Freestyle Music Park In Deep Doo-Doo

In case you don't know, there's this park in South Carolina called Freestyle Music Park. It opened in 2008 as Hard Rock Park, and includes Time Machine (a B&M Sit-Down) (formerly Led Zepellin: The Ride) and Round About (a Premier Rides Ferris Wheel lift coaster) (formerly Maximum RPM). It closed late 2008, as they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In January 2009, they filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. On February 2009, they got new owners, and they renamed the park "Freestyle Music Park" in April 2009. The park reopened in May 2009. And on August 2009, the park stated that the 2009 season wasn't what they hoped, but was far from being horrible, and that the park is in no danger of closing.

Well, what do you know, they're - wait! Uh... I'll tell you how it started...

Back in October 2009, they announced that they will be getting new investors. They were rumored to be adding something for the 2010 season (a bumper cars or a water ride), but it ended up not happening, WHY?? Because of - wait! Not ready... In November 2009, rumors started to spread that the park would be sold for $40 million. In January 2010, they got hit up with two more debt payment requests, and were going to seal a deal with the new investors on January 15th. Later that month, MERLIN (the company who bought Cypress Gardens and are turning it to Legoland Florida) was rumored to buy it. Then in February, there was Southern Star (who are trying to revive Six Flags New Orleans) and Exploration Holdings, as well as Felix Mussenden, the CFO of Hard Rock Park. That same month, they announced that they will close their business office until further notice and laying off the remaining staff, and the website went offline! And that same month, there was an April 1st deadline, and the park has confirmed that they will not reopen late March, and once the deal with the new investor/owner is finalized "it will take at least 8 weeks to open the park." (quoted from Screamscape). Late February, Southern Star and Exploration Holdings were ruled out.

Unfortunately, they missed the April 1st deadline, and the park will not open for the 2010 season. In June, the park moved closer to liquidation, as a bankruptcy judge ruled against the park, allowing creditors to get one step closer to liquidating the park. Late last month, there was some activity in the park because some kids trespassed in the park for some exploration (the activity was lights on inside the park to help security).

And now, this morning, I heard this disturbing rumor from Screamscape:

Park News - (8/12/10) I’ve heard that Freestyle Music Park may have been foreclosed on this past Monday. Anyone know more?

This doesn't show a good sign for the park's future at all. Hopefully someone out there will buy save of the rides (if not all, at least Time Machine, the dark ride, and Round About). PLEASE! Cedar Fair, Universal, Ed Hart, Six Flags, Merlin, ANYONE!