Hurricane: Category 5, Wooden roller coaster at Myrtle Beach Pavilion, South Carolina
Hurricane: Category 5 was a wooden roller coaster at Myrtle Beach Pavilion featuring approximately 3,800 feet of track that accelerated riders to speeds of 55 miles per hour. The layout included multiple sections with heights reaching 101 feet, built with the traditional wooden structure of crossed beams and support columns typical of its design style.
The coaster opened in May 2000 as a major investment in the pavilion's attractions during the early 2000s. It operated until September 2006, when the Myrtle Beach Pavilion permanently closed, ending a long-running era of seaside entertainment.
The name references the Atlantic hurricanes that regularly strike South Carolina's coast, connecting the ride to the region's natural forces. It served as a gathering place where families and friends shared thrills and created lasting memories together.
The coaster was built as an outdoor structure and operated best during clear, dry weather conditions. Visitors needed sturdy footwear and should have secured loose items, as the ride provided intense motion and rapid directional changes throughout the course.
Two of the original train cars were later transported to Kings Island amusement park in Ohio and repurposed for the Son of Beast hybrid coaster project. These components found a second life in a completely different installation, demonstrating how amusement park equipment can be adapted and reused.
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