Amusement Park News

Family Kingdom is expanding its lineup of rides this year. The most prominent addition is a new, thrill-packed coaster. The Myrtle Beach, South Carolina amusement park is debuting a Raptor Coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction. The attraction will stake its claim as the first single-rail roller coaster in the Southeast region.

However, the coaster is not the only new attraction coming to Family Kingdom. The park has also announced additional rides, including Inferno, Kraken, Colossus, and the Crazy Chopper.   This season will also bring back old favorites The Flip Side and The Lunatic. The latter is one of only two in the world and the only one of its kind in the United States. The Raptor Coaster will debut toward the end of the summer season, while the other new rides will open earlier.



The park's co-owner, Corky Powers, explains that the addition of the new Raptor Coaster “represents our commitment to investing in the future while honoring the park's history.” He adds that the park's focus is on creating memorable family experiences.

According to Prescott, the new coaster reflects continued investment in both the park and the surrounding community. “The Raptor Coaster allows us to bring modern, high-energy thrills to the oceanfront while continuing to evolve a park that generations of families have grown up visiting.”

Construction on the coaster is well underway, but it does not yet have a name. The park has hinted that it will reflect Family Kingdom's beachside location. When completed, it will be RMC's fourth coaster at the park. It will rise over 100 feet, making it nearly 30 feet taller than the historic wooden Swamp Fox coaster. It will feature three inversions, which is typical for RMC Raptor coasters, along with five airtime moments and a 1,920-foot track. This is approximately 100 feet longer than similar Raptor coasters at several Six Flags parks. The new ride will reach a top speed of 52 miles per hour.



In addition, the coaster will include unique elements not typically found in Raptor designs, including an extra airtime hill near the end of the ride and a setup that uses a brake run switch to the opposite side of the track for a final left-hand swing into the station.

The coaster's single-rail construction will provide a smooth, fast, and intense experience, and the three inversions will allow riders to flip upside down with views of the coastline.

The park originally began as Grand Strand Amusements. Today, it is co-owned by Powers and Bill Prescott and will feature over 35 rides this year. The addition of the new coaster continues Family Kingdom's revival under Powers, his wife Debbie, and their partner Prescott, who purchased the park four years ago.

Despite its prime location, the park had previously fallen into disrepair under former owners who, according to Powers, “never made it come alive…they didn't do a lot of maintenance and did no real marketing.”

Along with the new rides, the park continues to offer its popular log flume and the classic Pistolero Round Up from Sally Dark Rides. Powers has described it as “one of the first of its kind,” featuring a Mexican cowboy theme. The owners remain committed to preserving the park's heritage, which they consider just as important as adding new attractions. That heritage includes the iconic wooden Swamp Fox coaster, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Family Kingdom has invested heavily in maintaining and restoring the Swamp Fox, which has been part of the park since 1966. The owners estimate that they spend about one million dollars each year on its preservation and refurbishment.

Maintaining existing attractions and adding new ones is important not only for the park but also for Myrtle Beach, which draws up to 20 million visitors between spring and fall. Powers notes that beyond the beach, visitors need “something to do. Our park is an affordable choice for family fun.”

As the owner of the Powers Great American Midway as well as Family Kingdom, Powers can rotate carnival rides and attractions, keeping the park's offerings fresh and appealing each summer.



For 2026, Family Kingdom is offering an early bird season pass that includes unlimited visits, discounted guest wristbands for up to six guests, 15 percent off birthday parties, two bring-a-friend-free days on May 16 and August 30, and two-dollar souvenir cup refills. The pass is currently available for presale online for $105.74. Regular season pass pricing is $159.00.

Admission to the park is free. Guests can purchase an unlimited ride wristband or credits for individual rides. An all-day wristband costs $45.

The season opens with a full schedule for Spring Break from March 27 through April 11. The park then operates Friday through Sunday until Memorial Weekend, when it returns to a seven-day schedule through September 12.