Amusement Park prepares for grand re-opening

PANAMA CITY BEACH — With an official Grand Re-opening scheduled for April 18, the Miracle Strip Amusement Park at Pier Park is well on its way to completing a major expansion that will also serve to reignite nostalgia.

In January 2013, owners Jenny and Teddy Meeks acquired an 11-acre tract beside the park’s location, and in November added an additional 3 acres for a total of 14. The new property is only 200 feet from the former location, but still in Pier Park, and the additional space allows for meandering walkways, numerous shade trees and sumptuous landscaping — including a wooden bridge spanning a stream and an area of wetlands that separates the new park into North and South sections.

The extra room was needed for the addition of nine new rides, a water playground, games and more. A selection of food items from unique vendors will include corndogs, gourmet hamburgers and exotic tacos from Gourmet by the Bay, Fresh Catch Seafood, Gyro King, 3 Brothers Pizza, gourmet French crepes and Brown Cow Ice Cream. The food court will be located in the new South section of the park.

A new 5-station state-of-the-art batting cage will have Jugs pitching machines that can throw either baseballs or softballs. Batters can choose from four different pitch speeds and even adjust the height of each pitch to their comfort level.

The new water play area was purchased from the defunct King Richards Family Fun Park in Naples, and includes waterfall mushrooms, slides and other activities.

Among the rides being added are the RipTide Roller Coaster, Tea Cups, and Bumper cars, each with fresh hand-painted details. The Trabant is the same type of ride that lurked inside the devil’s head entrance in the original Miracle Strip park’s Dante’s Inferno.

And the carousel — the original 1964 Allen Herschell Carousel from the old Miracle Strip Amusement Park — now has a bright new top and weathervane on the center pole. The carousel was the first ride people saw upon entering the original park — and often, the last one they rode before leaving — and now graces the entrance of the new park.

“Our wish is for it to greet visitors for another 40 years like it did at the original MSAP,” the owners said on their website.

Safety is the focus of the park. Rides must go through three separate inspections before being certified for the public to ride: an inspection by an independent engineer; a state of Florida inspector; and an insurance inspector. Jenny Meeks said inspectors were on site this week.

She also cautioned that details abut the park are subject to change throughout the renovation and expansion project. The best way to keep up with the latest updates is to follow the park’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/MiracleStrip.

The original Miracle Strip Amusement Park was located at the intersection of Alf Coleman Drive and Front Beach Road, and it closed for good in 2004, after 40 years of providing thrills to generations of locals and tourists alike. In 2009, Jenny and Teddy Meeks bought the original carousel that still sat under the show pavilion in a derelict tractor trailer on the original park property and moved it to Pier Park.

After having a successful inaugural season, in 2010 they bought the two remaining rides from the old park — the 1985 Zamperalla Balloon Race and the 1952 Alan Hershel Red Baron. After much searching, they found the same make and model 1975 Big Eli Ferris Wheel in California, since they could not buy the original Miracle Strip Ferris Wheel. All of the rides were refurbished and returned to their original glory, retaining “the feel of yesteryear,” according to the Meeks.

“The original Miracle Strip Amusement Park had a special place in many people’s hearts,” the Meeks’ website says. “We will never be as big or try to be like the great amusement park they created. We know that it cannot be replicated. Our vision is to keep a retro feel — simple rides, simple games, simple fun. We are starting small and will expand in a measured and profitable way to ensure our success.”

In 2011, due to customer requests, the new park added a 1975 Eli Bridge Scrambler and 1991 Sellner Tilt-a-Whirl, as well as a Butterfly Pavilion. Other rides and activities included the 1980 Sea Dragon, 1990 KidSteam Hand Crank Cars, and the Sock Hop Bouncing Pillow.

As it has been redesigned and laid out, the new Southern portion of the park will focus on kiddie rides, including a 1949 Kiddie Car Ride, 1959 Boat Ride, a 1937 Caterpillar ride a set of Tea Cups from 1970, new “dry” Boats from 1959 and Swing Planes from 1957. 

Larger rides will be found on Northern side of the new park, the largest of which is Riptide, a 1974-era Galaxy roller coaster similar to one at the original park. This section of the park also will have an outdoor amphitheater and stage.

The Meeks have said that their vision for Miracle Strip is not just as an amusement park, but also as a public gathering spot, a place where school groups could perform, or local charities host events, fundraisers and rallies.

One item conspicuous in its absence is the beloved Starliner, a wooden rollercoaster that was a centerpiece of the original Miracle Strip park. The Meeks are working toward securing the coaster, which had been moved to Cypress Gardens and then disassembled after LegoLand took over the property. Plans are to have the Starliner reassembled and taking passengers for a thrilling ride once again by sometime in 2015.

MIRACLE STRIP AMUSEMENT PARK

Where: Pier Park, 284 Powell Adams Road, Panama City Beach

Hours: Open daily at noon

Admission: No admission charge to the park; pay for the rides either by individual tickets or unlimited ride armbands

Ride tickets: individual (1 ticket per ride per person) $4; 12 pack (12 rides) $40; unlimited rides armband (per day) $22; family 4-pack unlimited rides armbands (buy 3, get 1 free); weekly pass available during the summer season for $39 per person, good Saturday-Saturday; annual passes are also available

Details: 230-5200 or MS-PP.com

Renovation Updates: Facebook.com/MiracleStrip