From its inception as Snake-A-Torium in 1946 to its transformation into ZooWorld under Dennie Sebolt, this Panama City Beach attraction has left a lasting impact. Sebolt’s legacy lives on through a memorial at ZooWorld, honoring his dedication to conservation and the history of Snake-A-Torium.
Vincent Valentine Jr. envisioned the iconic Miracle Strip Tower, boasting an observation deck and restaurant. Its grandeur graced Panama City Beach until its 1995 demolition, marking the end of an era. It offered panoramic views that became cherished memories for locals and visitors alike.
There once was an iconic Sky Ride that ascended 100 feet above ground, carrying gondolas past a panoramic view of the gulf. Today, the remnants of this marvel are concealed in the woods. As taller structures and newer attractions emerged, the Sky Ride faced a changing skyline. The allure that once captivated hearts began to wane. Then came the turning point – Hurricane Eloise. The Sky Ride met its match and succumbed to the forces of nature. Uncover the fascinating story that time has woven into the woods.
Spinnaker Nightclub was an instantaneous success. OPCB’s best recollection is that it opened in the summer of 1970. This photo appears to be from their opening season. At the time, Spinnaker was the first building on what was a very long stretch of Thomas Drive with vast open dunes. OPCB visited Spinnaker as soon as…
Lee Koplin was born in the mid-west. In 1932 he worked in the concrete and steel of Hoover Dam. In 1942, he was managing a failing mini-golf course in Guerneville, CA. His wife suggested he create some fanciful sculpture on their course. After sculpting steel snakes and dinosaurs, Koplin encased his works of art in…
There have been some very creative people that have called Panama City Beach their home. Probably the most creative in terms of mass appeal has to Vincent ‘Val’ Valentine. Since the early 60s, Val’s art lives on, in the photos and memories of millions of tourists that have visited Panama City Beach. He was the…
Today, Miracle Strip Amusement Park is only a fond memory for many people that visited Panama City Beach in the 20th century. Although, it only lasted four years into the 21st century, Miracle Strip Amusement Park was the most successful attraction on the Gulf Coast of Florida for 40 years. For many years it ranked…
The Starliner roller coaster was one of the first attractions at Miracle Strip Amusement Park. The Starliner was a wooden coaster designed by nationally renown John Allen of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1963. The Starliner was the focal point of MSAP. The track of the Starliner ran for the entire length of the eastern side of the park. The Starliner…
There’s a thread that weaves its way from Marianna, Florida to Dothan, Alabama, to Panama City Beach and eventually lands on stage with the Beatles in Great Britain. The men weaving this thread were Bobby Goldsboro and Buddy Buie. Both, Buddy and Bobby, were born in Marianna, Florida and both moved with their families to…
Old Panama City Beach welcomes you to our OPCB blog site. Here you will find interesting posts about the heyday of Panama City Beach, Florida. All of our friends who are familiar with our long standing Facebook page “Old Panama City Beach”, will be happy to know that more in-depth and descriptive posts will appear…