Rediscover traditional amusement park fun at this popular oceanfront attraction.
Pavilion Nostalgia Park, in central Myrtle Beach, is a small venue with about 15 rides, mostly geared towards young children. It is truly a nostalgic throwback to a simpler era, before Disneyland. The original Pavilion Amusement Park opened on the oceanfront in 1948 and closed in 2006, and was key to Myrtle Beach's development as a tourist destination.
Though the renovated pavilion is a smaller version of its predecessor, some of the most important attractions remain. The Herschell-Spillman Carousel was built in 1912 and is one of only a dozen working carousels of its kind left in the U.S. While most carousels feature horses, this one also has frogs, zebras, giraffes and dragons. The main horse of the carousel is elaborately colored; others wear painted clothes.
Day passes are available, but the park mostly operates on a pay-per-ride system. Plan to spend a couple of hours here with small children. Watch them spin in a tea cup, drive on the motorcycle and dune buggie rides, or navigate their vessel on the boat ride. While most rides are geared towards a young crowd, some are also accessible for adults, including the carousel and swinging pirate ship.
Pavilion Nostalgia Park is located in central Myrtle Beach in the Broadway at the Beach shopping district. The park operates year-round, except for some designated major holidays. Check the website for operating hours as opening and closing times vary throughout the year.