Slide Show Photographs by Jim Moore © 2008 All Rights Reserved
Condo Preconstruction investors shaped the PCB skyline and future market
On the rise- Panama City Beach growth
The area is redefining its look and focusing on one of its best assets, twenty-seven miles of beaches. Visitors will discover what locals cherish, the emerald green waters and powdered-sugar beaches that qualify as some of the country’s loveliest.
Trading concrete and steel for stucco City Manager Richard Jackson, a native, has witnessed many changes during his tenure. The new energy efficient steel and concrete structures meet current, more stringent building codes. He views “trading concrete and steel for stucco” as an important advantages for the city and her residents. Compliance with zoning laws and building codes will also yield more parking, which becomes a challenge as the beach town attracts more tourists. Jackson thinks the very things that locals appreciate also appeal to visitors and the city will benefit from “a better quality product for tourists and the community.” Panama City Beach will attract tourists who are looking for destinations that offer “a beautiful bay and beaches, attractions, golfing, boating and world class restaurants.”
One definite advantage of living in Panama City Beach is the variety of restaurants. From the all-American cheeseburger, sushi, to crab bisque, food lovers will savor the cuisine. Panama City Beach offers restaurants galore. Angelo’s Steak Pit and its 20,000 lb steer statue, “Big Gus,” have been serving visitors and locals since 1958. Pineapple Willy’s serves their Jack Daniel Ribs with a spectacular view; a sizeable back deck juts out over the beach. The restaurant is a favorite, as is Captain Anderson’s, The Shiphouse and Hamilton’s, all with scenic views of the lagoon. FireFly, Thirty Degrees Blue, Boatyard, and Captain Dick’s Crabhouse are some relative newcomers to the area.
Getting better all the time For those who relish the funky beach themes, there are plenty of brightly painted shops and quirky landmarks. One storefronts welcomes customers as they enter the store through the gaping mouth of an enormous shark. Entertainment is plentiful and returning visitors will be able to kick back at their favorite bars. Schooner’s still takes time out from the music and dance to fire their canon in celebration of the sunset. Joyous, if not melodic, songs of the patrons fill the salty air during Karaoke nights at Quarterdeck Oyster Bar. Hammerhead Fred’s, Club LaVela, Breakers, and The Boatyard offer music to groups with diverse musical tastes, from rock to techno.
Muted pastels and coordinated earth tones represent the current palette in coastal architecture. The revitalization of the city’s pier district continues. Pier Park's 93 acres is " “home to more than one million square feet of high-end shops, fun restaurants and exciting family entertainment.”
On the road Infrastructure improvements continue. Travel has improved for visitors traveling by car or bus. In addition to the new bridge, other highway improvements are underway. The Thomas Drive Flyover connects the bridge to Thomas Drive, Front Beach Road and Highway 98 to relieve some of the congestion that locals and tourists encounter at the major intersections. Highway 79 to the West Bay Bridge will be four-lane as will US Highway 98 from Panama City Beach to Destin. Tourists traveling south on the I-65 corridor and those traveling east on I-10 will enjoy convenient access and improved traffic flow.
Day’s end There is a consensus that change is inevitable. Properties that once sold for $15,000 list in the hundreds of thousands. No doubt, the money offered by developers was an incentive to the small mom-and-pop motels that invested in their beach properties years ago. The improved infrastructure, the development, refurbishment and the shift towards a clientele with more sophisticated tastes and bigger pocketbooks will alter the face of Panama City Beach.
Long time residents have seen much change in the last fifty years with the growth of the tourist industry. At day’s end, whether it has been a long day spent at the job or as a vacationer far from it, tourists and locals share the beach. Waves rush the shore, pooling and swirling in miniature eddies around your feet. The silky sand beneath and pelicans soaring silently overhead are ocean moments. In the solitude of a walk along the beach, one finds perfection.