You Can't Go Home. (Or, RIP Pavilion. My Babies and I Thank You.)

The sad pictures are dated December 2006, January and February 2007.

This building, and the amusement park area that shared its name, was literally the origin of the Grand Strand, and the heart (some would say the soul as well) of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The very first place I took my kids to the ocean. The place where their love of skee-ball and coin-operated games was born. The place where my littlest bear tried numerous times (without success) to run into the ocean, wearing her Ron Jon sweatshirt and a diaper. The place where we sat on the bench, next to the historic pipe organ, and enjoyed ice cream in the middle of winter. The place where Willy The Whale was the king of the children's rides. Literally one of the few things I enjoyed about my time in South Carolina.

Across from Peaches Corner and the Bowery and down the street from the Gay Dolphin Gift Shop now, is a vacant lot with red Carolina dirt. Or maybe the ground's just colored from all the hearts that have bled over the destruction of this Myrtle Beach landmark. The amusement park's gone, too...they finished the destruction of the Hurricane roller coaster just a few weeks ago.

Rest in peace, Pavilion. Know that you live on in the memories of thousands of Grand Strand visitors.