Family Kingdom Amusement Park, in the heart of Myrtle Beach, S.C., will open for the season Friday, March 21st. Located on Ocean Boulevard, Family Kingdom is the Grand Strand's only seaside amusement park. It offers a complete amusement park experience wi... Read More »

Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., has been announced as a finalist in the Impeccable Customer Service Awards (I.C.E.) being held Feb. 21, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach. Family Kingdom is in the Amusement/... Read More »

Family Kingdom Amusement Park has launched its new Web site at www.family-kingdom.com. More colorful and user-friendly, the site has been updated with current information for the 2008 season. Visitors can view the park calendar, group sales information an... Read More »

The Grand Strand's only remaining amusement park, Family Kingdom, is among the top 10 parks in the country outside of Orlando, Fla. - beating out the likes of Coney Island and Carowinds in rankings by TripAdvisor.... Read More »

A Raleigh, N.C., man was beaten and robbed last night by a man who initially threatened to shoot the victim. The 43-year-old victim was walking on a beach access near Family Kingdom Amusement Park about 10 p.m. when the suspect approached the victim, acc... Read More »

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."