WonderWorks opens at Broadway At The Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC.

By Monique Newton

WonderWorks, the much anticipated upside-down “amusement park for the mind” at Myrtle Beach’s Broadway at the Beach, is now open.

The first of its kind in the Carolinas, the 50,000-square-foot structure stands ten stories tall and is filled with more than 100 exhibits for people of all ages. There are other locations in Orlando, Fla., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Panama City Beach, Fla.

All exhibits feature state-of-the-art graphic and audio presentation techniques to wow adults and children alike. These include the WonderWall, in which guests will be able to create a 3-D impression of their bodies by pressing onto a wall made of 40,000 plastic pins; a bed of nails, in which the sensation of 3,500 sharp nails will be felt; Design and Ride Roller Coasters, where everyone can put together their own roller coaster that moves 360 degrees in any direction; and Shuttle Landers, in which the first-hand challenge and skill needed to land the Discovery Space Shuttle will be experienced.

Ribbon cutting from left to right: Brad Dean - president & CEO of MB Area Chamber of Commerce; Mayor John Rhodes – Mayor of City of Myrtle Beach; Robin Turner - owner / partner of WonderWorks; Jim Apple – president & CEO of Burroughs & Chapin Co., Inc.; Egerton Burroughs – chairman of the board of Burroughs & Chapin Co., Inc.

Coming soon to WonderWorks is an indoor/outdoor cafe, the 200-seat “Works” eatery. It will serve up fun foods like pizza, sandwiches and salads. A full bar will be available to WonderWorks guests as well as anyone else visiting Broadway at the Beach.

Visitors pedal tandem bikes to generate enough power to make it over the top and back to its original position.

WonderWorks is offering a variety of packages to fit a host of group types, sizes and budgets. WonderWorks can host birthday parties, educational programs, reunions and company retreats. There will be meal options available, along with private meeting space for up to 100 guests and an outdoor patio area. For additional group information, email group@wonderworksmb.com.

In 2010, WonderWorks Management opened Soar & Explore at Broadway at the Beach, a family-friendly attraction that features two outdoor adventures: the Zipline Adventure and the Ropes Challenge Course.

The Zipline Adventure is the first and only zip line in the Myrtle Beach area and the only zip line over water along the East Coast. Safely secured within a harness, all adrenaline seekers have the ability to soar 50 feet above the 23 acres of Lake Broadway.

In the Bubble Lab, kids of all ages (1 to 101) will be able to make giant bubbles, large enough to encapsulate a person while others explore a number of other exhibits on the third level of the attraction.

The ropes course, which is constructed of more than 3,000 ropes and cables, has a pirate theme and extends 40 feet into the air, stretching over three levels, and extending over Lake Broadway. It features 33 different challenge elements that require balance, dexterity and focus to conquer. Obstacles such as swinging steps, a tremor bridge, tightrope walk, and vertical and angle stairs are among the challenges. The Myrtle Beach WonderWorks location features a three-story indoor ropes challenge course with 20 different obstacles and activities under black light.

To learn more about WonderWorks Myrtle Beach and the WonderWorks Management properties, visit www.wonderworksonline.com.

More information about Soar & Explore is available at www.soarandexplore.com or by calling 843-448-SOAR (7627).