Hard Rock Park files bankruptcy

A company spokesman says the owner of the Hard Rock theme park that opened in Myrtle Beach earlier this year has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
   
Park spokesman Jim Olecki said the $400 million park is closed, but plans to reopen in 2009.
   
Olecki HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings filed under Chapter 11 in Delaware bankruptcy court. The company licensed the brand name from Hard Rock International, which owns the restaurant chain.
   
Olecki said the park didn’t have enough money for promotion when it opened in April and the credit crisis made it impossible to get more money.
   
The park will keep 75 employees through the offseason. It employed 2,000 during peak season.
   
Olecki said a bankruptcy judge will decide whether annual passes and other tickets will be honored, refunded or voided.