Shrieks from roller coaster riders and the aroma of cotton candy will kick off the Grand Strand's tourism season today with the opening of the area's lone remaining amusement park, Family Kingdom.

The 16-acre park at Third Avenue South in Myrtle Beach expects this summer's attendance to be off the charts now that its two longtime competitors have called it quits.

The park opens at 1 p.m.

"We expect a busy summer," general manager Donnie Sipes said. "How busy? We really don't know. It's hard to tell."

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, which used to be a mile away, and the Grand Prix Family Thrill Park in North Myrtle Beach shut down after the 2006 season, giving in to economic pressure to redevelop the pricey land.

The Hard Rock theme park is scheduled to open in April 2008. Until then, thrill-seekers have limited options along the Grand Strand.

Is Family Kingdom thinking about calling it quits, too?

"Not at all," Sipes said. "Why would we close now? We are here to stay."