As WPDE News Reports: Horry County Fire Rescue has deemed a fire that happened earlier this month at the former Hard Rock Park “suspicious.”
“We’ve determined it to be a suspicious fire, under investigation by both PD and our department,” said PIO Tony Causey.
He said it will be a couple of weeks before any additional information is released, but said it is “well under investigation.”
News of the former mayor’s purchase of the park was widely released to the public today. Online comments questioned as to how Rhodes purchased the $3.4 million property from the resources provided by a mayor’s salary of less than $60,000 annually.
Local lawyer Shep Guyton incorporated the LLC which owns the park. While Rhodes is listed as the managing member of that LLC, it is unclear what percentage of the park he actually owns.
Rhodes said he’s glad the fire is under investigation and hopes they find whoever started it. When asked about insurance money, he said you can’t get insurance on a building that has been vacant and that there has to be an active business on the property.
“The only insurance on it now is liability insurance,” he said.
“There was so much stuff left in there from previous owners. It was an absolute horrific mess,” said Rhodes.