This great Bolliger & Mabillard looping roller coaster, formerly known as the Led Zeppelin Roller Coaster and The Time Machine, has to be one of the best defunct roller coasters anywhere. It was the marquee roller coaster at Hard Rock Park when it opened in 2008. It was a pretty photogenic coaster with its zeppelin shaped station and white steel track partially situated over a pond. I took this photo from the walkway that took guests literally and figuratively across the pond from the Rock N Roll Heaven area to the UK-themed British Invasion area.
After a short-lived run, Hard Rock Park went bankrupt. One year later, the park re-opened as Freestyle Music Park. The new management gave it a pretty good go, but the park once again failed and it remained closed all of 2010. Now, the coaster sits dormant
As Led Zeppelin, the coaster blared the band’s hit song “Whole Lotta Love” from its on-board speakers. Then as The Time Machine, it played a mix of songs from the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s, & 00′s. The layout’s straight-forward, but action-packed with a number of loops over water. It often seemed a bit shakier than most B&M loopers, but not too rough. Read my full review of the Led Zeppelin Coaster and a mini-review in my Freestyle Music Park theme park review.
What’s Your Take?
Did you make it Hard Rock Park or Freestyle Music Park when it was open? What did you think of this coaster? Leave a comment below.
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January 29, 2011 at 19:35
looks pretty fun! i hear it has pretty bad rattle towards the end of the ride but still, it's one of the only B&M sitters and gives a good ride. I hope someone buys it soon…
January 30, 2011 at 11:47
Yeah. Like I said, it was surprisingly shakey for a B&M but not too rough.
January 29, 2011 at 20:59
I hit Mega Millions or Power Ball, we can all get together and revive it… and the park!
January 30, 2011 at 11:46
You think a lot like me DC. It'd be great to revive this park and actually make it work in Myrtle Beach after so many have already doomed it from day one. I'd say the Knoebels free entry, pay per ride option might work if you'd bring in enough guests. The main problem is its location away from the beach. Freestyle Music Park advertised, but I think it might have been a case of out of sight out of mind with so many guests spending their entire MB vacation without having to drive by the park.
January 30, 2011 at 04:04
Maybe all of this expensive music licensing is what sunk both parks. Seaworld Parks, we are in need of assaistance.
January 30, 2011 at 17:52
I want someone to buy this place okay! Someone who will trash the music theme and not let it go on a cruise on the Titanic! Especilally the one Premier coaster that has the Ferris Wheel-esque lift system! I agree with you, Quil. SeaWorld would be a good fit for this park. If I bought this park, I'd theme Time Machine/Led Zeppelin to the Hindenburg (partly because the park dropped like the infamous ship, TWICE!)
January 30, 2011 at 21:01
Hey, what'd you want: it went down because their mascot was a troll!!!
January 31, 2011 at 02:46
Are you talking about the park or the Hindenburg?
January 31, 2011 at 17:43
I compared the park to the Hindenburg because both went down in flames (the park in Legal flames twice)
February 1, 2011 at 03:13
I was wonering what READYdot meant. some people never use the reply bar.
January 31, 2011 at 13:21
I think the park went down simply because it wasn't recognized enough, and lacked thrill rides. yes their rides were unique, but besides Time Machine/Zeppelin coaster, it didn't have any thrill rides. The concept of the park was ok, just needs more fun for older people (aka over 7 years old
. Hope it comes back though!
January 31, 2011 at 14:31
I stayed just two blocks from this thing when I was down in Myrtle Beach last summer and it was a truly sad sight to see such a good looking B&M sbno. If the park never reopens it would be a terrific fit in quickly growing Silverwood theme park in Idaho, already home to a pair of excellent woodies and Six Flags Great America's transplanted Vekoma GIB.
February 1, 2011 at 02:42
I hope someone will save this ride before it goes bad. Although the park was average(unique, but average), Led Zeppelin/Time Machine was a fun coaster. If nothing else, I hope someone saves it.
February 1, 2011 at 03:17
Which theme do you think was better? Led Zepplin or Time Machine?
February 2, 2011 at 04:39
Ozark Wildcat has to be the best currently defunct coaster on the planet. B&Ms are good rides, but this one has a pretty unoriginal layout.
February 2, 2011 at 15:13
http://rcdb.com/1888.htm
Yeah, It's layout dose look original, but I'm not sure it could be better than a ride like Led Zepplin. Either way, It looks like fun.
June 14, 2011 at 10:32
it wasnt just the fact that it was mostly shops it was way to expensive they closed down the pavilion and it was cheap and fun but this is like fifty per person(just saying not actual price)and it has like a total of three rides if it would be cheaper they would get a lot more visits.