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New Waterpark Planned For PCB
03/12/09 - 05:27 PM
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Mark Jenkins - bio
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Panama City Beach, Fla:

Competition could soon get a little “wet and wild” along Middle Beach Road.

Panama City Beach may be the future site for a new amusement park.  It’s being called Emerald Coast Waterpark.

The proposed site is 13.5 acres east of Clara Avenue, between Front and Middle Beach Roads.  The land is owned by Sterling Realty.  According to the Property Appraiser’s website, Sterling bought the land in 2005 for nearly $30.5 million. 

During the condo boom, Sterling rezoned the land to “Accommodations and Retail.”  Sterling is now requesting Panama City Beach to rezone the land to “Amusements.”  The Planning Department has already approved the modification.  Sterling now awaits a decision from city council.

Sterling submitted a site development plan to the city.  It includes multiple slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and a standing wave for surfing.  Mayor Oberst says there’s also potential for a ferris wheel and roller coaster.

The site is located .6 miles from the current Shipwreck Island Waterpark.  However, Shipwreck Island General Manager Buddy Wilkes isn’t worried.

“We’re very comfortable with who we are and what we do here at Shipwreck Island and we’re prepared to compete with anybody.”

For 27 years Shipwreck Island has had the monopoly on Panama City Beach water slides.  At one time, it was also the site for a rollercoaster at the neighboring Miracle Strip.  Buddy Wilkes says the expense of an amusement park far greater than a water park.

“You have a lot of moving parts that have to be repaired every day.  The cost of operating an amusement slash theme park is incredibly high.”

Miracle Strip was shut down in 2004.  It was sold to a condo developer, but remains unused.  Wilkes says the high price and liability should be a concern for Emerald Coast developers.  Miracle Strip was just one of the casualties.

“The most recent theme park and amusement park built in the United States was in Myrtle Beach, SC.  That was the Hard Rock Park.  They opened in February and filed for bankruptcy in September.”

Mayor Oberst, however, says having the two so close together could actually be beneficial in the end.

“It’s really good to have more than one of any attraction and that way you can visit attraction A, then the next day visit attraction B.  It actually brings more people here.”

Oberst says the Panama City Beach City Council will decide whether to rezone the land in the next four weeks.  If approved, she says the park could open in 2010.

User Comments

oldman and ricky, you are soo right! they dont care about the locals, the ones that suport them with our tax dollars, we should get something, and it really is sad that we can get better deals down south ie tampa orlando daytona ect,,

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/04  at  08:45 AM

These people could care less about the locals.  We are just in the way of those that they know they can rip off and get away with it.  We are here year round helping pay for their support structure but we get little if anything in return from them but the traffic, noise and drunks.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/04  at  07:39 AM

Us Florida residents get better discount deals in Orlando than locals here in PCB. That’s a real shame. I just returned from Tampa and got far better deals than I would have at our attractions here at the beach.
I’m all for competition here. North Florida could learn a lot about business from Central Florida as far as resident discounts go.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/04  at  07:36 AM

then how about discounts for the (long haulers) truck drivers wife and kids. who risk their life ever day bringing food and dry goods. and they live here not station, military the man gets payed the wife gets a check and the kids.does the drivers family (no) so let the military br*** pay full price

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/04  at  06:16 AM

I do wish another waterpark goes in. I doubt it will be affordable, but maybe a little competition would be beneficial. I like the idea of providing more family attractions, something for the tourists to do while they are here and something of us to do as well. Regarding a military discount, I feel it is the least we could do for the families who are protecting our nation. Seniors should get a significant discount as well.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/04  at  05:50 AM

should be 1/2 price for locals and retired vets. not military the biggest part of them dont live here any way. just station here.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/03  at  03:46 PM

Locals?  Surely you jest, my friend.  There will never be sanything on those beaches that is local friendly.  All they are after is the almighty dollar and tourists will spend like they are millionaires compared to those of us that are working here year ‘round.  They don’t want us out there because we might take up space some sucker, uh, tourist might use.  A good example of hoew little they think of locals around here was the paving fiasco at the east end of the Hathway bridge.  It was like a rub board for weeks until someone panicked and complained that a biker might not be able to drive that mess like we had to.  Overnight they smoothed that mess out.  Bikers inability to drive was more important that what we were forced to endure.  Locals?  Thanks for the laugh.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/03  at  12:51 PM

its really good to have something else coming here, how about since we are getting roads 4laned out of the beach, it would be nice if they built a concert stadium out there, big enough to handle a real venue? maybe north side of back beach? they tried to bring one a few years back, and also a nascar/nhra, but they said the roads werent good enough and it would be too noisey… what a reason?? hope those people that made that decision are kicking themselves, if not id lend a boot!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/03  at  06:27 AM

Check public records. Bank won a judgment for $15M on this property. http://records2.baycoclerk.com/oncoreweb/showdetails.aspx?id=6341827&rn=6&pi=0&ref=search

Three months later they are planning a new water park? The people behind Sterling are facing other judgments and legal battles. Check Sterling Breeze, LLC in public records and Splash Homeowners Association.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  08/03  at  12:45 AM

I wouldn’t count on those prices coming down if I were you.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/16  at  02:34 PM

I hope the new water park is allowed to build. would be a nice addition to the beach and the potential for a ferris wheel & roller coaster would help with what we lost when the amusement park sold out.
A little competition would be helpful to possibly bring prices down so us locals could enjoy a water park.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/16  at  08:02 AM
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