Panama City Beach, FL - What Happened?

Catch&Release · Post by **Catch&Release** » March 12, 2007 9:08 am

I had some depositions in Panama City, FL last week. The last time I had been in Panama City was for Spring Break in 1991. Then, it seemed like sleepy beach town made up of mainly low rise motels and a few businesses clustered in basically a 1/2 mile area.

I remembered renting a scooter with friends and as soon as we passed the pier on the west side of town, it seemed like there was basically empty beach that stretched for miles. The only development that I recall was the newly formed town of Seaside which was kind of picturesque.

What happened? Was I romanticizing what I thought was a very laid back part of Florida with lots of wide open beaches?

This time around, Panama City Beach was an endless wall of high rise condos (half still under construction) that spanned basically the entire beach road until it met US 98. Going west along the coastal roads towards Sandestin, it just seemed like development after development after development with hardly any open beach remaining.

Were things really that dramatically changed in only 16 years or did I just not realize that the Gulf in this area was choked with condos/beach subdivisions?

Anyway, I did find one place that was still the same. In 1991 we stopped at the Goatshead bar which was just west of Seaside where we stuffed ourselves on dirt cheap raw oysters. I happily found that it's still there and the oysters are still very inexpensive. ($4.95 a dozen before 6 pm).

Anyway, it was great to see the sun for a few days but I am shocked by how different the area was from what I remembered!

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » March 12, 2007 9:14 am

My dad moved here in 1984 and that's how I remember it.....I moved here in January....and well...you can't sling a dead cat without hitting a condo....

It happens anytime you live on Salt water, sadly....I've lived on the Ocean all my life until this year and saw it happen in Charleston, then Amelia Island....People want to live on the water, and are willing to pay big bucks to do it.....a lot of the small sleepy Florida towns are now Condo's and Hotels....I hate it...but it just is what it is, and I can't stop it.....

They are working on renovating downtown , which is nice...and First Friday is a lot of fun when they close Harrison off downtown....Bayou Joe's downtown on the Bay is still there and a great place to go eat ..right on the water....

Glad you found your place!

I haven't wandered around the beach much....not with Spring Break going on...

One friend I made here doesn't even go to PCB...but to St Joe's......less people...
I live in town, and it's not too bad here....there are days when I reconsider living on Salt Water, and heading for the mountains...just to get away from all the "progress"....

Then I remember it's against God's Will to live where water freezes..

Catch&Release · Post by **Catch&Release** » March 12, 2007 9:32 am

Conolulu,

I live in MI so just being in Panama City this time of year was very nice. It looks like they're doing a good job sprucing up the downtown area.

I was told that Captain Anderson's is great for seafood so I stopped there. It was way too formal for me and being there at 5 pm, I was the only person under the age of 70 in the restaurant. I decided to go to PCB and stuff myself at Bishop's seafood buffet. It was pretty good. You can't beat all you can eat snow crab, fried oysters and fresh shrimp for $21.00.

I drove by 3 bodies of water that are still frozen on my way to work this morning.

Trust me, you made the right choice living where the water doesn't freeze!

Conolulu · Post by **Conolulu** » March 12, 2007 10:12 am

Catch&Release wrote:Conolulu,

I live in MI so just being in Panama City this time of year was very nice. It looks like they're doing a good job sprucing up the downtown area.

I was told that Captain Anderson's is great for seafood so I stopped there. It was way too formal for me and being there at 5 pm, I was the only person under the age of 70 in the restaurant. I decided to go to PCB and stuff myself at Bishop's seafood buffet. It was pretty good. You can't beat all you can eat snow crab, fried oysters and fresh shrimp for $21.00.

I drove by 3 bodies of water that are still frozen on my way to work this morning. Trust me, you made the right choice living where the water doesn't freeze!

Capt Anderson's is highly overrated....the chef, Alonzo, lives across the street from me...He's been there almost 30 yrs....Great guy...Fantastic cook......but you're right....no one under 70 in the place...

Let me know next time you head this way...I'll show you the little out of the way places I've been finding....

Funky little seafood places, that are just fun...and great food...!

Btw, the Grouper sandwich at Bayou Joe's is out of this world!

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » March 12, 2007 10:19 am

I used to hang out in PCB alot in the late 80's early 90's, and there were condo's along the beach then, too; but it was manageable (as hi-rises go).

Love St. Joe's...but spent most of my time a little east of PCB at St. George Island...

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » March 12, 2007 3:11 pm

Modern day pirates raping the coastline. Politely called developers. Makes me very sad.

drunkpirate66 · Post by **drunkpirate66** » March 12, 2007 3:29 pm

Conolulu wrote:My dad moved here in 1984 and that's how I remember it.....I moved here in January....and well...you can't sling a dead cat without hitting a condo.... It happens anytime you live on Salt water, sadly....I've lived on the Ocean all my life until this year and saw it happen in Charleston, then Amelia Island....People want to live on the water, and are willing to pay big bucks to do it.....a lot of the small sleepy Florida towns are now Condo's and Hotels....I hate it...but it just is what it is, and I can't stop it.....

They are working on renovating downtown , which is nice...and First Friday is a lot of fun when they close Harrison off downtown....Bayou Joe's downtown on the Bay is still there and a great place to go eat ..right on the water....

Glad you found your place!

thank you Nantucket and Cape Cod for the National Seashores!

I haven't wandered around the beach much....not with Spring Break going on... One friend I made here doesn't even go to PCB...but to St Joe's......less people...
I live in town, and it's not too bad here....there are days when I reconsider living on Salt Water, and heading for the mountains...just to get away from all the "progress"....

Then I remember it's against God's Will to live where water freezes..

Chez Hoy · Post by **Chez Hoy** » March 25, 2007 10:32 am

I was there over Memorial Day Weekend 2001...it wasn't too bad. I was 24 then, so it's nice to see the "scenery" by Club LaVela, but it gets old (I'd rather chase older tail than younger...lol). I loved eating at Pineapple Willy's.