Myrtle Beach resorts now featuring water parks

Today’s families who tire of the ocean or the hotel pool want the excitement of a mini-water park just steps from their room.

The water adventures - with waterfalls streaming from a colored dome or buckets dumping water on tops of kids’ heads - are popping up at hotels along the Grand Strand so quickly that state officials have trouble putting a number on them, especially with several awaiting final inspection before the busy tourist season kicks off in a couple of weeks.

“That is a big trend,” said Jim Ridge, the recreational waters compliance coordinator for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, which inspects pools, lazy rivers and water parks. “That does seem to be a trend peculiar to Horry County - the bigger, the better. You have to keep up with your neighbor,” he said.

Hotels are fighting harder for business, as the supply of units has outgrown the demand. Since 1995, the number of available lodging units in Horry County has increased by 50 percent to reach nearly 90,000, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Sands Resorts, at 74th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach, was one of the first hotels to boast its own water adventure, opening in spring 2002.

• The Breakers Resort has a pirate-themed water feature.

• Kingston Plantation and Sea Mist Resort also have substantial water attractions. More are on the way as new lodging towers are being built.

• A water park consuming two lots and stretching 300 feet along the road will be the centerpiece of the Atlantica development at 17th Avenue North, which will open in two years. The rides in the water park won’t be higher than 30 feet, but that will be enough of a thrill to cater to toddlers and preteens - helping to attract the desired family vacationer.

The Grand Strand boasts three standalone water parks: Family Kingdom, Myrtle Waves and Wild Water in Surfside Beach. Wild Water switched from weekends only to a daily summer schedule Saturday. Family Kingdom and Myrtle Waves convert to daily summer hours next weekend.

The smaller water rides could work in the big parks’ favor, whetting the kids’ appetites for the more elaborate rides you can’t find at the hotel.

Source: Dawn Bryant, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC