It's been a long time

[soulfixinman]

I am finally coming back to PCB for a vacation with my family
I used to live there around 1978.

I stayed in a small red two bedroom cottage not far from the beach, locals only .

I lived about a quarter mile from the only four high rise hotels on the beach.

The hotels were not far from St. Andrews State Park.

Help me here I remember the Howard Jonsons, the Barefoot Beach, maybe The Sands

Hmm cant remember the names of the four big hotels
Can anyone help and are they still there?

Anyway, since i have not been there for about 28 years tell me how surprised will I be. Will it be good or bad.

How surprised you will be? :?:
SHOCKED is more like it! :shock:

I honestly don't know if you will think it is good or bad...
If you like high rise Condos...the loss of numerous long time"landmarks", and the old-time beach community charm that "MADE" PCB famous then I guess you will consider all the changes good.
Most of the people I have chatted with however, think they are horrible!

If you do decide that you do not like the changes PLEASE let the Mayor of PCB and PCB Chamber of Commerce KNOW how you feel!!!!!
They have email address online...so it only talke a couple of minutes to let your opinions be known! :wink:

You're right. There used to be only 4 "big" hotels. They were the Howard Johnson, The Sands, The Gulfside Inn and I can't remember the name of the other one right now.

I visit 2 to 3 times a year now, and I can't remember if any are still standing. I'm thinking they've all been renovated and have been renamed.

We stay at Regency Towers now. It's a condominium and is in beach walking distance to Schooners.

You WILL be shocked.

Surprised--no.
Shocked--maybe.
SICK--Absolutely.

Here is another question for locals, is the paper mill still there? I remember the smell of it and am just wondering.

Paper mill yes, but remember something most of us older locals learned as children. If you smell the paper mill on the beach, its gonna rain.

I can remember that smell thanks for the tip Captain

how far from St. Andrews State Park were the 4 big hotels?

[Dave]

I finally got around to looking up some old letters sent to me with the addresses of where I used to live in PCB.

I plan on going there just to see if they are still there and to realise the changes that have come about since the late 1970's.

I first lived in a small cottage 3509 W. 16th Street, Panama City.

and then to 2411 Joan Ave. Panama City Beach

wow those were the days, looking back now I wish I would have stayed and bought some land on the bay which was going really cheap back in the 70's. I remember the local job scene was very difficult with many people struggling with low paying jobs.

At the time I was working for a company based in New Orleans called Black Gold Marine. I was working on crew boats that worked for the oil and natural gas drilling companies in the Gulf. I started out in New Orleans and moved to Panama City Beach when a captain, by the name of Sunny Rutherford; I worked with told me about PCB which was only 4 hours away. I fell in love with the beach life and stayed there for almost two years.

I will be there in two weeks, it has been 28 years since I have been to paradise and I am so looking forward to being back there for a week, .

later Dave, Soulfixinman