Park Goes Freestyle

What was briefly the world’s largest rock ’n’ roll theme park bearing the Hard Rock moniker will be reborn this summer as Freestyle Music Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

A bankruptcy judge approved the $25 million sale of the park to FPI MB Entertainment last month and the company has announced Freestyle will be ready to rock Memorial Day weekend.

But rock ’n’ roll won’t be the only genre of music celebrated at the re-opened park, which now apparently aims to be more all-encompassing. It will also feature “country, reggae, beach music, pop, R&B, alternative, Christian and disco,” FPI said in a statement.

Previously, FPI said in court that it was looking to hold on to the Hard Rock branding at the site, for which the previous owners paid $2.5 million in a licensing agreement.
However, FPI president Steve Baker explained in the statement that the new name leaves the company free to “explore other opportunities and collaborate with national and international brands that will strengthen and extend the ‘Freestyle’ brand in Myrtle Beach and throughout the rest of the world.”

The park, which was built for $400 million and opened in April 2008, featuring attractions inspired by Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues and Eagles, was closed by the previous owner in September. Several rides, restaurants and areas around Freestyle Park are currently being revamped and re-themed by FPI, the company said. Casting calls are under way for musical and stage acts being developed at the park.