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The Sun News, The (Myrtle Beach, SC)

August 4, 2007
MB FUN PARK IN NATION'S TOP 10
Author: Dawn Bryant
Section: MONEY
Page: D1

The Grand Strand's only remaining amusement park, Family Kingdom, is among the top 10 parks in the country outside of Orlando, Fla. - beating out the likes of Coney Island and Carowinds in rankings by TripAdvisor.

Family Kingdom, at Fourth Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, took the No. 5 spot in rankings from the travel Web site, which allows travelers to post reviews of the places they stay, eat and play and share photos and stories of their trips.

Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa., took the top spot, followed by Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., and Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Coney Island ranked ninth, followed by Carowinds in Charlotte, N.C., rounding out the top 10.

The rankings, based on popularity among travelers and input from editors of www.tripadvisor.com, said Family Kingdom "is well worth the trip" because it has an oceanfront water park combined with the amusement park.

"We are delighted with the news that Family Kingdom has received such a high level of national recognition," the park's general manager, Donnie Sipes, said in a written statement.

"The other top ten parks are all giants in the amusement industry and we are honored to be ranked right along with them. It says a lot about the enduring appeal of a family-oriented, seaside park."

The Grand Strand's other two amusement parks - The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park and the Grand Prix Family Thrill Park in North Myrtle Beach - shut down for good last fall, giving in to the economic pressure to redevelop the pricey land.

A national ranking should remind travelers that Myrtle Beach still has an amusement park, despite the high-profile closings of the two parks last year, said Nicole Aiello, spokeswoman for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Some longtime visitors had said they wouldn't return to Myrtle Beach after the 58-year-old Pavilion closed.

"With the criticisms over the closing of The Pavilion, we applaud The Family Kingdom and TripAdvisor for reminding locals and visitors alike that Myrtle Beach still has what it takes to entertain and thrill families," Aiello said in an e-mail.

Family Kingdom will have some competition come May when the 140-acre, $400 million Hard Rock Park opens off U.S. 501 in Fantasy Harbour.

Contact DAWN BRYANT at 626-0296 or dbryant@thesunnews.com.
Copyright (c) 2007 The Sun News