Sky tram hits chord with Myrtle Beach

Downtown Redevelopment Corp. board members are considering an idea that could have people soaring over Myrtle Beach - an oceanfront aerial tram.

Board members postponed a decision this week on whether to research the idea brought to the group's executive director, David Sebok, by the Doppelmayr CTEC company of Salt Lake City. At this point, it's just one of several options for boardwalk-adjacent attractions that companies have suggested, but board members asked to postpone discussion until next month to give them more time to think about it.

"The boardwalk continues to garner national attention from tourists and developers," Sebok said.

Sebok said the aerial tram idea is used in many other cities, including his hometown of Seaside Heights, N.J. He asked redevelopment board members to tell him whether they wanted him to examine the idea more closely and prepare a presentation, but they said they wanted more time to think about it.

"I think the concept is phenomenal," said board member Chuck Martino. "They talked about putting one in along Ninth Avenue, connecting the Train Depot to Ocean Boulevard, and then one along the boardwalk. I hope they will do the Ninth Avenue part first. That would be a closed gondola, kind of like you see on a ski-lift, where you stand inside but it's all enclosed. The one along the beach would be open. I think it would be really neat. It would certainly change the city's skyscape."