By Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

AUGUST 2, 2009 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC ― “They have been looking forward to this all week, “ said Jennifer Schwarz’s Dad. In from Statesville, NC just a little north of Charlotte, Jennifer Schwarz and Sara Setzer were the first in line as the park opened at 4pm to experience the thrill of the new Ferris Wheel at the O.D. Amusement Park.

Jennifer’s Dad was just walking around watching them with a big grin on his face.

After the Ferris Wheel ride they scurried off so fast to go on other rides, North Myrtle Beach Online was not able to get comments from them, but, Sara’s expression and Jennifer’s smile in their picture says it all.

One of the great things about the O.D. Amusement Park was that it was wide open with no entry fees. Neither high fences nor barriers obscured the view from the outside.  Passer-byers were able to not only smell the pop corn popping and the funnel cake cooking but also hear the screams of delight from the city side walks but also to walk in, watch the fun and participate.

The view from the top of the Ferris Wheel was spectacular.  The sky was blue and the day was sunny.  Off in the near by distance the ocean could be seen as an emerald green with white wave crests washing upon the beach.  Swimmers were enjoying the water and children were skimming down the City’s three story water slide.  

The opening hours were a great time to go through the Park. Crowds had not yet left the beaches and lines were short and waits were pleasant.

Parents (and grandparents) of young children who had never been in an amusement park were experiencing “will they or won't they do it” moments as they climbed stairs to ride on the Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars or Roller Coasters.  

I’ll admit that I was one of those grandparents.  My grandson Sean was three and a half and had never been on these types of rides. I didn’t know whether it would be too much for him or not.  But he and his Dad, Scott, got on the Ferris Wheel and Sean didn’t want to get off.  They made about three trips before Scott could persuade Sean that it was time to try something else.  

After a strong dose of cotton candy, Sean was ready for anything. He rode everything he wanted, except for the bumper cars.  Sean kept coming back to the bumper cars but, he was too short for that ride.  However, the one ride I thought he would shy away from he climbed on with enthusiasm – the roller coaster – and hung on for dear life as the coaster swept up, down, round and around.

Additionally, the O.D. Amusement Park offered more than rides and food, there were modest games of chance where, for example, a lady would offer to guess your weight and/or age within so many pounds or years and if she was wrong, a prize was won.

While money may not buy happiness, it sure buys memories and that’s how visitors to the O.D. Amusement Park get their money's worth.

Strolling around one could see laughing children and beaming parents (and grandparents) having spontaneous fun. Going to the O.D. Amusement Park can provide hours of entertainment with little preparation and organization – all is needed is a little money (tickets are only $1.25 apiece and the most tickets that rides require are three tickets) and as many kids as you can handle.

At the day’s end, Mark Lazarus, one of the organizers along with the Worley family, said “It was a great opening – better than expected.  We had about 1500 or more people that visited the rides.”  The crowds peaked from 8 to 9 pm when beach time was over and families had finished their visits to their favorite restaurants.

Lazarus said, “Most exciting was the number of local people that came to the Park.  Many remembered coming here in the 50’s as children and riding the rides.  They said they never thought they would have the chance to come back with their grandchildren. It was very heart warming.”

“Very optimistic” is the way Lazarus characterized the future of the Park.  It was raining when he was contacted but he was hopeful that the slight drizzle would let up by 7pm and “people would see the lights and come on out.”  

For first day pictures go to the Gallery.