Review of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park (NC)
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park is a seasonal ocean-side midway. As of summer 2022, the rides are operated by Hildebrand Amusement Rides, and there’s only one permanent installation: the 95-foot Giant Ferris Wheel.
Ride Wristbands and Tickets
Unlimited ride wristbands are $25 and are only offered Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 PM. You cannot purchase a wristband after 4 PM. The wristband is only valid till 5 PM.
A single ticket costs $2.50. An “Economy Pack” of 18 tickets is $40. A “Super Saver” pack of 27 tickets is $60.
There’s a $5.00 transaction fee for credit cards, so make sure to bring cash.
Rides
The park features 14 different attractions. The must-do rides are certainly the Giant Wheel and the Super Shot drop tower. If it’s not busy, you can request to ride the Super Shot facing toward the beach and get a nice view.
If you’re alone at the park, you should know that single riders are not allowed on the Giant Wheel. So, you’ll have to ride with someone else.
Ali Baba (pendulum) : 3 tickets
Carousel: 2/3 of a ticket with a parent
Elephants (Dumbo): 2 tickets
Giant Wheel (Ferris wheel): 4 tickets
Kiddie Cars: 2 tickets
Pirates Pond: 2 tickets
Scooter: 3 tickets
Sea Ray: 2 tickets
Slide (fun slide): 2 tickets
Spinner: 2 tickets
Swings: 2 tickets
Super Shot (drop tower): 3 tickets
Tornado (Wisdom Industries Ltd.): 3 tickets
Wiggle Worm: 2 tickets
Events
The Boardwalk offers free events on select nights in the 2022 season.
Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 PM is “Family Night” with select family-friendly performers.
Thursday and Friday evenings are called “Boardwalk Blast” and feature music from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, with fireworks right at 9:00 PM.
Overall
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park is certainly expensive if you miss out on the $25 wristband deal. Parking can also be challenging since some neighboring lots charge a flat fee of $50+. So, you should probably park further away if you don’t mind the walk.
Carolina Beach can be crowded near the boardwalk since there are many neighboring hotels and condos. If you happen to be staying at one of the hotels, you should certainly check out the amusement park!
If you’re not staying at Carolina Beach, it’s worth checking out. There are several bars, shops, and restaurants surrounding the park. Britt’s Donut Shop, which opened in 1939, is one spot that is frequently recommended.
Watch our Park Tour
Andrew visited the park in August 2022 and walked around the park. Check it out on YouTube!
