What Happened To Panama City Beach?
Chances are, if haven’t visited Panama City Beach in a few years, on your next visit you may not recognize the place. Repeat tourists have often told me stories of how they remembered Panama City Beach. They exalt places like the old Hangout and the fun their kids had at Miracle Strip—even long-graduated Spring Breakers and their tales of transforming our beach into Northwest Florida’s largest rave. When cruising down the “Strip,” gone are the mom and pop hotels and random snowcone huts; gone are the giant chicken wire and plaster figures that towered over roadsides. Gone, even, is good ol’ Petticoat Junction (some of you may not remember that one). Much has changed. In fact, since I was young, Panama City Beach is completely different. But, just because there aren’t as many goofy golfs (and I love goofy golf) doesn’t mean the beach’s changes are bad. Note what many consider to be upgrades. In place of the mom and pop hotels and various “huts” are truly majestic condominiums. These sty
