If you’ve been itching to try wake boarding and looking for a beach vacation destination, you’re in luck. Shark Wake Park is making waves in the sport of wake boarding–without a boat.
Shark Wake Park was founded by Greg Norman Junior, the son of Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman. Greg Jr. set out to create the world’s best cable wake and water park for people of all ages. A professional wakeboarder himself, Greg Jr. wanted to make the sport accessible to everyone.
“Boats create a barrier for entry into the sport because not everyone has a $150,000 wake boat, and not everyone has access to one,” explains Jane MacNeille, Director of Communications. Shark Wake Park eliminates the need for a wake boat.
Wakeboarding Without Boats
Shark Wake is a cable wake park. Cable wake parks are popular throughout the world, specifically in Germany. They're starting to pop up across the United States. Greg created his own branded cable park with the opening of Shark Wake Park 843 in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Park 843 has a five-tower cable wake system. “It's similar to a pulley system,” explains Jane, “You sit on the starting dock and hold on to a handle, and the operator tells you when it's time to go. The pulley system pulls you off the dock and you go around in circles around the lake.” However, the cable pulleys aren’t just for wakeboarding.
“Pretty much anything that you can do from behind a boat, you can do at Shark Wake Park,” says Jane, “Whether it's knee boarding, water skiing, wake skating or surf foiling.” In addition to the cable wake park, there’s an Aqua Park. “It’s basically a giant floating playground,” Jane describes, “A lot of people kind of compare it to American Ninja Warrior – there are monkey bars, climbing towers and slides.”
Shark Wake obstacle course in Aqua Park. [Photo/Shark Wake Park]
Family Fun
Shark Wake Park is a family destination. The Aqua Park is geared toward kids ages seven and up. “It's just a giant obstacle course that you run and play on for 45 minutes, out on the water,” says Jane. In order to play on the Aqua park, you must know how to swim and be at least 45 inches tall.
The Wake Park is for kid ages 10 and up and adults. The park caters to newbies and veteran boarders alike. “It's a great place to learn how to wakeboard,” says Jane, “Kids and newbies can start off on the kneeboard.” If you need a refreshment, there’s no need to leave the park. In between parks is the Shark Shack. The Shark Shack is a place with shade to cool off and have refreshments. “We have beer and wine for the adults, and then for the kids there’s ice cream and slushies, obviously water and regular refreshments,” says Jane.
If you are looking for a beach vacay that’s not too crowded, Shark Wake Park is a great alternative to the beach. “This is another great place to go out and get sun,” says Jane, “You can spend the whole day out here–spend the first part of the day at the Aqua Park, take a break, get some lunch at the Shark Shack, and then go spend the rest of the afternoon at the Wake Park.”
Locations and When to Visit
Currently, Shark Wake Park has two locations: North Myrtle Beach, SC and the recently opened location in West Palm Beach, FL. There are plans to open more in the near future. Opening a new location requires special cooperation with local governments. For both locations, the company leases the land from the county. Then, a percentage of sales goes back into county for environmental and economic improvements. “I think we will continue to kind of do this public/private partnership and look for other counties throughout the country who are interested in having a cable wake park and partnering with them,” explains Jane.
Both Shark Wake Park locations are open on the weekends starting in April, Memorial Day through Labor Day, then on weekends though end of October. Jane encourages visitors to book ahead on online during the peak summer season. “When you book online ahead of time, you can pick what session you want, and that way it makes pretty much any time a good time to visit,” says Jane.
Where to Stay
Both Myrtle Beach and West Palm Beach have plenty of options for parking your RV or Travel Trailer.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Travel Park is a family favorite with carefree comfort and modern amenities. Located minutes from all the attractions of Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach Travel Park has its own ½ private beach access.
The Apache Family campground is an oceanfront resort destination for families who love to camp by the majestic Atlantic Ocean. It’s minutes away from restaurants, shopping and the downtown Myrtle Beach Boardwalk.
West Palm Beach
Lion Country Safari KOA features all the modern amenities of an RV resort with the added bonus of being adjacent to Lion Country Safari Park. Lion Country Safari is a drive-thru safari park and walk-thru amusement park that the family will love.
Vacation Inn Resort is a luxury RV resort located in prestigious Palm Beach County on the Gold Coast of South Florida. It features modern amenities and is minutes away from restaurants and entertainment and the beach.