Family Kingdom Amusement Park is a seaside amusement park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Located on Ocean Boulevard, in the heart of Myrtle Beach, the amusement park has 37 rides for adults and children of all ages, including thrill rides, family rides, kiddie rides and go karts. In 2008 TripAdvisor ranked it at number five on its list of the top 10amusement parks outside Orlando. In business for more than 40 years, the park has the 2,400 foot, figure eight Swamp Foxwooden roller coaster, which is one of only 122 wooden roller coasters operating in North America and ranked number 10 on About.com's list of the top 10 most underrated roller coasters in North America. In 2016, American Coaster Enthusiasts marked the 50th anniversary of the Swamp Fox by adding a historical marker. The Swamp Fox was also declared a historic structure by the city in March 2017. Other signature rides include O.D. Hopkins Log Flume, Great Pistolero Round-up and the Giant Wheel. Family Kingdom's "Giant Wheel" has round open gondolas that take riders to a height of more than 100 feet where they get a panoramic view of Myrtle Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. For 19 years, until 2011, it reigned as the highest Ferris wheel in the state Family Kingdom is one of the few remaining free-admission parks in the U.S. There is no admission price to enter the open park. Ride tickets can be purchased independently. Wristbands that entitle patrons to ride all day are available. The park provides free entertainment such as clowns, magicians, jugglers, stilt walkers, face painters and balloon sculptors. Family Kingdom Amusement Park is located on both banks of historic Withers Swash. The swash is a point where a natural stream meets the beach and ocean, and through which tides flow. Much of the surrounding area was part of a 66,000-acre king's grant to Robert Francis Withers in the early 1700s, who operated it as an indigo plantation overlooking the swash. Family Kingdom Amusement Park is approximately 13 acres.
History
Family Kingdom Amusement Park opened as Grand Strand Amusement Park in 1966. In 1992, it was rechristened “Family Kingdom Amusement Park” after being purchased by the Ammons family, owners of the landmark Sea Mist Oceanfront Resort. For more than 50 years, the Ammons family has played a prominent role in the development of Myrtle Beach as a nationally known, family vacation destination. Country music star Kenny Chesney shot part of his "Anything but Mine" music video at Family Kingdom in 2005. The Pistolero Round-up, a laser target shooting “dark ride”, was the first of its kind produced by the American ride manufacturer Sally Corporation, and made its international debut at Family Kingdom. The park has a classic carousel built in 1930 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, with horses cast from the manufacturer’s original molds.
Splashes Oceanfront Water Park, originally known as Wild Rapids, is a water park attraction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A two-acre facility with 500 feet of Atlantic Ocean frontage, it is located across Ocean Boulevard from Family Kingdom Amusement Park. The park's attractions include a lazy river with waterfalls, water flumes, and eight kiddie slides. In 2007, TripAdvisor named Family Kingdom and Splashes number five on its list of the top 10 amusement parks outside Orlando. The park is located at 300 South Ocean Boulevard. It has 18 attractions, including two enclosed body waterslides, two speed slides, two open flume slides, and an enclosed flume slide; a children’s area that includes splash pools, eight kiddie slides, two rain trees, and a play pool with a multi-tiered waterfall.
History
The park first opened under the name "Wild Rapids" in 1977. In 1997, Family Kingdom Amusement Park purchased the water park, expanded the water attractions, and renamed it "Family Kingdom Water Park". In 2013, the water park was renamed "Splashes Oceanfront Water Park".
