84 replies to this topic

[RestedTraveler]

krazeeboi, on Mar 10 2006, 03:35 AM, said:

God knows I didn't see THIS coming.

The Pavilion, a Myrtle Beach landmark for over 50 years, will be closing in September, which means this tourist season will be its final. The park hasn't really been turning much of a profit lately, according to reports. Redevelopment of the site likely will include a mix of shops, homes and tourist attractions, B&C officials have said, though they could not say whether the redevelopment will be complete by summer 2007.

I will be sad to see it go. My earliest memories of Myrtle Beach include the Pavilion, when it was really in its heyday.

This just totally bites.

[SouthJersey7]

That is a shame. I haven't been there but the pictures remind me of Ocean City, NJ. I'm sure it's going to put a dent in the liveliness and pedestrian* feel of MB which makes it doubly sad.

*I mean pedestrian in a positive sense.

[jfl25]

This is real heartbreaking the Pavilion is the essence of Myrtle Beach.

[teshadoh]

Not a big fan of Myrtle Beach now - but as a kid, the Pavillion was the place to go in Myrtle Beach. It is sad to see it go...

[digital_sandlapper]

This is sickening news!

The only character that MB has, demolished? No way! The city fathers, locals, out-of-state tourists, and even regional and state movers and shakers will surely come to the aid of the Pavilion and see that it is saved. Don't you think there's room for optimism?

With all the emotion invested in the slice of S.C. real estate, you can bet the Sun News and other newspapers aren't going to let this human interest story die--Save the Pavilion!

[avalone]

check the article in the sun news on the day that those idiots (pahos) anounced that there closing down the pavilion it actually goes back to the early part of the 1900's around 1905 or 1908 i don't have the article on me right now it's on one of my disk,but from i can remember that incarnation was active until about 1920 or 1930 and then the pavilion as we knew it was built around 1945, if i have some of the dates wrong i'm sorry about that.

[monsoon]

I believe there has been something there like the pavillion since the 1920s. The original facility was damaged and the present building took its place. This used to be part of the original town center and even in the the late 60s when I remember it as a kid, it resembled a quaint beach town. I went to elementary school just a short walk from there and there was one of those art deco movie one screen movie theatres called The Gloria where people in Myrtle Beach went to see the movies. There was a big department store called Chapins (yes of B&C fame) but this was back in the days when they were still part of the community. All of it is gone now in the search of profits.

Once they tear down the Pavillion the area is just going to die into gentrified blandness.

[swampfox43]

For those concerned with the fate of the Pavilion, there is currently an effort underway between ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) and NAPHA (National amusement park historical Association) to help save this icon. I can tell you now, if the Pavilion goes down, it won't be an easy win for B&C.

There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal several years ago about how tourism in Nashville suffered greatly with the closing of Opryland. It talked about how the convention business didn't make up for the day tripping visitors, the number for visitors passing through the airport was down, visitors per night were down, etc.

The current online petition (see sig) is also gaining national recognition. Personally, I will be working with several coordinators in this effort to keep the Pavilion and amusement park. Wish us luck!

[digital_sandlapper]

swampfox43, on Mar 16 2006, 08:23 AM, said:

For those concerned with the fate of the Pavilion, there is currently an effort underway between ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) and NAPHA (National amusement park historical Association) to help save this icon. I can tell you now, if the Pavilion goes down, it won't be an easy win for B&C.

There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal several years ago about how tourism in Nashville suffered greatly with the closing of Opryland. It talked about how the convention business didn't make up for the day tripping visitors, the number for visitors passing through the airport was down, visitors per night were down, etc.

The current online petition (see sig) is also gaining national recognition. Personally, I will be working with several coordinators in this effort to keep the Pavilion and amusement park. Wish us luck!

Great news! I'm 110% behind you, and will sign the petition now--and spread the word!

This place must be saved--kudos to those who are heading this up!!

[Charleston native]

I've signed the petition as well. Coming from someone hailing from the coast of our state and from a city that prides itself on historic preservation, I hope that many preservationists turn their attention to the Pavilion and at least save the original arcade structure, keeping the storied past of our beach city alive!

[MAJIKMAN]

swampfox43, on Mar 16 2006, 08:23 AM, said:

For those concerned with the fate of the Pavilion, there is currently an effort underway between ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) and NAPHA (National amusement park historical Association) to help save this icon. I can tell you now, if the Pavilion goes down, it won't be an easy win for B&C.

There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal several years ago about how tourism in Nashville suffered greatly with the closing of Opryland. It talked about how the convention business didn't make up for the day tripping visitors, the number for visitors passing through the airport was down, visitors per night were down, etc.

The current online petition (see sig) is also gaining national recognition. Personally, I will be working with several coordinators in this effort to keep the Pavilion and amusement park. Wish us luck!

But didn't I hear that they were goin' to close it no matter how many signatures were on this thing. And BTW.
Don't they already have plans to redevelop this site.

[Spartan]

MAJIKMAN, on Mar 20 2006, 10:50 AM, said:

But didn't I hear that they were goin' to close it no matter how many signatures were on this thing. And BTW.
Don't they already have plans to redevelop this site.

Yes, you did. They said that the Pavillion just wasnt making enough money, so no matter what, it has to close. As for plans for the site, I am not sure. I would not be suprised if they have some nearing finalization. They have been talking about this for well over a year.

[monsoon]

It's hard to imagine how something that has been there for more than 70 years, and subject to ever increasing, more well off crowds, is all of a sudden losing money. I don't possibly see how their costs could be going up that much considering that it should have all been paid for decades ago.

My guess is they see a bigger pot of gold out there by turning it into condos or something.

[swampfox43]

monsoon, on Mar 20 2006, 12:14 PM, said:

My guess is they see a bigger pot of gold out there by turning it into condos or something.

Exactly! But the main reason the Pavilion "might" be losing money is that they have made ZERO capital investments in the park since the Hurricane Coaster opened in 2000. The park has gradually gone down since then and I assume the reason is because B&C knew they were going to close it.

The "losing money" excuse is just a sorry justification for closing it down. There are many other smaller amusement parks that are open even less days a year than the Pavilion that continue to make profits because they have good management and they continue to invest in their parks.

True, I heard on the news last night that B&C was going to close it regardless of the petition, but like I said, it won't go down without a fight.

Sadly, another historic icon lost to pure greed! The Pavilion is one-of-a-kind structure that will be replaced with some bland cookie-cutter condo, shopping complex.......that you can see anywhere....

[Jerseyman4]

If the pavillion were to be demolished for urban renewal development, would this also influence the possibility of the developers going after downtown too?

I signed the petetion and im hoping the pavillion remains there. Part of my childhood/growing up years during the summer months were at the Pavillion & the strip.

[digital_sandlapper]

swampfox43, on Mar 20 2006, 12:31 PM, said:

Exactly! But the main reason the Pavilion "might" be losing money is that they have made ZERO capital investments in the park since the Hurricane Coaster opened in 2000. The park has gradually gone down since then and I assume the reason is because B&C knew they were going to close it.

The "losing money" excuse is just a sorry justification for closing it down. There are many other smaller amusement parks that are open even less days a year than the Pavilion that continue to make profits because they have good management and they continue to invest in their parks.

True, I heard on the news last night that B&C was going to close it regardless of the petition, but like I said, it won't go down without a fight.

Sadly, another historic icon lost to pure greed! The Pavilion is one-of-a-kind structure that will be replaced with some bland cookie-cutter condo, shopping complex.......that you can see anywhere....

You are so right, on all points.

My question is--why don't they just SELL it? When other corporations want to respond to legitimate complaints from stockholders regarding certain assets no longer wanted, as B&C claims they are doing, they SPIN OFF, DIVEST, or SELL that business. Let another company devote the needed investment in this long neglected cash cow! Perhaps Ripley’s-has B&C asked them if they are interested?

If B&C had ANY civic pride, they would do the right thing and SELL this treasure that everyone holds so dear to someone who wants it--even if it meant getting just fair market value. The stockholders would get their wish (unloading an unprofitable division), the people who love the place would be joyous, the city and neighboring businesses would be happy to see new owners come in for a revamp, etc., etc. What is B&C’s problem-why would any company annihilate their greatest legacy?

Burroughs & Chapin: DO THE RIGHT THING. If for no other reason, it would do WONDERS for your image, and perhaps dispel this "evil empire" representation you have in a lot of our minds at the present time. Hello, is anyone listening . . . . ?

[HAMMETTM]

My thought on why the Pavilion is probably closing is because in recent years they began charging for entrance to the park. After paying to enter the park one also has to pay for tickets to ride the rides

That said, I remember when the park first did this and the Pavilion seemed really empty. However, I can also remember when there wasn't a charge to enter the Pavilion and the park seemed full to capacity at times.

Go figure

[digital_sandlapper]

HAMMETTM, on Mar 20 2006, 10:15 PM, said:

My thought on why the Pavilion is probably closing is because in recent years they began charging for entrance to the park. After paying to enter the park one also has to pay for tickets to ride the rides

That said, I remember when the park first did this and the Pavilion seemed really empty. However, I can also remember when there wasn't a charge to enter the Pavilion and the park seemed full to capacity at times.

Go figure

You are right--that was one of the most bone-headed decisions they ever implemented!

The City of MB should buy the whole place, open it back up, and make it the centerpiece city park. It would not only be an amusement park, but the Pavilion would be the perfect monument/museum/dance hall for that other gifts to the world from Myrtle Beach: The Shag and Beach Music.

This would be a HUGE attraction, and a mecca for all of us who grew up with this culture, and continue to engage in it. How many shagalicious places must we lose before we wake up to find that all is gone? WAKE UP, Myrtle Beach!!! This is your claim to fame we're talking about, and a potential money-maker much larger than any bland condo project that B&C could come up with!!

[mcashlv]

krazeeboi, on Mar 10 2006, 03:35 AM, said:

God knows I didn't see THIS coming.

The Pavilion, a Myrtle Beach landmark for over 50 years, will be closing in September, which means this tourist season will be its final. The park hasn't really been turning much of a profit lately, according to reports. Redevelopment of the site likely will include a mix of shops, homes and tourist attractions, B&C officials have said, though they could not say whether the redevelopment will be complete by summer 2007.

I will be sad to see it go. My earliest memories of Myrtle Beach include the Pavilion, when it was really in its heyday.

I remember walking by the Pavilion one summer night in 1967 when I was 14 years old. The Delphonics were performing 'La La Means I love You' and the sound drifted out to the street, and they sounded wonderful. One of those moments from our youth that we remember for the rest of our lives. The Burroughs Chapin, Burroughs Collins, etc. companies are very old, very genteel, and centered in Conway, not Myrtle Beach. They view MB with a sort of distaste, from what I have been told. They own tens, perhaps hundreds, of thousands of acres of land in Horry County and elsewhere, and began as pine pitch producers in the 1800's selling their pine tar products to shipbuilders back in the day of wooden sailing ships. The original developer of MB, named Chapin (from up North somewhere) had a wonderful master plan that he began in the 1920's, which was centered around the old Ocean Forest hotel that was sadly demolished in 1970. A large 'stack-a-shack' condo development is on that site today. The remnants of Chapin's original vision can still be seen in the grand old beach homes on north end of MB proper. He also built Pine Lakes Country Club, still considered one of the best golf courses in America. His dream was halted by the Depression, unfortunately. Later developers lacked Chapin's flair and talent.

[swampfox43]

A new article appears on MB online from a writer who agrees with B&C's decision to bull-doze the Pavilion.


This writer obviously has no concept of the preservation of historical places and feels the only way to improve is to tear down and build new.

Gosh, how short-sighted some people are.

The writer feels that B&C, being called greedy, is wrong. Does he really think we are that naive?