Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB
Thrill-seekers have a new opportunity to get their adrenaline pumping on a trip to the beach. Myrtle Beach Jetpack Adventures, which opened in May, gives visitors the opportunity to fly through the open air, thanks to a water-propelled jet pack.
“This is the only attraction of its kind and only the second place in the country,” said Kimberly Miles, spokeswoman for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You actually hover over the water in the ocean with a jet pack. Each individual wears a jet pack, but they can do outings for groups.”
Unlike the science fiction concept of jet packs fueled by rocket propulsion, the jet packs use hydraulic pressure to propel riders up to 30 feet into the air. A motorboat carries participants out onto the ocean, where they are then harnessed into the bicycle-seat jet pack. They’re connected to the boat by a large water hose that sucks water out of the sea and sends it through the pressurized jet pack. The water is thrust out the bottom of the pack at incredible pressure, which, in turn, propels the pack and its rider into the air.
The experience isn’t cheap — prices begin at $100 and can go much higher — but for the right group, this thrill ride could prove the most memorable part of a trip to Myrtle Beach.
www.myrtlebeachjetpackadventures.com
