Rock This Way

I headed back, along with my family, to South Carolina's Hard Rock Park to check out its official grand opening last week. Imagine our surprise at the, um, aeroport, when we spotted Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton just behind us in line to check his baggage for the Boston-to-Myrtle Beach flight. Sure enough, he was on his way to visit the park and to participate in a charity golf tournament that was part of the opening festivities. The affable Hamilton said that he and the band have been busy getting themselves "digitized" (sounds freaky!) for the video imagery that will be featured in the upcoming release of Guitar Hero Aerosmith.

Other rockers in attendance at the Hard Rock Park's grand opening included members of Cheap Trick, ZZ Top, Run DMC, and Sister Hazel. To kick off the celebration, the park literally blew its gates open. The Eagles, whose song, "Life in the Fast Lane," serves as the name and soundtrack of one of the park's coasters, performed in the park's amphitheater. The Moody Blues, also immortalized in a Hard Rock Park attraction, played for the second evening of the two-day opening.

Maximum RPM!, the park's unique wheel-lift coaster, was still not operating during my return trip. I did, however, get to see the Country on the Rocks ice skating show, which is now open in the park's Ice House Theater. It is very well done with slick production numbers and an energetic and talented cast.

Hard Rock Park opened with perhaps the simplest pricing structure in the history of theme parks: Children 3 and under are free; everyone else pays $50. Whereas nearly all parks offer a lower price for kids, I've been wondering whether families might object to paying full fare for the younger members of their brood. For the month of June, anyway, the new park is offering some relief for families with special ticket deals. Packages of four or more tickets cost $40 each. For $50 each, families of four or more can get a 2-day pass. And for $65, the park is offering a 7-day pass. The price for residents of South or North Carolina, regardless of the number of tickets purchased, is $39 during June. And active and retired members of the military pay $40.

My family and I had a ball at Hard Rock Park, riding the rides, grooving to the live music, and soaking up the inspired atmosphere. We were tired and wallowing a bit in post-vacation blues at the Myrtle Beach Airport while waiting for the plane to take us back to Boston. The spell was broken, however, when the other half of Aerosmith's rhythm section, drummer Joey Kramer, sauntered into the terminal to wait for the delayed flight. Kramer was also involved with the Hard Rock Park opening. I guess you never know whom you might see at (or coming from and going to) Hard Rock Park.

• Hard Rock Park Photo Gallery