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Miracle Strip to disappear forever

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Matt J

SWGB
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?
 
Its pretty lousy the park can't come back because it was rezoned. Rezone it back!
 
I agree. That would be wonderful. I went on the last night it was open. Kept my armband.


I miss it too DL. We used to come down and camp for a week on the west bank of Deer Lake on a bluff back in the early 60's when it was St. Joe property. Every year, the itinerary included a night at the "bright lights"... which for the 11-12 year old kid that I was included the Miracle Strip Amusement Park and Goofy Golf. When we came back home in 1997, I was so glad to be able to take our kids to the Miracle Strip. So sorry it closed in the name of "progress." It was still great fun to visit, even in the latter years.
 
our area needs a real amusement park...i wish they had kept and upgraded Miracle strip...it's like the Cooney Island of the south.:cry:
 
our area needs a real amusement park...i wish they had kept and upgraded Miracle strip...it's like the Cooney Island of the south.:cry:

...the beach, shopping, and dining pretty much now sums up what many of today's kids will envision as the good ole days of summer.

I swear that if I ever hit the several-hundred-million powerball, I'd buy out one of these ghost condos, implode it, and build a 50's style amusement park (consisting simply of cheezy, brightly painted rides; heart-stopping-artery-clogging food; games to win stuffed animals; hokey carnival music; and lots (LOTS!) of colored lights at nightime.) My number one choice for the condo I'd implode would be the craptastic Emerald Grande. You're all invited to attend.

.
 
...the beach, shopping, and dining pretty much now sums up what many of today's kids will envision as the good ole days of summer.

I swear that if I ever hit the several-hundred-million powerball, I'd buy out one of these ghost condos, implode it, and build a 50's style amusement park (consisting simply of cheezy, brightly painted rides; heart-stopping-artery-clogging food; games to win stuffed animals; hokey carnival music; and lots (LOTS!) of colored lights at nightime.) My number one choice for the condo I'd implode would be the craptastic Emerald Grande. You're all invited to attend.

.

Shelly
This is what I remember in PC Beach in the 50's & 60'S. "Build it and they will come".:cool:

Long Beach Resort and The Hang Out, Panama City Beach Florida - a set on Flickr
 
Rezone it back, bring back the Starliner (from what I understand, it is homeless again :pissed:) and the Snowman and whatever else can be found.

When I was sixteen years old, the corner of Alf Coleman and Front Beach Road was THE place to be. Things change, I guess. But the Strip was special...:wub:
 
I was so disappointed when I moved here and tried to find it, only to learn of its closure. The haunted house was great, along with the roller coaster that was actually dismantled and moved to another park, I believe somewhere else in Florida.
 
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