Pivotal event that changed Panama City Beach forever-Hurricane Eloise

Hurricane Eloise, Sept. 23, 1975, caused the most damage to PCB since weather records were kept. Nationally famous attractions like the Hang Out at Long Beach Resort and the Old Dutch Tavern on West Panama City Beach were wiped off the beach. Condos replaced many of the mom&pop motels and the era of the high-rise began. The sand remains as white as snow, the Gulf of Mexico still sparkles like emeralds, but the atmosphere has changed.

[@floydallan783]

The condos ruined the beach

[@pamf6268]

I was 7 yo when Eloise came through. My father was a fireman and we lived in St. Andrews. My mom taped all the windows and made me sleep in the hallway of our home. I remember trees being pulled out of the ground and roofs coming off sheds, even that far from the beach. A vivid memory I have is driving down the beach and seeing everything “gutted” and crying. Our beach is so gorgeous! I feel very lucky to have grown up in Panama City and having the beach be a part of my life!

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

Pam, your memory is strong. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@SeanOLennon]

I had just started my junior year at Auburn that year. I remember that we had lot of rain , some flooding, and some strong winds even that far north of PCB. The PCB atmosphere has certainly changed. Gone are the mom-and-pop motels and restaurants. I last visited PCB in 2015, but it had been 30 years since my previous visit. Now, it looks like "condo row" along the beaches of Palm Beach and Lauderdale counties....very generic....and difficult to see the gulf from the highway. Progress....so they say....

[@jimmyc2895]

I was a kid but I remember.had a great uncle who was living in Panama City back then.his home had some damage but not destroyed

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

I lived close enough to the landfall that the eye passed over my home. It was a very odd experience to have a hurricane pause rapidly, then just as quickly start up again...blowing from the opposite direction.

[@jimmyc2895]

@@oldpanamacitybeach yeah I can imagine.i sure do miss Old Panama City Beach the was it once was

[@kellymountsr2358]

I remember it well.

[@time2smile84]

OMG,the changes that happened after Elouise were so horrible,that was the death mail for the Mom and pops - can you imagine if we still had our Mom and Pop havens??

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

That would be a dream come true...

[@SCREAMINGinCAPS]

It's a cycle. Panama City has a 13% chance of being hit by a hurricane every year. Their number was up ( way up) in 2018. Look at Tampa and Central Fla as I type this, October 8, 2024. 155 mph storm heading there tomorrow night.

[@chriscourson2824]

Opal was worse in 1995

[@SCREAMINGinCAPS]

Frederick in 1979 hit just west with some damage...and Michael tops all of them in 2018.

[@Skitradr]

Condos bring a nice clean look, pretty much worked on most everyone of them,installing the swimming pools, the mom and pop motels were great and all, but in the end the beach was looking very nasty and trashy, gave the nickname “ redneck riviera” lots of teeth!!..crazy how much has changed since I arrived in what seems like yesterday, February 1984.

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

There's also more mom&pop ownership of accommodations than ever before. Thanks for the comment