View attachment 61640
Did you ever go to Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach? What was your favorite amusement park in Florida that is no longer open?
Miracle Strip was a theme park located in Panama City Beach, Florida, which operated from 1963 to September 5, 2003.
The highlight of the park was The Starliner Roller Coaster, an "out-and-back" wooden coaster designed by John Allen upon the park's initial conception. A few other rides lay near the Starliner and a small arcade center and food stands rounded out the fledgling park.
The park began to grow as time progressed. In the mid-1960s, Ed Nielson of Birmingham, who owned and operated a municipal park (Fair Park) left Birmingham to join the up-and-coming amusement park. Nielson owned the original arcade machines (a mix of old and new hardware) but as part of his involvement leased them out to the park. Not only did the park rent from Nielson, who owned the arcade games and a few rides, but the park also rented rides from traveling carnivals at this time.
Eventually the company paid off debts and the park began to grow. Some of the stockholders were bought out and eventually the park gained the arcade games, rides, and food service. The partnership was eventually dissolved, and became owned by one family only, the Larks, who later expanded the amusement park by creating Shipwreck Island Waterpark directly across the street.
As the strip grew in popularity and Panama City Beach became more of a tourist location, the park grew as well. More and more rides were added throughout the late 1960s until the 1980s, and the park grew up around the Starliner, which was by far the main draw for the park's entire run. As the city became more of a spring break hotspot, the popularity of the family friendly Miracle Strip Park decreased, though it remained a draw for families up to the 2000s.
View the Miracle Strip collection at American Retro Apparel:
Miracle Strip - Panama City Beach, FL