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Miracle Strip to disappear forever

Matt J avatar
SWGB
9,345 views1
Honestly got a little choked up.

What?s Ahead for the Former Miracle Strip Property?
08/10/09 - 02:29 PM
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Jerry Brown - bio
jbrown@wmbb.com

Panama City Beach, Fla:
A long-time, well-known beach amusement park is now just a memory. But, the site on which the former attraction is located looks terrible and is only getting worse. Is there anything being done about it? Answers in this on your side Problem Solver report.
The Miracle Strip Park in Panama City Beach closed just a few years ago to make way for a new project. But, that project did not happen. So now, the property is a huge eyesore. However, there is a plan to deal with the property.

To walk now on the site of the old Miracle Strip, it is hard to believe that this park in its heyday was one of the great reasons to visit Panama City Beach.
The miracle strip opened in 1963 and provided a great time for anyone who ever dropped by for a visit. It was small at first, but then grew over the years, offering rides, shows, music and much more.
The site is located on Alf Coleman Road near the intersection of Front Beach Road. Beach Code Enforcement Officer Mark Williamson used to visit the park before it closed. He says, ? it was a wonderful place?everybody had fond memories from this?it was the place to go.?
But the Miracle Strip closed in 2004. The property was purchased by new owners. According to Williamson, ?It was a big condo project that was supposed to be out here and that failed. It was right at the end of the Miracle Strip.?

In the last four and a half years, the property has been the subject of numerous code violations. But time is running out for the eyesore and changes are coming. ?It is terrible and now that the graffiti has sprung up, this is not what we want out here. We are going to do everything we can to get this taken out.?
Williamson says the time frame for action by property owners on the site is 120 days. He also says, ?It has already been rezoned so the park can?t come back. So there is only one way and that?s to take the whole thing out.? The plan at this point is to remove the remaining structures and level the site.
Mark Williamson tells me code enforcement is also working on resolving other eyesore issues on the beach. We will have their stories in the weeks to come.


wmbb.com - What’s Ahead for the Former Miracle Strip Property?

Replies

43
Desso avatar
Beach Lover
#27
We always tried to figure out where we would land if the swing broke. And the name of the spider outside the domes was Momo.
ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#28
The swings were a teenage favorite. We would load up with several pairs of cheap flip-flops and kick them off at the "height" of the ride to see if we could hit anyone out on the strip. :lol: Only once were we ever asked to stop..
Hop avatar
Beach Fanatic
#29
one of my little best friends threw up on me inside the bullet....:puke::D
2bohemians avatar
Beach Fanatic
#30
Wonder how many times us SoWal peeps have been on the rides together ... way back then .... and didn't even know it?
Beach Fanatic
#31
Buy the book

Lots of fun facts and old photos of the Redneck Riviera in a nice paperback called Florida's Miracle Strip. I bought it at Barnes and Noble bookstore, I believe. I miss the tacky charm of PCB in its golden years! Funny how a thing can come full circle and be cool again. Call it "retro" and the well-heeled will beat a path.
MRBS avatar
Beach Lover
#33
SDavis!

Thank you - outstanding pics. Have enjoyed reading all the posts. Wasn't the genie referenced prior a buddha? :roll:
Will B avatar
Moderator
#34
Who here remembers the smaller amusement park on Okaloosa Island? It sat where the new civic center complex is.
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#37
Okay this one is just comical.

SGB avatar
Beach Fanatic
#38
I heard from a fairly reliable source that they are going to be building a "bigger & better" waterpark on the site.
kitlit avatar
Beach Fanatic
#39
I heard from a fairly reliable source that they are going to be building a "bigger & better" waterpark on the site.

Why a waterpark? They've already got one of those! :bang:
Franny avatar
Beach Fanatic
#40
I was over there last week and they are clearing the property.
SGB avatar
Beach Fanatic
#41
Why a waterpark? They've already got one of those! :bang:

"Bigger and better". BTY - I was also told the current water park would be staying. Not sure if they'll be one big waterpark. If all those condos in PCB are ever full, a bigger and better waterpark would probably do really well. The current one is always full in the summer. A good alternative to the beach on bad beach days. I love waterparks and in the last year or two my kids have gotten bored with the current one, so maybe a new one will spark their interest.
kitlit avatar
Beach Fanatic
#42
I'm sorry, but I think that's ridiculous. Why not put in a new amusement park? For my family, and lots of others, the two parks complimented each other because you would go to the water park during the day and the amusement park at night. That way you never got bored!

Funny how the terms "bigger" and "better" always seem to go hand in hand with terms like "greed" and "excess"... just my .02. :wave:
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#43
Funny how the terms "bigger" and "better" always seem to go hand in hand with terms like "greed" and "excess"... just my .02. :wave:

When the term "bigger and better" is used, the word "profit" is always implied.

.
Matt J avatar
SWGBAuthor
#44
The new water park in question is a Wet and Wild. It'll actually be built on the land west of Shipwreck bordering Middle Beach Road and Clara Ave.

Franny, the county is leveling Miracle Strip since it's just turned into an eyesore and safety hazard.

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