Boardwalk Progresses; Zipping By the Sea

By Terry Massey

The Drifters sang about it, Monopoly players try to land on it, and Myrtle Beach is about to land one in its own back yard.

We're talking about “Boardwalk,” of course, and a new, 1.2-mile oceanfront walkway is currently under construction and on schedule to open in June.

The Boardwalk and Promenade, or the “Best Mile on the Beach” as it is being billed by city planners, will stretch from 2nd Avenue Pier to 14th Avenue Pier in the heart of Myrtle Beach. It is designed to give visitors and locals an attractive strolling alternative to the sidewalks of Ocean Boulevard, with stores and shops mixed with the natural beauty of the beach.

”This is going to be one of the best projects ever to come to Myrtle Beach,” said Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes. “When it's finished I think it's going to bring a lot more people downtown, locals and tourists. It's going to have something for everyone.”

The boardwalk will be divided into three distinct sections – the North section running from 14th Avenue North to Plyler Park, featuring raised walkways along the dunes line and walkways to the beach accesses; the Central section from Plyler Park to 8th Avenue North, providing a wide deck with open-air cafes and shops; and the Southern section from 8th Avenue North to 1st Avenue, featuring a winding promenade pathway with park benches and scenic landscaping.

City planners hope the project will serve as a replacement drawing card for the old Pavilion, which left a void in the downtown district and decreased foot traffic for local shops and attractions. Special summer events such as concerts and festivals are already planned to introduce people to the boardwalk and promenade.

Parking shouldn't be an issue, since the City of Myrtle Beach is leasing the old Pavilion garage and Boardwalk Parking, located on the corner of Mr. Joe White Avenue and Chester Street behind Mammy's Kitchen, is opening its 129-space lot near Plyler Park.

”We're the closest lot to the main section of the boardwalk so we're expecting a lot of traffic,” said Boardwalk Parking owner Mike Lambert. “We're hoping we can provide easy access for visitors and help alleviate some of the parking issues downtown.”

Hanging by a thread

For those looking for a little more adventure than a stroll down the boardwalk, two new area attractions look to take visitors and locals to new heights.

Radical Ropes Adventure Park, featuring a series of roped-obstacle courses, climbing walls and zip lines, plans to open this summer on the corner of King's Highway and 19th Avenue North, while another rope course and zip line will be added at Broadway at the Beach.

Radical Ropes, which is being built by Experiential System of Chicago, plans to use the existing trees on the wooded lot to construct a series of rope course and zip lines, some of which will travel approximately 600 feet and 50 feet in the air. It's an attempt to cash in on the growing trend of eco-tourism.

In contrast, the ropes course and zip line at Broadway at the Beach will serve to buttress existing attractions and add a thrill-seeking element to the shopping and entertainment complex. The zip line will travel 500 feet over the lake about 50 feet off the ground while the ropes course will offer swinging beams and suspension bridges.

”We think (the zip line and ropes course) will add to the excitement of the entire complex,” WonderWorks general partner Robin Turner said in a statement.

WonderWorks, which currently operates similar attractions in Orlando and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, also plans to open an upside-down science museum at Broadway at the Beach next year.

Something old, something new

While the economy has limited the number of brand-new attractions in 2010, there are many like-new attractions returning to the Grand Strand this season.

Market Common on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force base has expanded operations with 40 shops, eighth restaurants, a theater and numerous special events scheduled for this year.

The Ocean Drive Pavilion and Amusement Park returns for season No. 2 in North Myrtle Beach and Freestyle Music Park, formerly Hard Rock Park at the old Waccamaw Pottery Outlet in Myrtle Beach, hopes to re-open after delays due to financial problems.

But despite the low number of new things to see and do in 2010, the good news is that it's still the same old Myrtle Beach with plenty of golf, shopping, dining, entertainment and, oh yeah, fun on the beach. The sun, surf and sand are always plentiful and free, even in a down economy.

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