Every since the new Dan Russell Pier opened at the beginning of July in Panama City Beach, anglers and spectators alike have flocked down the double fly-away plank path to the end to enjoy being 1500 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. Under construction for a little more than 12 months, the City Pier (as it is known to some) cost around $8 million and was funded by a FEMA grant that was awarded after it was irreparably damaged during a hurricane a few years ago.
Hit the read more link for pictures and video of the ongoing construction and numbers on how many people have been on the pier.
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The plan all along was to have amenities to accompany the new pier. At the old pier, the city operated a bait and tackle and gift shop at the foot next to Front Beach Road. That’s all been torn down, but something new is coming.
On schedule for completion by Memorial Day 2010, the pilings are being pounded for a new bait and tackle shop, snack shop, permanent ticket booth and public restrooms. I haven’t seen the renderings yet, but I would assume that the architectural design will be beachy, reminiscent of the old structures and complimentary to Pier Park. Talking with Paul Casto with the City of Panama City Beach, he was telling me that, since July, around 125,000 people have walked out on the pier. Out of that 125,000 approximately 1 out of 6 people are fishing. To date, they have brought in over $300,000 in fee revenue. // http://tweetreel.com/js/embed_480.js
PCBDaily 
Jason……..
Fantastic job with PCBDaily! I really enjoy keeping up with what’s going on in PCB, except it makes me miss not living there…..~!
Hope that you and the family are doing well. Keep up the good work.
Chuck
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Jason,
Thanks for all the info! I bought a home in pcb back in December and your website keeps me informed up north.
Nick
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Boy…. bait/tackle shop, snack bar and restrooms don’t sound very impressive or fun. BORING. They should have put in a Tiki Cabana Bar, outdoor music stage, restaurants, kids play area, etc. Sure looks like they are doing a lot of construction for a tackle shack.
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snack bar and restrooms is the right thing to put at the pier. Don’t need
to put restaurants, cabana bar, music, or kids play area. That’s all at Pier Park
already.
I think the city is doing the right thing, as it keeps the pier public, fun
and is a great gateway to Pier Park.
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Looking at Navy Pier in Chicago… We’re not quite ready…Maybe after Southwest has been here a couple of years…
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I love the news I get from PCBDaily – it really helps me keep up when I’m away. Is the pier closed for fishing during this construction?
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Has the concession (tackle shop) been awarded? If not what is the bidding process? I assume this is a public building being leased to an operator.
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I love keeping up with what’s going on in PCB also! I just wish I could be down there more often! The Pier is going to be fabulous, and it is true that there is plenty of other things to do just across the street at Pier Park. To me the Pier is for the enjoyment of the fishermen, and people who simply like to take a walk out in the quiet and admire the water and the shoreline. Everything in PCB is becoming better and better as the months go by!
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I also like Jason and PCB Daily keeping me updated with the latest at PBC and as a previous commenter, I wish I lived down there full time. In any case will be there tomorrow for a month. Looking forward to the changes.
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exactly its a pier. we dont need a play area at the pier the pier is built for fisherman first, and romantic walks not children for a play area. thats too much traffic even for a pier as large as this one.
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I never can find were you enter this stuff
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The new pier is gorgeous but we find it strange you have to pay to experience it. Is that sending the wrong message to tourists? Putting an ice cream stand at the end of it would generate more revenue. Can you imagine the sunset crowds along that 1500 feet. It would truly be a daily event to write home about–like Naples or Fort Myers.
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Tony, if there was not a charge who would pay for keeping it clean, maintenance, security, utilities for lights, and an allowance reserve for possible damage from a hurricane? I don’t think that having a further burden on us tax payers would be the best way to go.
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