These Myrtle Beach amusement parks are closing or changing hours for the fall
With the end of August and the 2024 summer officially over, the Myrtle Beach vacation season is drawing to a close. With it, many businesses that are staples of the summer months will cease operations as fall approaches the Grand Strand.
The change of season affects amusement parks in particular. Family Kingdom amusement park will close following the Sept. 6, 2024 weekend. Myrtle Waves Water Park near Broadway at the Beach closed following Sept. 2, 2024. Meanwhile, The FunPlex will finally close for the season Sept. 16, 2024.
The change in season will also bring the end of some outdoor events and concert offerings until they return next year. The Hangout at Broadway at the Beach will host free live music until Oct. 26, 2024, while North Myrtle Beach’s House of Blues will continue hosting its free end-of-week live music events until Nov. 2, 2024.
While some are shutting down until the return of warm weather, other businesses are also changing their hours of operation as cold weather slowly returns to the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach Family Golf, which owns four miniature golf courses, like Jurassic Golf and Jungle Safari in Myrtle Beach, and the Cane Patch Driving Range, adjusted their business hours for the fall months.
Restaurants, like Preston’s Seafood & Country Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, are opening at 4 p.m. in September and continue until 3:30 p.m. during the summer months.
Traditionally, restaurants and amusement parks closed along the Grand Strand during the downturn in visitors during fall and winter. Still, the growth of the area in recent years, plus more year-round visitors, could be changing things.
In an email to The Sun News, Diane Charno, vice president of brand and communications with the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce and CVB, wrote that the area is converting into a year-round economy that allows businesses to stay open during slower months. In contrast, most tourism-based operations would shutter for the winter months in previous years. Charno added that many companies are changing their business hours and adjusting staffing to meet current demand.
Charno also said the organization doesn’t keep a list of businesses that close seasonally.
She added that watersports activities and businesses are more seasonal due to temperature change, while other establishments use the season to undergo renovations.
Indeed, while Myrtle Waves Water Park closed for the season, Broadway Grand Prix Family Race Track, owned by Entertainment Group, will stay open until the end of 2024.
