New Myrtle Beach Attraction Turns World Upside-Down

Charlotte Observer: Don't look for Dorothy and Toto standing outside WonderWorks - even though the building looks upside down and tilted, like a tornado just dropped it in Myrtle Beach near U.S. 17 Bypass and 21st Avenue North.

The same upside-down scenario applies in the lobby, with its stairway, light fixtures, and a cabinet with a lamp on top to make your head turn in curiosity. However, with a walk through an inversion tunnel just past the admissions desk, the whole scene inside this scientific playground for all ages turns right-side-up and level.

Robert Stinnett, its general manager, describes the just-opened attraction as an "amusement park for the mind," with more than 100 interactive exhibits on four floors. It's the company's fourth site, in addition to Orlando and Panama City Beach, Fla., and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Exhibits range in subject and style to appeal to visitors of all ages who have a variety of interests.

The Xtreme 360 sounds like a roller coaster, but it's a suspended bicycle contraption: Pedaled with enough strength, it will flip the rider all the way around. Baseball fans might like the Velocity Ball pitching machine, where they can not only measure the mustard of their speed but opt for their opponent on a life-size screen.

Upstairs, a bed of 3,596 nails awaits anyone willing to recline for a moment. "It teaches you about the dispersion of your weight," Stinnett said, showing up close the tubes for each nail that extend upward. "You lie on it, and the attendant will push the table up."

Another pointy feeling awaits at the WonderWall, where you can press against a panel of 40,000 pins for a three-dimensional impression. Nearby, two simulators offer a choice for a guest to design a virtual roller coaster or subway ride.

The Bubble Lab will put its own stretch on physics. "You can put your whole body in a bubble," Stinnett said. "Kids love this room."

A machine that focuses on the flipping of a coin notes the 50-50 chance, of course, of seeing it land heads or tails. Press the button to flip the coin five times, and see which side wins the most, then go once more.

The top level, the Space Room, houses a rope course 40 feet high, as well as an arcade and laser-tag area. Stinnet says anyone can look at some scientific oddity and learn something.

Walking around the building, including the outdoor half of the cafe, the world turns upside down again. Stinnett said the goal of WonderWorks is to stimulate the mind with awe.

"When you learn, you have fun," he said.