Latest news with #BayCountyTouristDevelopmentCouncil
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Flock Security Cameras to be installed in Pier Park
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Local law enforcement will have eyes on Pier Park at all times. The Bay County Tourist Development Council is investing $112,000 to install Flock cameras in Pier Park. The camera can read license plates, identifying any vehicle with an outstanding warrant. It will be utilized by Panama City Beach Police and the Bay County Sheriff's Office, connecting directly to the sheriff's BAYROC system. 'The sheriff has his BAYROCs system, which is an awesome system where they're able to see what's going on all over Bay County. And this will just help to augment that process,' Bay County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Dan Rowe said. Visit Panama City Beach includes local businesses and restaurants on their website. Officials say some of those local establishments have been promoting spring break parties, which have led to two recent shootings. They say establishments that cater to spring-breakers, like Hammerhead Fred's, Harpoon Harry's, and Longboards, are still included in their marketing materials. 'They have been on the TDC's website, they've been included, you know, in some of our other marketing materials and our visitors guide. And so, I mean, they're still they're part of the, you know, the mix that we do promote,' Rowe said. Commissioner Clair Pease asked the council to review their policies on promoting all local businesses. 'Let's say a gentlemen's club decided they want to advertise on our ratings or first of all, I'm pretty sure we have something in there that says we would be against promoting those those types of businesses,' Commissioner Clair Pease said. The TDC is focused on promoting Panama City Beach as a family-friendly area. But they fear the recent shootings could steer visitors away from Panama City Beach. 'If I had a family with children out here and that was going on, I guarantee I would not come back to this destination,' Bay County Tourist Development Council Board Member Andy Phillips said. The Bay County Tourist Development Council will review their policies on promoting businesses that host spring break parties. Then they will decide if those establishments will continue to be featured on the Visit Panama City Beach website. Once installed, the Flock cameras will be permanent fixtures and not solely used during busy times like spring break. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$3 million for a sinking ship? Bay County TDC wants SS United States sunk closer to its coast
PANAMA CITY BEACH ― The Bay County Tourist Development Council has come to the bargaining table on the fate of a historic cruise liner. The council unanimously agreed to offer $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States closer to Panama City. Sinking the ship will create the world's largest artificial reef, and the TDC wants a slice of the visitors that will come to see it. At Tuesday's meeting, representatives of local diving companies urged the council to make the move in a bid to keep the county's dive scene competitive. "Panama City Dive Center was thrilled to witness history being made by the Bay County TDC in their vote to bring the World's Largest Artificial Reef within reach for Bay County diving and fishing operations," said Ashley Barrow from the Panama City Dive Center. "Access to this wreck will help PCB regain its status as a premier dive location while bringing in a demographic of tourists who respect the natural environment, which helps to maintain the beauty of our area." While too soon to tell, it appears Okaloosa County is entertaining the idea. Okaloosa County Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek chimed in on the matter while talking to a reporter from Northwest Florida Daily News (which is, like the News Herald, a part of the USA TODAY Network-Florida). He acknowledged the excitement and offers from surrounding counties. "It's exciting and is evidence that Northwest Florida tourism, businesses, dive shops and fishing industry are all supportive of this remarkable effort from our tourism department," Tomecek said. "And it's something that's going to benefit, not just Destin-Fort Walton Beach, it's going to benefit the entire Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida and the tourism community worldwide." If Okaloosa County agrees to the deal, the ship will be 20 miles closer to the St Andrews pass. Currently, the furthest proposed site is 55 nautical miles from Panama City, and the closest is 35. The $3 million would be earmarked to help with marketing and sinking the vessel. The ship is slated to sit 180 feet underwater, however, other outlets reported that it's so large that people who can only dive to less than half that height will still be able to access it. It's more than 100 feet longer than the Titanic and has five more decks. "Since the vessel's launch over 70 years ago, she has served as an enduring, iconic symbol of American innovation and engineering might," the SS United States Conservancy says on its website. "She is the only ship to bear the name of her namesake nation." The Conservancy's website says the vessel is nearly as long as the Chrysler Building in New York City is tall. Currently, the SS United States is sitting in Mobile, Alabama, awaiting its final voyage to its new home. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Tourism agency offers $3M to sink SS United States closer to Bay County
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Bay County TDC invests in SS United States artificial reef project
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Scuba diving has always been big business for the dive centers here in Bay County. But some are worried are that having the world's largest artificial reef a few counties away could make their businesses much smaller. 'If they don't put it in that corner that we're asking for, then it won't be reachable from Panama City. So it'll be reachable by Destin only,' Panama City Dive Center owner Patrick Green said. Remarkable Women: Jamie Gary gives women beauty for ashes The SS United States arrived from Philadelphia last week. Okaloosa County commissioners are gambling the last of the great ocean liners will be a major tourist attraction, once it's sunk off their coastline next year. They're considering 3 proposed sites as the ship's final resting place. The furthest site is 55 nautical miles away from Panama City, which is too far for dive boat operators to reach efficiently. The closest is about 35 nautical miles from the St. Andrews Pass. That's the one the local diver operators are supporting. They say that location would benefit everyone. 'If we look at the economic impacts of similar type ships that have been deployed before, it's something between doubling the existing business or roughly doing like another 7000 passengers a year, which is huge. It's a big deal for us,' Green said. Local tourism officials also recognize the significance of the project. 'It's going to sit in 180 feet of water. But the superstructure and the decks itself are going to be accessible just to, you know, folks who can dive 60, 70 feet of water. So, I mean, it really is going to be a great dive for all sorts of different divers,' Bay County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Dan Rowe said. Over 400 Auburn University students spend Spring Break volunteering in Port St. Joe In fact, some TDC members believe the SS United States will be enough of a game changer, that they want to invest in the project, to help get that closer location. The Bay County TDC approved a request to expend up to $3 million over two fiscal years for the promotion and marketing of the SS United States. $2 million will go towards the ship's deployment and $1 million will be spent in promotion. Okaloosa County commissioners will make the final decision on the artificial reef's location. 'They've told me that this is a decision that they will make sooner than later,' Rowe said. $1 million dollars of the county's investment will build a land-based museum to display the ship's artifacts. Okaloosa county officials believe the SS United States will even draw tourists that don't dive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
