Want to ride a Myrtle Beach area roller coaster? Here’s how to find out what ones are safe
It’s never good when a roller coaster has safety issues, especially when people are on it. But that’s what happened last week in Charlotte, North Carolina, when a popular ride at Carowinds amusement park had to be shut down.
Carowinds’ roller coaster Fury 325 had one of its support beams completely crack, compromising the ride. Customers continued to ride the coaster as the crack worsened. Eventually, the park shut down the Fury 325 after being alerted to the problem.
The incident has raised awareness of safety issues with rides at amusement parks, which the Myrtle Beach area has several.
While it’s unclear what caused the original break, no one was injured, and the park is repairing the ride. The incident was followed by another mechanical failure on a Wisconsin roller coaster in which riders were stranded upside down for hours, according to NPR.
The Myrtle Beach area is home to several roller coasters. According to the Roller Coaster Database, the area has seven roller coasters and five amusement parks.
The roller coasters are located at Family Kingdom Amusement Park, 300 S. Ocean Blvd.; Funplex, 1405 N. Ocean Blvd.; Pavilion Park at Broadway at the Beach, 1171 Celebrity Circle; and Track Family Fun, 9589 N. Kings Highway.
For park visitors who want to know if the rides are safe, South Carolina has a database to help you find out.
How to search for safe roller coasters
The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation maintains the Office of Elevators and Amusement Rides that offers an Inspection Lookup database. The database keeps track of roller coasters and other amusement rides in South Carolina, and shows which rides have passed inspections, the last inspection date and when the ride permit expires.
Visitors can find rides by typing its name into the “Ride Name” box on the website. For example, The Swamp Fox is a popular roller coaster at Family Kingdom Amusement Park. One of 115 wooden coasters left in the United States, The Swamp Fox passed its last inspection April 12.
For ride names that do not appear when entered into the “Ride Name” box, visitors can also type a company’s information into the “Owner/Show Name” box. For example, Family Kingdom Amusement Park is owned by Seaside Entertainment LLC, and a search for the company name in the “Owner/Show Name” box shows results for all the rides they own. No Seaside Entertainment attraction failed an inspection for the rides listed.
All amusement park rides must have a South Carolina permit to operate, and each one must openly show its current permit for customers to see, according to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
How to stay safe once on the ride
While failure of a ride is a real concern, amusement park visitors should also be mindful of their personal safety. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 1 in 15.5 million trips on an amusement park ride end in serious injury.
In order to protect oneself, the organization gives customers several recommendations. The IAAPA lists the following recommendations:
Obey listed age, height, weight, and health restrictions.
Observe all posted ride safety rules, and follow all verbal instructions given by ride operators or provided by recorded announcements.
Keep hands, arms, legs and feet inside the ride at all times.
Secure all loose articles, including wallets, change, sunglasses, cell phones, and hats.
Do not board a ride impaired.
Remain seated in the ride until it comes to a complete stop and you are instructed to exit.
Always use safety equipment provided and never attempt to wriggle free of or loosen restraints or other safety devices.
Parents should make sure their children can understand and follow safe and appropriate ride behavior.
Never force anyone, especially children, to ride attractions they don’t want to ride.
If you see any unsafe behavior or condition on a ride, report it to a supervisor or manager immediately.
