Hard Rock Park shows off new roller coaster

By Kelly Marshall Fuller

When the Eagles come to Myrtle Beach, they'll be able to ride their own roller coaster.

Hard Rock Park officials on Monday announced a roller coaster in the park would run to the Eagles' 1976 hit "Life in the Fast Lane."

The public will be able to experience the two-minute ride on the park's longest coaster starting April 15, the first day of the park's "soft opening." Officials say the park will be fully operational May 9.

The Eagles and The Moody Blues, which also has a ride set to a song, will play at the park's grand opening celebration June 2 and 3.

Tickets, which cost $250 plus taxes and fees, went on sale Monday at the park and online.

The tickets come as a package that includes park admission and admission to view a celebrity golf tournament.

For park management, the relationship with the Eagles is a dream come true.

"I saw the Eagles on their Hotel California tour in the 1970s," said Dale Kaetzel, general manager of the park. "We're thrilled that the Eagles want to be involved with the world's first rock 'n' roll theme park."

The "Life in the Fast Lane" coaster is in the Cool Country section of the park, which is still under construction.

It soon will feature places to eat, shop, drink and relax on the back porch, Kaetzel said.

There will be a Rockabilly Barbecue restaurant and visitors will be able to see a daily skating show at the Ice House.

In addition, the Cool Country section will feature the "Mud Monster" ride.

Construction workers in hard hats continued to drive beeping machines and push the park into place during a brief demonstration of the newest coaster ride Monday morning.

The $400 million, 55-acre theme park on George Bishop Parkway off U.S. 501 is one of the single largest investments in S.C. tourism, the state's top industry.

Read more at The Sun News.