[Kevin]

Back in the 1975-85 era this place was a blast for young kids and teenagers.

Wasn't the classiest or posh place, but it was like a surreal fantasy land for a kid.

One of the things that really stood out for me when I was a kid was the "Castle Dracula" wax museum. You can see it here barely next to the Ripley's museum



Someone dressed up in a professional looking Frankenstein would stand outside of this place handing out leaflets and messing with the crowd etc. It was a really freaky looking place.

Right next to it was the Guinness Book museum with the HUGE globe. You can also see that in the picture.

These two museums are no longer there. Closed down in the early 80s. A fire I believe. Now turned into crappy tshirt shops.

I remember going back to MB a year after they took them away. Somehow it just wasn't the same.

The Ripley's museum and the arcade next to it is still there. Though the Museum has been redone.

The Gay Dolphin sign there you can see. It's still there. But you can't go up to the top anymore because of insurance reasons. Here is a recent pic



The Pavilion closed this year. It was it's final year.

I wished I would have went this year. Had the chance.

Not sure if I even want to go next. Everything seems to be going.

[marden]

Nice memory. Thanks for sharing!

[rickey939]

Some friends of ours go to MB every year and just rave about it upon their return...I guess they are always finding new stuff to do each time. Sounds really fun still, so I hope to go myself within the next few years once Dylan gets a little older.

[Kevin]

I am sure it's still fun. It's just not a fantasy land like it used to be.

It used to have more attractions.

I remember as a kid standing next to that HUGE globe. It was humbling.

And that castle was a site to see.

Here is a pic of it more to scale. It was HUGE. Longer than this picture. It just shows the MAIN part.

[Blasphemy]

I was there a lot during the 80's and 90's. It got dirtier in the mid 90's.

[marden]

Originally Posted by rickey939 

Some friends of ours go to MB every year and just rave about it upon their return...I guess they are always finding new stuff to do each time. Sounds really fun still, so I hope to go myself within the next few years once Dylan gets a little older.

Don't wait too long.

[Railroader]

MB was one of my worst vacations ever! I never had a sunburn last more than a few hours until I went to MB. Something happened and I ended up with sun poisoning. It was brutal. Severe swelling, chills, sweats, blisters. I now have freckles on my shoulders and I never did before. I also burn a lot more easily afterwards. Sunscreen is a new permanent fixture in my life.

Did I mention the draconian drinking laws.

You can keep your memories of MB. I try to suppress them and drive them out of my head.

I did have a good time before the burn though.

[- - e r i k - -]

Hehe. It's exactly like Surfer's Paradise today. Yup, we are still stuck in a sort of Floridian 1975-ish time-warp here.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Blasphemy 

I was there a lot during the 80's and 90's. It got dirtier in the mid 90's.

Last time I was there was 93. And yeah it was getting there.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Hehe. It's exactly like Surfer's Paradise today. Yup, we are still stuck in a sort of Floridian 1975-ish time-warp here.

Damn.. too far away.

Niagara Falls Canada is like that as well now.

And Florida DID have a Castle Dracula JUST LIKE the MB one.

A lot of the big name "Dark Rides" closed in the 80s.

The "Castle Dracula" in Wildwood NJ was one of the last of it's kind before it burned down in 2002.

It shared the same name, but didn't look anything like the one above. It was more elaborate.

Great site on such things http://darkinthepark.com/



The neatest one was probably Brigantine's Castle also in NJ

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Did I mention the draconian drinking laws.

Last time I was there I was 21. Wasn't too into drinking so I don't know much about said laws.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

Back in the 1975-85 era this place was a blast for young kids and teenagers.

.

Thanks for the pics. I used to spend all summer, every summer, at Myrtle Beach with my grandparents. We usually went to the Pavilion about once a week. I can remember BEFORE Guiness but after Ripleys. In college we'd go to look for bargains in the Gay Dolphin and other shops, off-season. Good memories.

They also had a band organ at the Pavilion. I hope someone has preserved it. And the carousel they had had a built-in miniature band organ. Those were rare, even 50 years ago. I'm sad to see it go.

[Kevin]

I went there 76-93 off and on myself.

[Doofy]

I blame Kurt Cobain. Everything was better before he showed up and started depressing everyone.

I mean, check the cars in the first pic. Proper America.

[Kevin]

Talking about the Firebird and the Camaros?

That was 1981.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

MB was one of my worst vacations ever! I never had a sunburn last more than a few hours until I went to MB. Something happened and I ended up with sun poisoning. It was brutal. Severe swelling, chills, sweats, blisters. I now have freckles on my shoulders and I never did before. I also burn a lot more easily afterwards. Sunscreen is a new permanent fixture in my life.

Did I mention the draconian drinking laws.

You can keep your memories of MB. I try to suppress them and drive them out of my head.

I did have a good time before the burn though.

Lots of people don't understand "beach sun." I got myself a good first degree sunburn in about 15 minutes in Biloxi, and it wasn't even that warm out. They routinely told every Airman that showed up at Keesler (Air Force Base in Biloxi MS) that they could get SECOND DEGREE burns from the sun and that if they did, they'd be in BIG trouble-"you have been warned." I think it's got to do with the humidity right over the coast, but when it's more humid than normal it's REALLY bad!

Sorry about your burn, RR. I got a doozy near Kalamazoo one summer-at a lake-and I do know what you went through. Keep your eyes on the skin that burned, too. Can't be too careful.

[Kevin]

I got the same type of burn there one year when I was a kid. Freckles on the shoulders and all.

[G Barnett]

Ack! Myrtle Beach flashbacks!

Ahh, well do I remember Ocean Boulevard, though from quite a different perspective than you guys. Just north of the Guinness (somewhere around that indistinct red sign to the right of the Guinness sign in the first pic) was a place called Nightmare Haunted House -- opened in 1987 and ran at least thru 1991. I spent my summers after graduating High School working that place.

*Sigh.* Such good memories. Getting paid to be mean, cruel and downright sadistic (within safe boundaries) to tourists? Life never got any better than that....

I was such a virtuoso on the chainsaw, too....

[MacNStein]

Originally Posted by Blasphemy 

I was there a lot during the 80's and 90's. It got dirtier in the mid 90's.

Same here. I have fond memories of the wax museums and unique attractions. It's sad that it's not a kids' vacation spot, like it used to be.


neat sig.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

Lots of people don't understand "beach sun." I got myself a good first degree sunburn in about 15 minutes in Biloxi, and it wasn't even that warm out. They routinely told every Airman that showed up at Keesler (Air Force Base in Biloxi MS) that they could get SECOND DEGREE burns from the sun and that if they did, they'd be in BIG trouble-"you have been warned." I think it's got to do with the humidity right over the coast, but when it's more humid than normal it's REALLY bad!

Sorry about your burn, RR. I got a doozy near Kalamazoo one summer-at a lake-and I do know what you went through. Keep your eyes on the skin that burned, too. Can't be too careful.

Yeah, it wasn't even too warm out. It was in Feb. if I remember correctly.

My mom had melanoma, so I get mapped by a dermatologist every year.

You mean there really is a Kalamazoo? Oh yeah, I go to school there!

[Dark Helmet]

We went there when I was about 12 with my family and some of my moms friends. It was ok as a kid but it is a major tourist trap and rather poor/trashy. I swear it is for the people who planned on going to Disney land but couldn't afford it

Naturally we all got a kick out of the Gay Dolphin and that was before....

Anyway, no way would I be caught dead there as an adult as I would hate it as much as my parents did back then.

[Railroader]

Myrtle Beach is more of a local vacation and golf spot than it is a National tourist destination. They don't cater to the people with oodles of money who throw it at anything dressed in a well-known animated character costume.

It is a weekend-get-away-go-to-the-beach-or-golf destination that most people drive to.

To think otherwise is ignorance.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Myrtle Beach is more of a local vacation and golf spot than it is a National tourist destination. They don't cater to the people with oodles of money who throw it at anything dressed in a well-known animated character costume.

It is a weekend-get-away-go-to-the-beach-or-golf destination that most people drive to.

To think otherwise is ignorance.

I don't get the feeling they are catering to the Gold community though. I mean everything is a tourist trap of gift shops, wax museums, cheap hotels, malls, minigolf etc.

Seems they are happy with the "state fair" feel and crowd they got.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet 

I don't get the feeling they are catering to the Gold community though. I mean everything is a tourist trap of gift shops, wax museums, cheap hotels, malls, minigolf etc.

Seems they are happy with the "state fair" feel and crowd they got.

Been there in the last couple decades?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Been there in the last couple decades?

late 80's. So yes.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet 

late 80's. So yes.

Do you think maybe, possibly, it could happen, that the place has changed a little since then?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Do you think maybe, possibly, it could happen, that the place has changed a little since then?

When did I say otherwise? My post was pretty clear I was there when I was 12, no?

But you still said last couple decades and 89'ish seems to fall in that range.

[Kerrigan]

Myrtle Beach was fun. RIP. Lowcountry SC is being over-run by pushy yankees in Chevy Suburbans who own ocean front McMansions. Charleston is still hanging on to its charm luckily.

The lowcountry is perhaps the most pleasant area of the eastern seaboard, with its polished Huguenot cities and its plantation feel. Watching northerners slowly erase its regional character makes me understand why everyone (Southerners, Canadians, Europeans) dislikes yankees so much.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Myrtle Beach is more of a local vacation and golf spot than it is a National tourist destination. They don't cater to the people with oodles of money who throw it at anything dressed in a well-known animated character costume.

It is a weekend-get-away-go-to-the-beach-or-golf destination that most people drive to.

To think otherwise is ignorance.

Maybe things have changed in the past five years. We used to have lots of Canadians and mid-westerners every year, and lots of snowbirds (80s). Then golf got popular (90s), and the regional airport opened up so people could fly in from around the country to play a few rounds. I don't think all those Yankee with their families were there for "the weekend." In fact, I don't remember too many folks from North and South Carolina, except for the folks who ran places and worked there in the summer.

Ignorance is where you find it, I guess.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by G Barnett 

Ack! Myrtle Beach flashbacks!

Ahh, well do I remember Ocean Boulevard, though from quite a different perspective than you guys. Just north of the Guinness (somewhere around that indistinct red sign to the right of the Guinness sign in the first pic) was a place called Nightmare Haunted House -- opened in 1987 and ran at least thru 1991. I spent my summers after graduating High School working that place.

*Sigh.* Such good memories. Getting paid to be mean, cruel and downright sadistic (within safe boundaries) to tourists? Life never got any better than that....

I was such a virtuoso on the chainsaw, too....

Ah see... from 87 to 93 I didn't go. Sucks I missed that. Sounds fun.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet 

We went there when I was about 12 with my family and some of my moms friends. It was ok as a kid but it is a major tourist trap and rather poor/trashy.

Poor Trashy? It's no luxury resort. But at the time 70s - 80s it wasn't trashy. We no more than any other boardwalk or ocean blvd that is commercialized.

I swear it is for the people who planned on going to Disney land but couldn't afford it

Meh, I have never been, wont ever go. I've heard it's not that great.

Anyway, no way would I be caught dead there as an adult as I would hate it as much as my parents did back then.

Most people go for nostalgia reasons. Which to me hits the heart more so that uppity resorts with over-priced accomodations.

Many places have been copying the old 70s/80s formula of South Carolina and Florida beach resorts.

For example, Niagra Falls now looks pretty much like Ocean Blvd.

It has the Ripley's and a slew of "Castle Dracula" type attractions.

BTW if I am on your ignore, how did you click on this. Or even why?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Myrtle Beach is more of a local vacation and golf spot than it is a National tourist destination. They don't cater to the people with oodles of money who throw it at anything dressed in a well-known animated character costume.

It is a weekend-get-away-go-to-the-beach-or-golf destination that most people drive to.

To think otherwise is ignorance.

Indeed. And I loved that about it.

Originally Posted by finboy 

Maybe things have changed in the past five years. We used to have lots of Canadians and mid-westerners every year, and lots of snowbirds (80s). Then golf got popular (90s), and the regional airport opened up so people could fly in from around the country to play a few rounds. I don't think all those Yankee with their families were there for "the weekend." In fact, I don't remember too many folks from North and South Carolina, except for the folks who ran places and worked there in the summer.

Ignorance is where you find it, I guess.

Oh I hung out with tons of local teenagers and kids of the area. They know were all the cool action is.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Railroader 

Do you think maybe, possibly, it could happen, that the place has changed a little since then?

Actually since 1985 the place has went downhill. After that I only went there for nostalgia reasons. So SWG going there first in 1989 missed out on the cool era of MB. Which was 1975-1985

[macroy]

All my buddies say its still a great place to go.....

But we play golf - so I guess it's for a different reason. I actually have yet to go there as well as Hilton Head; both great golf destinations. But maybe this Spring.

[Kevin]

Not a big golfer myself. But I can see why someone who was would love it.