Paradise Pier amusement park is now open at Margaritaville Biloxi
Paradise Pier Fun Park opened at 3 p.m. on Friday with cheers and applause.
The new amusement park at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi was five years in the making and people were eager to see what the Aerobar and the 14 other rides were all about.
“It wasn’t scary at all,” Judy Abide said after her first ride on the Aerobar, billed as a bar in the sky. Originally the plan was to have a bartender aboard, but instead a bar at the bottom of the ride sells margaritas, mai tais and other beverages that can be sipped aboard.
The circular ride rises and then begins to turn so riders get a view out into the Gulf of Mexico, across Biloxi and the “Katrina bridge,” as Bash Reynolds of Ocean Spring calls the Biloxi Bay Bride built after Hurricane Katrina. He’s along on the ride to provide commentary and point out landmarks.
The ski was as blue as it’s been in weeks and a good breeze kept the sunny day comfortable.
U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell and Secretary of State Michael Watson climbed aboard the double-decker carousel with Watson’s daughters Annie, Cora Beth and Gracie Pierce for their first spin.
Others headed to the more daring rides, all with nautical names, and the truly fearless were the first to ride the Storm Surge that turns and spins 360 degrees.
“I spin enough at city hall,” Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich said. He called Paradise Pier a game changer for Biloxi, which lost many waterfront amusements in Hurricane Katrina more than 17 years ago.
The Observation Wheel has air conditioning riders can control in each car and a call button in case anyone wants to cut the ride short. It’s a great place to get see the flying swings and kiddie cars spinning below and to hear the screams from the thrill rides.
“I think it’s going to be outstanding, not only for the east side, but the entire Coast,” said Chett Harrison, general manager of Golden Nugget Casino Biloxi said about the impact on South Mississippi. The casino is next door to Margaritaville Biloxi and customers go back and forth all the time.
“It took a lot of vision to do this but I think it’s definitely going to pay off,” Harrison said.
If you go:
Where: Paradise Pier Fun Park is at 195 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
What: The park has 15 rides, some thrilling and some more tame.
When: The park is open daily, from 3-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Friday, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
Price: Through May 24, an all-day pass is $39.95 plus tax Monday through Friday and $59.95 Saturday and Sunday. That includes unlimited rides and select indoor attractions. The Aerobar is an additional $20 and includes a drink in a souvenir cup.
An observation all-day pass is $15 per person for those who don’t ride and one complimentary ride on the Biloxi Tide Turner observation wheel.
Children 2 and under are free.
This story was originally published March 3, 2023 at 4:18 PM.
