Massive 'Mount Rockmore' Sand Sculpture Highlights Groundbreaking of Hard Rock Park, the World's First Rock 'n' Roll Theme Park

Massive 'Mount Rockmore' Sand Sculpture Highlights Groundbreaking of Hard Rock Park, the World's First Rock 'n' Roll Theme Park

$400 Million Project Represents Single Largest Tourism Investment in South Carolina History

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Construction officially began today on Hard Rock Park, the single largest tourism investment in South Carolina's history and the first new major theme park to be built in the U.S. in nearly a decade. The $400 million park is scheduled to open in the spring of 2008.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060713/CLTH048)

To celebrate the occasion, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, park management and other gathered dignitaries scooped out ivory-toned Myrtle Beach sand at the site with customized multi-colored electric "guitar shovels" specially designed for the occasion to unveil a massive, 250-ton sand sculpture interpretation of Mount Rushmore at the site.

In true Hard Rock fashion, instead of U.S. presidents, 'Mount Rockmore' as it was dubbed, featured the countenances of rock legends Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. The monument was carved by artisans as a tribute to rock 'n' roll legends who have inspired, influenced and entertained generations of music lovers.

With more than five years in creation and design, the innovative Hard Rock Park will feature six unique "rock environs" celebrating rock's culture, lifestyle, legends and irreverence. Appealing to the family audience, the destination theme park will offer a diverse blend of rides, shows and interactive elements creating a totally immersive full day experience.

The 150-acre park is expected to entertain as many as 30,000 guests per day and will create more than 3,000 jobs, providing an economic boon to the state.

Gov. Sanford said, "For generations, Myrtle Beach has been a major draw for tourism in our state, particularly when it comes to being a place for families to enjoy their vacations. With the addition of a major international attraction like Hard Rock Park, it's one more reason for folks to visit the Grand Strand and South Carolina.

"Hard Rock Park represents the largest single investment in tourism infrastructure in our history and we believe that this project will significantly accelerate the growth of the state's largest export - tourism," Sanford added.

Steven Goodwin, CEO of HRP Myrtle Beach Operations LLC, who will operate the park said, "People always talk about the rock revolution. Well, why not a revolution in the evolution of theme parks? This will be a type of entertainment that no one has ever seen before."

Hard Rock Park's creators have spent years collaborating with experts in the themed-entertainment industry as well as musical legends and rock culture aficionados to create a high quality mix of rides, shows and interactive elements. The design of the park promotes a social interaction in a fun atmosphere for people of all ages.

Oliver Munday, Vice President of Hard Rock International, who has licensed the Hard Rock brand to the project said, "Hard Rock Park provides a great opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in rock 'n' roll music and the culture. We pride ourselves on having the world's greatest collection of music memorabilia ... and Hard Rock Park will showcase some of our finest pieces to help tell the story of music within the park."

Munday then presented the park with its first item of memorabilia: the authentic Magical Mystery tour bus from the classic Beatles movie.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060713/CLTH048
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Hard Rock Park

CONTACT: Jim Yeager, +1-818-991-0583, or Cell, +1-818-264-6812, or
jim@breakwhitelight.com, or Joyce Poole, +1-704-875-8990, or Cell,
+1-704-617-1074, or jpoole@miassoc.com, both for Hard Rock Park

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