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Was Magic Harbor in Myrtle Beach Cursed

Many may remember this amusement park, located just south of Myrtle Beach, with its signature lighthouse out front that welcomed beachgoers. But, deep inside this fun park lurked something more sinister during its years of operation.

Today, people share fond memories of this place as a source of nostalgia, but was this park doomed from the beginning?

Pirateland first opened off Highway 17 in 1964, featuring a log flume ride, a chair lift, and a steam engine train. But trouble soon followed when a stagecoach tipped over, killing one and injuring several others. Shortly after, the park closed due to financial woes.

Soon, it was sold to a business group from England, who changed the name to Magic Harbor. A new Ferris wheel was introduced, and the iconic lighthouse was added at the entrance. It was also the first home to the Corkscrew roller coaster, which was eventually sold to the Pavilion, along with other rides.

Other incidents followed, and in 1976, the owner, Harry Koch, and his stepson were killed outside their trailer at the park shortly after it closed on Labor Day. Koch’s wife, Carol, narrowly escaped the ordeal by hiding under the trailer.

Around the mid-1990s, without significant rides, the lights that once lined this park finally faded to a permanent darkness as it closed.

Written By: John G. Clark Jr.