replaced.
A piece of my childhood that will never be forgotten. Went there all through the 80’s when it was Wild Rapids. It was a little different back then. It was a small mountain that appeared to be covered in rocks. It was some sort of foam and once it got a nick in it people would pick at it as they went by. It had three slides and back then you could get a running start and go down head first. What a joy it was to grow up in the 80’s before the days of styrofoam bicycle helmets. We’d spend a day of our vacation there. Then hit all the places that were so iconic back then. The Pavilion Park, the Magic Attic, Studebakers, Xanadu, Draculas Castle, Mother Fletchers and so many others. I’m gonna start building a Time Machine in my garage…..who’s ready to go back.
Wow. Many memories of that water park. My dad used to live in Columbus Inn on 3rd avenue right next door. He used to park right beside the roller coaster
We used to buy the Family Kingdom combo passes and enjoy the waterpark during the day and the rides in the evening. We were surprised to see it demolished when we were down there last month and drove by
I go back to Wild Rapids days when I lived on Highlands Ave and later moved to 7th in the 70’s. Spent a lot of time at the OG water parks… Water Boggan as well.
Remember this water park through the years,thanks for video,went there last like 2012...acting like kids again was50 yrs old we had a blast,parents always took us to Myrtle growing up so many fond memories,go to Tybee now Myrtle traffic terrible
You are too funny dating yourself to playing video games there back in the day; I too will do same.😅 I viewed your post strictly because I INSTANTLY recognized the Swamp Fox roller coaster in your thumbnail pic. This was the 1st coaster I'd ridden WAY BACK in 1974 when I was five!😳 I believe Barry Manillow's "Copa Cabana" was the hit song at the time.🤔 Great to see the coaster getting retracked thanks to your aerial view.👍🏾🤓 Thanks for the post; it was cool to watch, and learn about the water park, although I never had a chance to visit.👊🏾🍺
I went to this park the year before it closed down and I'm so happy my kids and I were able to experience it. For a little park my kids and I really enjoyed it and there was something so amazing about being right by the ocean while enjoying the fun slides. I kept seeing it never re-opened and was bummed about it b/c I had wanted to make a tradition of going there, but figured once it never re-opened that the property would become yet another hotel. Thanks for the video - I had been searching for updates on this property.
Yes Neil Amons got it in an auction ,the top of the lighthouse from Magic Harbor and it originally came from Ocean Forest, it set on a vacate lot on Canon Street for years that the Sea Mist Resort has. Go back and look at all photos from all the places it used to be.
We would regularly go to Wild Rapids during the late 70s to early 80s. Wild Rapids was a more thrilling alternative to the early water slides which only featured a couple of curves on the way down to the splash pool. With tight, banked curves… you felt as if you were traveling downhill very fast. My dad seemed to have a thrill per dollar need. The early days of Wild Rapids hold great memories for me.
I'm 54,and my mom had taken me to Myrtle Beach in 80-81.( when Princess Diana and Charles got married. We watched parts of it.) They had one of the first waterslides,and it was called Water Boggan.And there was a horror themed wax museum called Castle Dracula.The first weekend we were there,there was a big news report some kids lit matches inside,and the whole thing burned down.I really wanted to see it too!🤣🤣
Hey I've missed you and your videos. Thanks for sharing. One thing I have learned about the Grand Strand is that nothing is safe from disappearing and being replaced, considering MB really isn't even that old of a city.
I grew up in Myrtle Beach from 1976 to 1999 and i remember the water slide being called Wild Rapids and Family Kingdom Being called Grand Strand Amusement Park.
Me and the family have been going to Westgate resort for 18 years now right next door and we always went to that water park let me start off by saying I’m very sad that they tore it down!! The water there was very clean, I watched them clean it every night from my room, and when you swam in it felt like the cleanest pool water ever!! But after Covid it never reopened:( it’s apart of family kingdom and I believe the MB city owned and ran it… hopefully something fun goes there and not another hotel or resort.
When we took the kids we stayed at lands inn. Which is part of sandy Beach resort. Miss lands inn. When it turn into sandy Beach it was a nice cheap place to go to. But not no more it's to expensive. The water park was next door had some fun times there but now it's gone so sad😢😢😢😢
The Magic Attic, Mother Fletchers, Wooden Nickle, Grandmas Kitchen. the REAL Pavilion, The flag on the Bowery, "HEAD shops", GREAT MUSIC, cruising the main drag, Mom and Pop hotels, sharing a 24 case and passing one around to a new friend, no fighting just laughter. ALL nighters, friendly cops, etc. What else did I miss old schoolers? I hope Peaches is still there on the corner. 60s, 70s, 80s (wonderful) late 90s.,,,the end,
The Magic Harbour, the go carts and speed boat at 17 and OB, the pyramid Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, All Star Cafe, Hard Rock Park and very little crime. From the early 80s to about 2005 it was incredible. Still love it but looking at it through younger eyes and experiences was awesome.
went to Wild Rapids many times in the 80s...Hugo came through and destroyed it all in 1989 from which the structure that was torn down here was constructed in 90 to be open for the 90 summer season but it was only the 2 big slides closest to Ocean blvd and the arcade building then. Still have video of this on VHS from a shoulder held video camera somewhere. Looks like that again now.
Do you by chance know if they plan to update and clean up family kingdom as a whole. I know its old, but we went yesterday and I was very surprised how maintenance deferred/ignored it got. Not sure if was due to be repaired /fixed
I do remember it from the 90s, though it wasn't until the 00s that I actually went in the park. Perhaps the best thing about the park was the location, as there was admittedly a novelty to riding water slides practically on the beach; even waiting in line near the top was pleasant due to the view of the ocean, and the much needed breeze on a hot day was something for which you could rarely find yourself ungrateful. Interestingly, the arcade on site was one of the very few that I'd seen to keep a fully original, relatively maintained 1991 cab of Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior, at least as of 2012. Upon seeing it, I actually played through it with Guile, for old times' sake. All in all, a fine little place on the water, with a nice history. As is the case with so many things now lost, it's a shame to see it go.
It's so sad that they tore it down, like someone said creed. They tore down the big amusement park that really sucked, next it will be family kingdom. 😢😢😢😢
Everything that made myrtle myrtle beach great and fun is coming down. First the grand pavilion and amusement park. Now volleyball courts and zip lines. Now all this stuff and more.the county counsel in myrtle beach have lost their minds. We have been staying in garden city since 82 but always came to myrtle beach. Not anymore. It's been ruined
Sad! That is all that i can say!!😢 I know times change, but they need to let MB atractions stay..For older folks you take the memories away..And Honestly Not sure if i want to go to MB anymore if everything I know is gone... but the last 12 years or so we stayed at Sandy Beach and mostly stayed on the south end if the building on the end so we could see Family Kingdom from our window and see the water park from our balcony... The water park did not open the last yeqr or 2, and seemed the yeqrs building up to that point that they were getting less people..part of that was because prices were getting high..i remember when my family used to go to the park in the 70s-80s and it actually look like a giant sandcastle back then and not what it looks like now..we used to stay at Holiday Inn back then (Westgate Now) and stayed at Captains Quarters and Ocean Reef ( not sure what it is called now, perhaps Coral Beach??) But yes the water park looked like a big Sand Castle and was lots of fun
Vividly remember driving past Wild Rapids in the early 80s and we'd beg my dad to go. His response was always "we didn't come to the beach to go to a waterslide, we came to go to the beach!" There was also another waterslide called Water Boggan that we always begged to go to...to no avail! Found a video of it here. ruclips.net/video/oFaEQw-A028/видео.html
The beach looks so dirty now. The last time we were there it was just so uncomfortable with all of the shootings and gangs. We haven’t been back 4 or 5 years. Sure wish they would clean it up and move the drug dealers and gangs out. Wishful thinking I’m sure.
My best friend and I skipped college in 1986 and went there for 2 days !!
Was in the Wild Rapids days ! He's past now ! This video brings back good memories
Welcome back! Been missing your content. I remember that water park. It was Wild Rapids. Early 70’s teen. 😊
I can remember riding by there in the backseat with my parents. Early 80's Going to the pavilion. Phil Collins in the Air Tonight playing on the radio and lightning flashing in the air. Never went there but everytime I hear that song I think of that. Weird memories! I think we made it inside the arcade before the storm hit. Thanks for the vid!
They are tearing down everything that made Myrtle Beach great.
Any improvement is better than nothing!! I think we need more family parks that are oceanfront JMO!! Thank you for the video and drone visual😎😎😎
Remember going there in 80's. Remember more taking my daughter there over 20 years ago.
The music at the beginning of these videos are so soothing to me 🌹
you had me scared for a minute. I read half the title and thought they were demolishing the Swamp Fox. Its a classic.
Makes me sad. We always stayed at The Longview Motel (The Sandy Beach resort now) and we grew up going here. So many good memories are being torn down and replaced.
My first kiss was in the water park with a summer fling.
A piece of my childhood that will never be forgotten. Went there all through the 80’s when it was Wild Rapids. It was a little different back then. It was a small mountain that appeared to be covered in rocks. It was some sort of foam and once it got a nick in it people would pick at it as they went by.
It had three slides and back then you could get a running start and go down head first. What a joy it was to grow up in the 80’s before the days of styrofoam bicycle helmets. We’d spend a day of our vacation there. Then hit all the places that were so iconic back then. The Pavilion Park, the Magic Attic, Studebakers, Xanadu, Draculas Castle, Mother Fletchers and so many others. I’m gonna start building a Time Machine in my garage…..who’s ready to go back.
Welcome Back !!!!
Hey Mr.Myrtle,u do a fantastic job with your videos...keep up the good work
Wow. Many memories of that water park. My dad used to live in Columbus Inn on 3rd avenue right next door. He used to park right beside the roller coaster
Thanks for what you do. We will be there this summer for a week vacation.
Went here as a kid in 79 or 80 !Loved it! Had tons of fun!!
We used to buy the Family Kingdom combo passes and enjoy the waterpark during the day and the rides in the evening. We were surprised to see it demolished when we were down there last month and drove by
I go back to Wild Rapids days when I lived on Highlands Ave and later moved to 7th in the 70’s. Spent a lot of time at the OG water parks… Water Boggan as well.
Remember this water park through the years,thanks for video,went there last like 2012...acting like kids again was50 yrs old we had a blast,parents always took us to Myrtle growing up so many fond memories,go to Tybee now Myrtle traffic terrible
You are too funny dating yourself to playing video games there back in the day; I too will do same.😅
I viewed your post strictly because I INSTANTLY recognized the Swamp Fox roller coaster in your thumbnail pic. This was the 1st coaster I'd ridden WAY BACK in 1974 when I was five!😳 I believe Barry Manillow's "Copa Cabana" was the hit song at the time.🤔 Great to see the coaster getting retracked thanks to your aerial view.👍🏾🤓
Thanks for the post; it was cool to watch, and learn about the water park, although I never had a chance to visit.👊🏾🍺
I went to this park the year before it closed down and I'm so happy my kids and I were able to experience it. For a little park my kids and I really enjoyed it and there was something so amazing about being right by the ocean while enjoying the fun slides. I kept seeing it never re-opened and was bummed about it b/c I had wanted to make a tradition of going there, but figured once it never re-opened that the property would become yet another hotel. Thanks for the video - I had been searching for updates on this property.
Glad you're back! Feels like it's been a while. Need more myrtle beach vids to get me ready for our vacation in 2 months 😂
Yes Neil Amons got it in an auction ,the top of the lighthouse from Magic Harbor and it originally came from Ocean Forest, it set on a vacate lot on Canon Street for years that the Sea Mist Resort has. Go back and look at all photos from all the places it used to be.
Thank you for this because I'm going there this summer and I needed to know the do's and don't
I never knew that drainage place had a name, and that's some good drone work
We would regularly go to Wild Rapids during the late 70s to early 80s. Wild Rapids was a more thrilling alternative to the early water slides which only featured a couple of curves on the way down to the splash pool. With tight, banked curves… you felt as if you were traveling downhill very fast. My dad seemed to have a thrill per dollar need. The early days of Wild Rapids hold great memories for me.
I'm 54,and my mom had taken me to Myrtle Beach in 80-81.( when Princess Diana and Charles got married. We watched parts of it.) They had one of the first waterslides,and it was called Water Boggan.And there was a horror themed wax museum called Castle Dracula.The first weekend we were there,there was a big news report some kids lit matches inside,and the whole thing burned down.I really wanted to see it too!🤣🤣
Hey I've missed you and your videos. Thanks for sharing. One thing I have learned about the Grand Strand is that nothing is safe from disappearing and being replaced, considering MB really isn't even that old of a city.
Thank you. Visited in Feb after a thirty year hiatus. It's depressing now and did not live up to my childhood memories.
I'm glad to see you do another video
I hope that zip line place closes because during the summer when I’m their on vacation it never looks open
I grew up in Myrtle Beach from 1976 to 1999 and i remember the water slide being called Wild Rapids and Family Kingdom Being called Grand Strand Amusement Park.
Me and the family have been going to Westgate resort for 18 years now right next door and we always went to that water park let me start off by saying I’m very sad that they tore it down!! The water there was very clean, I watched them clean it every night from my room, and when you swam in it felt like the cleanest pool water ever!! But after Covid it never reopened:( it’s apart of family kingdom and I believe the MB city owned and ran it… hopefully something fun goes there and not another hotel or resort.
When we took the kids we stayed at lands inn. Which is part of sandy Beach resort. Miss lands inn. When it turn into sandy Beach it was a nice cheap place to go to. But not no more it's to expensive. The water park was next door had some fun times there but now it's gone so sad😢😢😢😢
My all time favorite waterpark as a child. Would play there first half the day then go to the amusement park the rest of the day.
Nice vid sir
The Magic Attic, Mother Fletchers, Wooden Nickle, Grandmas Kitchen. the REAL Pavilion, The flag on the Bowery, "HEAD shops", GREAT MUSIC, cruising the main drag, Mom and Pop hotels, sharing a 24 case and passing one around to a new friend, no fighting just laughter. ALL nighters, friendly cops, etc. What else did I miss old schoolers? I hope Peaches is still there on the corner. 60s, 70s, 80s (wonderful) late 90s.,,,the end,
The Magic Harbour, the go carts and speed boat at 17 and OB, the pyramid Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood, All Star Cafe, Hard Rock Park and very little crime. From the early 80s to about 2005 it was incredible. Still love it but looking at it through younger eyes and experiences was awesome.
Castaways on the Strand (Home Church of Rock & Roll), Rockburger, Kings Road Tavern, Beachwagon. I saw many great bands at these. Sure miss them.
It's been a few years since I've been to Myrtle Beach and I'm missing it! I'm going to try to make it there in May.
Hello, hope y all are ok . Good video 🥰
I remember this park from the Wild Rapids days...kinda surprised it stuck around as long as it did.
went to Wild Rapids many times in the 80s...Hugo came through and destroyed it all in 1989 from which the structure that was torn down here was constructed in 90 to be open for the 90 summer season but it was only the 2 big slides closest to Ocean blvd and the arcade building then. Still have video of this on VHS from a shoulder held video camera somewhere. Looks like that again now.
Do you by chance know if they plan to update and clean up family kingdom as a whole. I know its old, but we went yesterday and I was very surprised how maintenance deferred/ignored it got. Not sure if was due to be repaired /fixed
Man I'm so depressed...my childhood and my son's childhood is over....we really enjoyed our summer here....
I do remember it from the 90s, though it wasn't until the 00s that I actually went in the park. Perhaps the best thing about the park was the location, as there was admittedly a novelty to riding water slides practically on the beach; even waiting in line near the top was pleasant due to the view of the ocean, and the much needed breeze on a hot day was something for which you could rarely find yourself ungrateful. Interestingly, the arcade on site was one of the very few that I'd seen to keep a fully original, relatively maintained 1991 cab of Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior, at least as of 2012. Upon seeing it, I actually played through it with Guile, for old times' sake. All in all, a fine little place on the water, with a nice history. As is the case with so many things now lost, it's a shame to see it go.
1 of the places I never went to all my years living in Myrtle 😂
Any idea what they're even putting there? A water front water park is pretty hard to beat 😢
I saw the trains in the station on February 16th they looked the same so I’m sure they still have buzz bars
omg they tore it down??? wow it was never opened when I went but😢
Why is it such a big secret? Btw, I never even knew about this place, so thanks for the info. And what I missed out on, lol.
It's so sad that they tore it down, like someone said creed. They tore down the big amusement park that really sucked, next it will be family kingdom. 😢😢😢😢
Seria magnifico un hotel acean front para construir en el terreno de demolicion .😁
What are they putting there?
Really sad all these water parks that have been a staple in the area for many years are closing up.
Why did it closed
Everything that made myrtle myrtle beach great and fun is coming down. First the grand pavilion and amusement park. Now volleyball courts and zip lines. Now all this stuff and more.the county counsel in myrtle beach have lost their minds. We have been staying in garden city since 82 but always came to myrtle beach. Not anymore. It's been ruined
Any word on the wave pool/surf park?
Swamp Fox is like Hurler at Carowinds. One ride and you have back problems for a week.
Not me I ride it whenever I’m down their on vacation
Sad! That is all that i can say!!😢
I know times change, but they need to let MB atractions stay..For older folks you take the memories away..And Honestly Not sure if i want to go to MB anymore if everything I know is gone... but the last 12 years or so we stayed at Sandy Beach and mostly stayed on the south end if the building on the end so we could see Family Kingdom from our window and see the water park from our balcony... The water park did not open the last yeqr or 2, and seemed the yeqrs building up to that point that they were getting less people..part of that was because prices were getting high..i remember when my family used to go to the park in the 70s-80s and it actually look like a giant sandcastle back then and not what it looks like now..we used to stay at Holiday Inn back then (Westgate Now) and stayed at Captains Quarters and Ocean Reef ( not sure what it is called now, perhaps Coral Beach??)
But yes the water park looked like a big Sand Castle and was lots of fun
Nice video! We need more attractions, not hotels!!
5:00 The new owners has announced that it is becoming a parking Garage.
Hopefully the temporary flat rides like that frisbee get put up soon
I really hope for not another hotel but probably inevitable. This is directly across from our spot at the KOA
This never looked open after a while even before it got taken down
Vividly remember driving past Wild Rapids in the early 80s and we'd beg my dad to go. His response was always "we didn't come to the beach to go to a waterslide, we came to go to the beach!" There was also another waterslide called Water Boggan that we always begged to go to...to no avail! Found a video of it here. ruclips.net/video/oFaEQw-A028/видео.html
Corporate greed
Needs something to generate all year round.
Myrtle Beach means...... Not for long....
Hope they never get the swamp fox!!!!!
Every year I think this one may be it's last!!
It’s not going anywhere
Another high end hotel will be built there.
The beach looks so dirty now. The last time we were there it was just so uncomfortable with all of the shootings and gangs. We haven’t been back 4 or 5 years. Sure wish they would clean it up and move the drug dealers and gangs out. Wishful thinking I’m sure.
They are making it a parking lot
Very interesting video 🔥🔥🔥