MYRTLE BEACH GRAND PRIX
This was once a pair of amusement centers, one in the Windy Hill section of NMB,
and another south of Myrtle Beach, directly across the highway from the Air Force base.
Both had several different racetracks, with different vehicles ranging from
go-karts up to scale model Formula race cars, which could hit high speeds. They
also had arcades, water boats, and amusement park rides in the Windy Hill location
during the later years.
The location south of Myrtle Beach closed in 2001 when Burroughs & Chapin
declined to renew the lease. The Windy Hill location closed
with its "Last Ride" event on Sept. 16, 2006, exactly one week before the Pavilion
in Myrtle Beach closed with its "Last Ride" event. The Windy Hill location was
demolished and redeveloped into a BiLo grocery store and strip mall. The
lot which was once Wacky Golf, then the 'kiddie' rides, became a Sticky
Fingers restaurant. The only remaining remnant of the park is a set of colored
round lights along the back of the Harley Davidson dealership.
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NMB Grand Prix arcade token | |
The Last Ride - September 16, 2006
All of the following pictures, except as noted, were taken during this event.
MB Grand Prix is very much a family business; everyone came out for this, as well as many local leaders. They had a barbeque cook-out, and showed their pictures and videos. I got one of those "Last Ride" t-shirts, too. This was covered on the news locally by WPDE.
Co-owners Mark Lazarus, Robby Lazarus (manager), and Jack Lazarus, who started
it all back in 1977.
THE PARK:
Main entrance/arcade, beside the bumper boats:
The park has 5 separate race tracks, ranging from small mini-cars to scale Formula-One cars.
A modest midway, but with a good mix of different types of rides. They got most of these rides during the years I was away from the beach.
The main ride- a Crazy Mouse, by Reverchron. I thought that this rode much better than the similar Mad Mouse at the Pavilion, built by Arrow Dynamics. This one also has the seats that turn-- a guy running the ride told me that this is controlled by a switch on the car. He said that there is a setting which will make the seat turn continuously through the entire ride, but they aren't ever supposed to do that.
In 1999, the old Wacky Golf course was torn down and its lot converted into the Kidz Zone, the rides were moved from their previous location where the bigger midway rides are now. Included in this mini-park is a Wacky Worm coaster.
The only structure left from the old Wacky Golf is the clubhouse/arcade, which has been converted into a castle. This was named "Charlotte's Castle" in honor of the manager's daughter's 3rd birthday. Unfortunately, none of the old materials from the old miniature golf course were still there.
As night falls and time grows short, its back to the park for some last rides:
A very sad sight as the lights go out in the midway for the last time at 11pm, marking the end of another memorable Myrtle Beach area attraction.
Removal and demolition
Demolition complete, ready to build grocery story. Pictures taken March 31, 2007.
