Myrtle Beach Pavilion
The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was located at what is now the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, between 8th and 9th Avenues, on North Ocean Boulevard. The first Pavilion, a wooden dance hall, was erected nearby soon after Myrtle Beach was founded in 1900. In 1947, a concrete and steel structure that would last for almost 60 years was constructed on this site, and with its adjacent amusement rides, became the Pavilion to modern generations until razed in 2006.
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Myrtle Beach Pavilion
Itinerary
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Site Description
The Myrtle Beach Pavilion amusement center entertained generations of vacationers. When Myrtle Beach was developed as New Town in 1900, its founder, the Burroughs and Collins Company of Conway, constructed a beachside hotel, the Seaside Inn, a boardwalk, a bathhouse, and a wooden dance hall which became known as the Pavilion. Early tourists who came from Conway, Marion, Florence and more distant places, stayed at the inn, or in an increasing number of beach cottages, frolicked in the surf, strolled on the boardwalk, and danced or relaxed at the Pavilion.
Access and Admission
Over the decades, as Myrtle Beach expanded in the automobile age and became a popular, national beach resort, the wooden beachside Pavilion was replaced as needed - including when damaged by fire. In 1947, a "hurricane proof" concrete and steel Pavilion was constructed at the heart of what is now the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade. It featured an upstairs dance hall, eateries, a bathhouse, and a popular arcade featuring mechanical and electric games. For modern generations of beachgoers, this popular and familiar beachside landmark was the Pavilion. A carnival-style amusement center, locally known as "the rides," was added later and eventually the entire complex became known as the Pavilion. The Pavilion amusement center offered a wide variety of rides and attractions, including a double ferris wheel called "Big Eli", a 50-figurine carousel or "Merry-Go-Round", a roller coaster, a children's boat ride, an octopus ride, a haunted house, and an ornate 400-pipe band organ. In 1991, after a fatal accident, the ferris wheel was removed. In 2006, as amusement park aficionados around the country demanded more elaborate thrills from theme parks, the Burroughs and Chapin Company moved many of the amusement rides and attractions to the Pavilion Nostalgia Park and Carousel Park at Broadway at the Beach, and attempted to jointly develop a modern theme park on the outskirts of Myrtle Beach. Viewed as too small and outmoded to compete with modern theme park attractions, the Myrtle Beach Pavilion was razed in 2006. Site Access: Public
Tours and Events
Ownership: Public/MB Guided Tours: No
Group Tours No |